Page 90 of Rival Hero

Klein’s slack-jawed, and his eyes are glazed over.

“Once Tomer is out of the office, I only need a half hour, tops. I have another tweak to make to the program, but once it’s done, I should be able to find these guys in a matter of minutes. Then you and the team can go in and do your thing.”

Folding my hands in my lap, I suck in a deep breath to refill my lungs while I await his scorn.

Nothing.

“Any questions?”

“Mia, holy shit.Howcould yo—”

His words cut off when I pierce him with my sharpest glare.

Is that a look of admonishment reflecting at me? Is he ashamed to be associated with me? Angry?

But doesn’t he seewhyI did this? Doesn’t that matter to him?

Not in all cases— but in this case specifically— the ends justify the means.

The need to defend my actions bubbles up unbidden until I can no longer restrain it. “If you were about to ask how I could do such a thing, I shouldn’t have to explain that to you. And if you won’t help because I got my hands dirty, then I’ll find someone whowill, because nothing— and I mean nothing— will stop me from saving these girls from being sold like cattle, raped, and abused until they’re no longer valuable to their captors.Nothing. Speaking of cattle, did you know that sometimes they physically brand them with a hot iron? That’s the kind of evil we’re dealing with here. If you don’t understand why I bypassed proper channels in the interest of saving timeand these girls, then I really don’t care what you think of me, and you’re not the man I thought you were.”

The more I speak, the more emotional I become, my voice quivering and my volume spiking. “I’ve seen firsthand what these sick fucks are capable of, and I can’t rest on my laurels and let it happen to another girl. Sosorryif my methods disgust you, but—”

His warm palm encircles my wrist, the shock of his touch silencing my impassioned rant. “Shh, it’s okay.”

When I look at him through eyes coated with a sheen of tears, he’s not looking at me with judgment or disgust like I thought he was.

It’s warmer.

Kinder.

And…loving.

With a buttery-soft voice and his puppy-dog expression, he asks, “Mia, why are you defending yourself like I’ve accused you of a crime? Did you think I’d be mad about what you’ve found or how you found it?”

Huh?

Blinking rapidly, I try to stave off the waterworks. “Aren’t you?”

“No. Why would I be?”

I shake my head, trying to process my thoughts, but it’s hard with the feel of his skin on mine and the emotions still swirling from my opening argument in the case ofThe People versus Mia.

“Because I broke the law. Hacked law enforcement servers. Crept in the back door to the fucking FBI to get this information.”

“And?”

What is happening right now?

Moisture pools in my eyes until I can no longer see. “Don’t you have some type of objection to that? Your moral code or Redleg policy or something?”

“Mia, we try to stay above the law at Redleg. But when it was necessary, we’ve broken laws for the safety of our clients. Especially for Redleg family. I can understand why you might not know that. Big Al’s not going to broadcast it or put it in the freaking policy manual. There aren’t files documenting all the shady shit we’ve done.” He licks his lips and swallows. “Hell,I’vedone my fair share of messed up shit. Not proud of it, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

His long fingers pulse around my wrist, then he drops it to hold my hand. “I’m not looking at you like this because I’m disappointed in you or on some moral high ground.”

“You’re not?” I squeak the words.

“No, I’m looking at you this way because I think you’re the most intelligent person I’ve ever met. I’m in awe of your brilliance and can’t believe I get to work with you. And I unequivocally believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that Big Al was right to choose you over me.”

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