Page 7 of Sinful Submission

Tires screeched behind me, and I glanced in my side mirror to seeCruz’sHellcat burning rubber as he swerved into my lane.We clocked each other simultaneously, and by the way he rode my ass, I knew Storm had called him, too.

Seven minutes later we whipped into theestate’sdriveway together, parking side by side, and launched toward the house.

“The fuck’s going on?” Cruz barked.

“I’mabout to kill this motherfucker,that’swhat.”I shoved through the door where Storm paced the grand foyer, his hands trembling. This was a man who never showed weakness reduced to visible trembles.

“Where the fuck is she?”Cruz snarled.

Storm’s eyes were wild and unfocused. “Gone.”

I stalked across the floor in three strides, grabbedStorm’scollar, and slammed him against the wall.“What the fuck does that mean, Storm?”

“I fucked up. Fuck. I fucked up.” Storm’s voice cracked.

Cruz yanked me off Storm, but his own rage was barely contained. He pointed at Storm.“Start talking. Now.”

Storm put some space between us and began pacing again.

“The job we did with Rev.”Storm’swords tumbled out.“I lost my university access keycard that night. Ididn’trealize until later.I’ve been looking everywhere, retracing steps?—”

“Yourfuckin’access key? The one that gets you into every part of the building?”I lunged again, but Cruz tightened his grip on me.“You’vebeen searching for weeks without telling us?”My insanity was kicking in. I could feel the violence in my soul bellowing to the surface. My skin warmed, and I balled my fists, aching for brutality, throbbing with hostility.

“Ididn’t think…” he paused. “I thought it was misplaced, not in the hands of anyone who would bring harm to her – or any of us. But this afternoon, when I got to my office, something was waiting for me.”Storm pulled out the missing access keycard with a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.“This was on my office desk.”

I snatched the note, and Cruz read over my shoulder:

“Found something you lost, Professor. What else might you lose?”

“Who the fuck wrote this?”Cruz barked as I cut my eyes from the paper back to Storm.

“Ihave nofuckin’idea. But it must be someone connected to our hit.It’sthe only thing that makes sense.”

I jerked out of Cruz’s grip, and my fist connected withStorm’sjaw, sending him staggering.“You stupid motherfucker!”

Cruz caughtStorm’snext stumble, pinning him to the wall.“How long was she alone?”

Storm angrily pushed back against Cruz.“Get off me, nigga!”

“Force me, motherfucker!” Cruz spat.

“Look, I knowy’allare pissed, and you have every right to be, but neither of you motherfuckers will get another chance to lay hands on me,” he angrily pushed at Cruz’s hold, “You understand?”

“Let him go, Cruz,” I snarled.“I want him, one on one.”

“Oh yeah, fuck you too, Titan!”

“Let him go!”

Cruz released him and slammed his palm against the wall next toStorm’shead, then barricaded himself between us.

“The fuck out my way.”

“We’re not fighting!”

“Yes, the fuck we are!”I grabbedCruz’sshoulders, and he grabbed me. The strength between us was the force of a stone wall, neither able to overpower the other.

“Stop this shit!” Storm screamed.

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