Page 182 of Malicious Claim

"What's so funny?" she asked, frowning.

He shook his head, still chuckling. "I get shot at a hotel, and you follow suit. At this rate, you might as well follow me straight to hell."

Leila exhaled through her nose. "Honestly? Hell would probably be easier than watching over our shoulders every damn second."

Makros' grinned sharply. "The only time you should be looking over your shoulder is when I've got you bent over."

Leila tilted her head, lips curling with a smile. "Funny. I was just thinking I'd like to look over my shoulder right now."

Makros stepped closer, voice coming out in a husky tone. "But you're hurt."

Leila pointed at her bandaged arm. "Oh, this?" She leaned in, voice dropping. "This is just foreplay for us."

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Caged Bird (I)

LEILA'S POV

"This is just foreplay for us."

I meant it as a joke. Really. Just a harmless little tease. But the way his lips curled into a slow smirk—no hint of amusement in his eyes—told me he didn't take it that way.

Makros stepped closer. My heart thudded. Loud. Too loud. He always seemed taller when he was this close, like his six-foot frame expanded just to tower over me.

"Foreplay, huh? You sound like a Norse goddess."

Wait, I did?

"Let's go," he said.

"To where?" I asked, trying to sound casual. Cool. Unbothered.

It definitely came out more squeaky than smooth.

Makros didn't break stride. "That was an order, not a question."

He veered to the far end of the room, and I hesitated. Wasn't "let's go" usually followed by... leaving the room? Where the hell was he going?

We passed the dragon-carved mantel and the massive bookshelves lining the walls. Books for days. Seriously, what's the point of all this if no one reads them? I'd never seen him touch a single one.

Then he stopped. In front of a wall.

Just a wall.

He placed his hand on the carved dragon's head embedded in the paneling. I stayed a step behind, watching like what the hell is this?

There was a soft click.

A seam appeared in the wood—so faint I'd have missed it if I blinked. Then he pressed again, and a hidden door creaked open.

Okay... no. Nope. This was officially horror movie territory.

Secret door? Creepy silent mechanism? No thank you.

I didn't want to follow him to go in.

But of course, what I wanted didn't matter to him. It never has, probably never will.

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