Page 69 of Playing with Fire

The way he said "handle" sent a chill through the room.

Xander eyed Walsh with a cold smile, rubbing his wrists where the zip ties had cut into them. "Family bonding time. How lovely."

Walsh's face drained of color as he glanced between the three of them. "Look, I just needed the money. My ex-wife—"

"Save it," Algerone cut him off. "You'll tell us everything you know about Phoenix. His plan. His location. His contacts." He gestured to the security team. "Take him to interrogation room one. No one speaks to him until I arrive. And as for you..."

Maxime faltered briefly. "I'm sorry, sir. I—"

"Good work, Max," Algerone said. "That was quick thinking, sending the alert straight from your watch. I'm glad you were here."

Maxime's composure transformed instantly, his eyes brightening and posture straightening with pride. "I knew you'd want to handle this... personally," he replied, a subtle flush creeping up his neck at the rare use of his nickname.

Xander rolled their eyes so dramatically it was a wonder they didn't fall out of their head. They caught my gaze and mimed gagging, though quietly enough that neither Algerone nor Maxime noticed.

"Find Phoenix," Algerone ordered the remaining security team. "I want every system scanning, every camera active."

The medic was working on Xavier's head wound, checking his pupils and applying antiseptic to the gash at his temple. Xavier winced, but remained focused on Walsh as the guards dragged him away.

"You," Algerone turned to Xander, who had fully freed themself from the zip ties. "Are you injured?"

"Just my pride," Xander replied, some of their usual flippancy returning despite the situation. "And possibly my wrists from Leo's terrible restraint technique."

Something that might have been amusement flickered across Algerone's face before disappearing. "Have the medic check you, too." His gaze shifted to me. "You as well, Mr. Astrada. I want all of you cleared before we begin questioning Walsh."

As the medic worked on Xavier's head wound, Xavier kept his focus on me, his eyes occasionally drifting to my throat where bruises were forming from Felix's grip. "I'll kill him for touching you," he whispered.

"We'll find him," I replied, squeezing his hand.

Xavier's jaw tightened, pain and rage warring in his expression. "He wanted me to watch you suffer. That's not happening. Not ever. I'd tear his throat out with my teeth if I had to."

A shiver ran through me that had nothing to do with fear. The violent possessiveness in Xavier's voice would have frightened any rational person. Instead, my cock gave an excited twitch, and I had the sudden urge to drag him into the closet to taste him. The knowledge that he would kill for me made me feel precious. Protected. Desired.

I leaned closer, shifting uncomfortably as I tried to hide my inappropriate reaction, hoping the others wouldn't notice the flush spreading across my face. "Felix made one big mistake."

"What's that?"

"He thought he understood you. But he doesn't know what you're capable of. He has no idea what happens when the Laskins and Etremonts decide to work together."

Xavier's fingers tightened around mine, his expression mirroring the deadly calm I'd seen in his father's face. "He's going to learn why fire has always been my favorite weapon."

I glanced at Algerone, who was conferring quietly with the security team leader, and recognized the same methodical ruthlessness in his posture that I'd seen countless times in Xavier. For once, father and son were aligned in purpose, two predators with the same prey in their sights.

Felix Burns had made a catastrophic miscalculation. He'd threatened what Xavier loved and had now earned the focused wrath of not just Xavier, but the entire Etremont-Laskin dynasty.

And that would be his undoing.

Therageinmyblood felt like a tangible substance, heavy and metallic as mercury. My head throbbed where Felix's baton had connected with my temple, but physical pain was nothing compared to the knowledge that Leo had been threatened while I lay unconscious and useless.

Maxime led us through the Sentinel's labyrinthine corridors toward one of the interrogation rooms. Leo walked beside me, close enough that our shoulders occasionally brushed.

"You should be resting," Leo murmured. "Concussions are serious."

"I'll rest when Walsh tells us where to find Felix," I replied, touching the bandage on my temple. The wound had mostly stopped bleeding, but the area around it pulsed with each heartbeat. "I can handle a headache."

"Just remember, your brain is already scrambled enough as it is. Try not to let Algerone push you too far."

"He's not pushing me anywhere," I replied. "I'm doing this my way."

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