Page 65 of Dirty Little Secrets
“She handled it.”
He gives a low whistle. “She isn’t running to the cops so that’s a good sign.”
“Obviously.”
He studies me. “But do you though?”
I exhale through my nose and sit at my desk, every muscle tight. “Drop it.”
But he doesn’t. Of course he doesn’t.
“Xaiden, I’ve seen you with a hundred women. Most of them forgettable. But I’ve never seen you throw a man into a wall for touching one’s arm, let alone a bullet through their head.”
I don’t reply. I’m sure Bash filled him in.
He leans forward, eyes sharp. “You’re not thinking straight. That’s not good. Not with this many eyes on you.”
“I’m thinking clearly.”
“Are you?” he presses. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’d burn cities for her, and you don’t even know why.”
My hands curl into fists against the wood.
“You want her,” he presses. “Admit it.”
I stare at the desk. Smooth. Cold.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“She’s my fucking secretary, Mike.”
“She’s notjustanything to you.”
Silence stretches. Then he straightens, running a hand through his hair. “You want my advice?”
“No.”
“You’re getting it anyway.” He smirks, but there’s no heat behind it. “Either push her away and mean it or protect herlike she’s already yours. Because if these people find your weakness?” He looks toward the door again. “They’ll use her to bleed you out. And it won’t end well.”
33
The building is quiet. Past nine. Only our floor is still lit. I carry in the last of the files, heels clicking softly on the tile. Xaiden’s office glows from within. I pause at the doorframe, unsure. I’m not usually this late but so much has happened so fast. My head is trying to keep up.
“Come here,” he says softly.
He’s leaning back in his chair, sleeves rolled to his elbows, the top two buttons of his shirt undone. The room smells like him. Exotic, expensive ink, and power.
“Yes?”
His eyes find mine. “You’ve been working hard.”
“So do you.”
He stands and walks around his desk His movement fluid and controlled. Each movement fluid and controlled. The air between us shifts as he walks me back to the wall by the door.
My back hits the wall before I even realize I’ve no place to go. He steps in. Hands on either side of me. Not touching. Just... close.
