Page 156 of The Reluctant Hero

Which judges are his? Which law offices? Any other properties. I want to steer clear of any personal information as much as I can. There’s a real risk that I’ll lose my temper like I did on Janine if I go there. Or puke.

I need as much information as I can getandto get it to Shade as soon as possible. They haven’t shot at me yet, but I know it’s coming. My time is currently borrowed, and I don’t know when I’ll have to pay it back.

“Are we making you a widow today?”

I glance at South and mull that one over for a second. A slow grin begins to spread across my face, and she notes it with a raised brow.

“Maybe. I can’t see him as the big bad guy in this. He’s a moron that thinks with his dick. If someone higher up sees him as a leak, they’re going to want to shut him up. I won’t have to lift a finger.”

Her head tilts to take that in.

“Lazy.”

“Just my style,” I tell her, my smile still bright with vicious satisfaction.

“You think he’s the one to set them on you?” She asks, her brows dipping down.

“Could be. Might be someone else, too. There’s too much going on, like it’s more than one person fucking with me. I’ve gotta take it one step at a time, or I’ll lose it.”

“No running,” South says with a narrow-eyed glance.

“Fuck that,” I glare back at her. “They messed with the bull. Let them enjoy the horns.”

She lets out a sigh, and her lips turn up. Her pleasure at the fact that I’m a violent mess right now is soothing. She doesn’tmind it at all. It’s good to have support even when you know it’s messed up.

“Quick question,” I ask, narrowing my eyes on her curiously. “Would you help me bury a body?”

“No,” she answers without pausing. The disappointment takes a turn into unhealthy satisfaction as she continues. “It isn’t worth the blisters. There are better methods.”

We park several buildings down from Blake’s office. Now that everyone else is starting their day, traffic is picking up. We have to wait at a stoplight for a break in the traffic to cross.

South’s magical ability to make everyone ignore her is amazing. People pay no attention to us as we walk against the traffic. No one looks, yet they part for us as if they sense an obstacle in their path.

She’s also interested in the fact that no one seesme. I consider this a bonus because I don’t want any witnesses until it’s too late to stop me.

We walk in, and no one greets us. The elevator ride is made with two people chatting about a meeting later in the afternoon with a department head. They stay on the opposite side of the elevator from us but don’t pay attention. That isn’t weird until our floor comes, and we exit.

“That was weird,” one of them laughs in confusion.

“Maybe we should get out. If the doors are opening by themselves-”

I can’t follow the conversation any further because I don’t think I could pretend to be sane after hearing whatever excuse they come up with to make this normal. There is nonormalanymore.

We walk directly to Blake’s office door without anyone the wiser. The blinds are closed, and his secretary isn’t at her desk.

I take a moment to grab my phone and start an audio recording. Just in case. Then the phone goes into my back pocket to forget about.

I don’t want to think about the recording. I don’t want to think about blackmail or evidence to use against me. This needs to be done and I need as much proof as I can get to keep Shade in the loop. I have no idea what he’ll do with it but he will dosomethingat least. Even if I’m dead.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. South glances at me as she settles against the doorway to keep watch. She makes it obvious that I’m on my own now.

I don’t wait for the pep talk that isn’t coming from her. I twist the knob and walk in like I belong there.

Blake sits up in his chair, sweaty and red in the face. The move is so abrupt that a muffled whine comes from under the desk. The drawn blinds and the missing secretary mystery have been solved. He didn’t lock the door? What a moron.

“Get up and get out,” I look at the desk, feeling a pain twist my heart at the knowledge I fantasized about doing that not too long ago. The feeling drops when I realize it would be for a man just likethis. Oddly, I don’t have any reaction to the fact that it’s my soon-to-be ex-husband who’s getting the service with a smile.

“M-mandy!” Blake clears his throat loudly. The soft thump of someone hitting their head makes my lips twitch up.

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