Page 36 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
"Tracking? More like watching you bounce across the internet like a maniacal rabbit." My fingers mimic erratic hopping motions. "My team's been following your little digital footprints, little bunny."
The nickname exits before I can stop it. Her eyes widen, annoyance flashing across her features. But behind the irritation, I catch amusement she tries to hide, the corner of her mouth twitching before she controls it. She tilts her chin up, defiant.
"I'm not your 'little bunny.'" She narrows her eyes, but rapid heartbeat at her throat gives her away.
I need to capture this woman and finish the job. But something unexpected flickers inside me. Dangerous fascination I can't afford.
But here I stand, breaking every protocol in the book.
"Tell me about Vertex's connection to trafficking." I move closer to the evidence board.
She studies me for a beat too long, dark eyes assessing something beyond my tactical capacity. Heat crawls up my neck under her scrutiny. Then she nods toward her kitchen.
"I think better with food. Maybe something stronger to drink."
As she turns away, the logical part of my brain maps her movement patterns, noting blind spots and defensiveweaknesses. But another part tracks the confident sway of her hips, the line of her shoulders.
When she returns, she pushes a fresh cup toward me, fingers brushing mine.
"There's no way this is coincidence—you hunting Steele's network, me following Jenny's trail. We've been circling the same target from different directions."
Every training manual screams at me to withdraw, report, maintain professional distance.
I take the cup, letting my fingers linger against hers. The contact sends a jolt through my system that has nothing to do with tactics and everything to do with the woman before me.
"Let's compare notes."
ten
Vanessa
"Six federal statutes." Asher takes a single step forward, his black tactical boots silent against my hardwood floors. "That's how many laws you've broken in the past five days."
The amber glow from my LED strips catches the sharp angle of his jaw, highlighting that faint scar near his temple. Even when he's threatening me with prison, the man looks like he stepped out of some tactical gear magazine.
My heart hammers against my ribcage, but I force a grin, fingers already fidgeting with the cable management on my desk. "Only six? I must be losing my touch."
Those dark brown eyes narrow slightly—the only tell that I've managed to surprise him.
"Technically, I didn't hack them." The words tumble out faster than intended as I bounce slightly on my toes. "I exposed flaws in the security architecture. And the tracking system is just passive surveillance. Big difference."
"Legally?" He deadpans.Why does that send heat racing through my veins?
"Legally, you're probably right about the federal statutes thing." I twist a strand of hair around my finger—the pink streak catches the blue light from Obi-Wan's screen. "But morally? I'm the good guy here."
Asher moves closer to my evidence board, and I get a whiff of his scent, cool peppermint mixed with sandalwood and something distinctly masculine that makes my brain short-circuit.
Concentrate, Vanessa.
His gaze locks onto financial flow charts I hadn't shown him before, deeper layers spread across photos and string connections.
"These connections go beyond what you shared earlier." Not a question.
"I kept the best intel for this meeting." The tactical vest rises and falls with each breath he takes. "Had to make sure you were worth the risk."
Asher picks up a folder from my desk, long fingers thumbing through pages of corporate filings. His hands are exactly what I'd expect—callused, scarred. There's a thin white line across his knuckles that looks fresh.
"And you decided to expose yourself based on what evidence?"
