Page 33 of The Reluctant Hero

10

Seven Enemies

Ace

I’d already been diggin’ in her file to know more about the name highlightin’ bandit. To start watchin’ her. See what makes her tick, what she likes and what she doesn’t. Subtle ways for Gabe to get under her skin without effort. There wasn’t much, and with so little time, I couldn’t give him much more than a single sheet of paper and a scowl.

I figured I knew what was comin’. Another woman ready to suck up to a man they think can take care of them. They can’t help it. Money equals comfort to normal people and soul-suckin’ greed to others. The men around me have seen the negative side of it too much to see the difference. I simply don’t give a fuck.

I assumed she would be fawnin’ all over Gabe and makin’ Mikael contemplate throwin’ her out the window.

But the bland file didn’t prepare me for the shock of seein’ her. The carefully twisted red hair and wide velvety brown eyes. The sweet figure I could hold all night hidden behind a loose skirt suit. The high heels that had her wobbling as she shifted in discomfort. The nervous twist of her hands as she waited for Gabe’s attention.

The whole time, she couldn’t sit still. Lookin’ around as if the obvious wealth made her as uncomfortable as her shoes. No greed there. Just a look filled with surprising disappointment. Money did this woman wrong at some point.

Mikael looked just as stunned to see her as I was. It lasted a split second, but I saw. Then he was back to scowlin’intimidation, and I was relaxin’ against the wall to pretend I was bored.

The progression from discomfort to irritation and then flat cut the bullshit sass was fascinatin’. And her complete lack of respect for Gabe’s passive manipulation was hilarious. He had no idea how to handle the Molotov cocktail he called upstairs himself.

Cade and Jake sure as hell did not mention this little firebomb bein’ in their friendly gym class antics. As a matter of fact, they haven’t talked about their forays into friendship with Shade’s crew for at least a month now. Is that how long they been hidin’ her from us?

Every harsh, unfiltered response she had for Gabe gave me fuckin’ chills. This is a woman who would chew up and spit out weaker men without hesitation or mercy. She could chew on me all day, and I wouldn’t mind it. Damn, her tongue is sharp as a razor.

Now all I need is to hear her bein’ sweet. That’s a challenge I want to ace with flyin’ colors. She’s a fuckin’ goddess that needs a few worshipers.

I couldn’t resist followin’ her and listenin’ to her muttered complaints about her shoes, stairs, and men. The stress was practically pourin’ out of her. I didn’t like it one bit. But she ain’t a woman you pick up and cuddle unless you want to get bit. She’s feral and needs a little affection to warm up first.

Every time she flagged a little promptin’ got her goin’ again. She ain’t the give-up type.

The dazed look on her face when I pampered her for just a split second almost broke my heart. There wasn’t any bitin’. She let me handle her as long as I was gentle with it. That’s all it took. A bit of care.

Whoever hurt her is fuckin’ dead.

Walkin’ away from her was hard but I comforted myself with the fact I would see her in the office again. I had to deal with whatever bullshit Cade and Jake put her through in the form of a torturous run up the stairs for those fuckers. Whatever they’ve been doin’ to her stops now.

Then she didn’t show.

I’m pissed. More than that, I’m practically frothin’ at the mouth pissed.

Where the fuck is my girl?

She didn’t show up. Ok. Fine. She’s showin’ Gabe that she won’t put up with his shit. I can get behind that, and watchin’ him try not to blow up in anger is nice to see. The bastard is too controlled all the time. His reactions to her are out of the ordinary, just like mine.

I want that for him. I want that for myself. For Mik. Someone who can shake our foundations with a look and some sass.

I lit into Jake and Cade, questionin’ them about what they know of her, which is basically nothin’. They didn’t take me seriously until Gabe got involved with Mikael backin’ him up. They both had less patience than I did and she’d only been late an hour by then.

The twerps are so closed-mouthed and defensive about it that I’m suspicious. From how she reacted to them, it ain’t a good sign. Goddamn, you’d think they were dick-dumb teens with the way they act sometimes.

They mention her friends that act like she’s scum, and that’s about it.

When Gabe sent me out to find her and drag her into work, I was happy to do it.

But the address on her paperwork leads to a fancy ass house. I can’t see her livin’ here. Especially when some yuppiepiece of shit escorts a woman to her car with a kiss and a tight grip on her ass.

A man livin’ there, too. If this is the right address, he’s gonna disappear fast. I don’t give a fuck if he’s with someone else. I’m not havin’ him near my girl unless she tells me no.

I checked the tag on the second car and got more info.

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