Page 3 of Fired at the Heart

When I turn to face him, his gray eyes are molten with a longing I’ve pretended not to see for too long.

“I don’t need your help, Cassian,” I say firmly. “I can handle this on my own.”

Not taking the hint, he steps forward, his pheromones enveloping me, trying to soothe me, to tempt me. But his scent leaves me cold, as all Alphas do now.

“You can, but you don’t have to.” He bends closer, his breath ghosting across my cheek. “I’mhere, Avery.”

Nausea twists my stomach, and I step away. “I can’t, Cassian. YouknowI can’t.”

“I do.” His jaw tightens with resignation. “It doesn’t change how I feel.”

My throat tightens. He’s offering me everything I’ve been yearning for. But he’s not the Alpha I want to hear those words from. He’s not my Alpha.

I square my shoulders. “I need you, Cassian, just not in that way. Not now, not ever.”

“Understood, boss,” he says, but I doubt this will be the last time he offers.

The sharp vibration of my phone gives me an excuse to distance myself from him, and I reach into my pocket. As I pull out the device, the screen brightens with an incoming text message, and my world tilts on its axis.

Sebastian Rockford’s name flashes across the display.

There are only two reasons for any Rockford to reach out to me. My heart hammers as I tap the screen to open the message.

Sebastian

Have time for lunch?

Relief, followed by disappointment, sweeps through me. So, it’s about business.

I type out a reply.

Avery

How many people will be attending?

Sebastian

We’ll need to book the whole restaurant.

So, abigjob.

Usually, I don’t discriminate against clients. But the Rockfords hold a special place in my black book of people I never want to associate with again.

Back in the day, we had been in business together, and things were going great. I washappyandfulfilledin life. Bonded to a powerful Alpha who shared my love for violence and complemented me in every way.

Then, out of the blue, they decided that gun running was unsavory. They only wanted to import illegal cheeses, deal in stolen artifacts, and get richer with their casinos and whorehouses.

Like what I did was suddenlybeneaththem just because they have a mansion in Skyhaven.

I could buy a fucking mansion in Skyhaven, too, if I wanted to waste millions.

But if they’re reaching out to me, it means they’ve gotten themselves into a situation too big to handle on their own. Which means theyneedme.

A vicious smile twists my lips as I send my response.

Avery

This feels like a conversation better had face-to-face. Let’s get together in three days at your place.

---