Page 94 of Reaper Flame

“We’re supposed to be fighting,” I reminded him as his rough hands slipped under my tank top.

“Fighting isn’t the only way to release anger,” he said like a wise gang Yoda. “Maybe we should lose control together more often.”

I balanced on my toes, tipping my face up to kiss him. But, as I did, I grabbed his arm and twisted it at the perfect angle. With one more jerk, it’d snap.

West cried out in pain. “Ouch!”

“Nice try.” I winked and released my hold as he massaged his arm. “But I don’t give up that easily.”

West’s eyes lit up. “If you wanna play dirty…”

We separated again, circling each other. Neither of us wanted to make the first move, but we were not relenting.

“Show me what you’re made of,” I challenged.

He launched forward with the power of a raging bull. He wrapped his muscular arms around my waist and pinned me to him, then threw us backwards in a full body slam. I landed on top of him with a whack. His rock hard abs were not as comfortable as a mattress. When we were down, he pivoted fast and flipped me over. His broad shoulders cast my world into darkness as he rolled on top. The weight of him bearing down made me short of breath.

“Is this what you wanted to see?” he asked, putting his hands around my throat. He leaned in closer. “Don’t lock your feelings up again, Candy. You need to learn to control them. That power is what’s going to make us win.”

A slow clap echoed around the studio, making both of us jump. West’s head turned sharply to the left. Judging by West’s gritted teeth, our visitor was not welcome.

“It looks like I missed quite the show.”

West fixed his dark stare on the intruder. “What’re you doing here?” he snarled.

The Blackbird stepped out of the shadows and swaggered across the gym. How long had he stood watching us? He could have been there the whole time. He was so slippery, even his shadow struggled to stay attached.

West should have known better than to get distracted when fury still raced through my bloodstream. I slid out from underneath West’s body before he realized.

“Candy!” West called out, moving a second too late to stop me.

I may have the ability to control the Kitten, but the Blackbird’s smug face made me abandon all reason. We were in a fucking war, and I was ready to go straight into battle. I didn’t care that the Blackbird was a double agent working with us. He would have known Hiram was hunting Q down. Why didn’t he say anything? His silence aided my friend’s death, and I wouldn’t allow it to go unpunished.

“I didn’t think you’d be so pleased to see me,” the Blackbird said, completely unaware he was now talking to the Kitten. If he knew about the delivery we received, the fucker would already be running.

“Oh, but I am,” I replied in a sickly sweet voice. “Did I forget to say that Q sends his regards?”

The Blackbird’s face fell as he pieced two and two together. Fear flickered over his face as he loosened his tie. He’d been stupid to come here alone. He’d gotten too comfortable. He may be in Zander’s pocket, but I wasn’t on Zander’s fucking leash.

“I don’t know what you’ve heard,” the Blackbird said. I could smell his panic as he started to back away and almost tripped over his feet. Trying to escape was laughable. He was going nowhere until he answered my questions.

The Blackbird reached for the door and inched it open, but I was right behind him. As his fingers closed around the door’s edges, I kicked into it and jammed two of his fingers in the gap. The sickening sound of his bones snapping gave me a sense of satisfaction. Playing with West had whetted my appetite, but confronting the Blackbird was like going to an all you can eat buffet after a fast. The Kitten was ravenous.

“Going somewhere?” I mocked. I grabbed him by the scruff of his collar and dragged him back. Real men didn’t run. “I want to speak to you about a present Hiram delivered the other day. Q’s fucking head.”

The keys to the Golden Gloves were still in the lock. I twisted them to seal us inside and threw them out of his reach.

Tears filled the Blackbird’s eyes as he rocked his hand like a newborn baby. “I didn’t know he sent it to you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “But you knew what he was planning, didn’t you?”

“We’re on the same side, Kitty,” the Blackbird whined. “We’re friends, remember? You can’t hurt me! Think of what Zander would say.”

“Zander isn’t here,” I said with a smile. “And I don’t answer to him, Hiram, or anyone. Don’t you know that by now?”

The Blackbird’s bottom lip quivered. “What do you want?”

“I want you to answer my fucking questions,” I screamed. My voice echoed around the gym, making the Blackbird shudder. “You knew what Hiram was planning, didn’t you?”

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