Page 6 of Shockproof

“This is different!”

“The only thing that makes this different isthisisn’t an inconvenience foryou!” I tighten my grip on the assailant’s ankle. “Arley’s life is just as much at risknowas it wasthen!”

Guilt doesn’t hesitate to grow in his expression. “I just thought-”

“You didn’t fuckin’ think!” the booming of my voice shakes the ground beneath us. “Because if you had, you would’ve realized that me callin’you –of all the fuckin’ people in this buildin’ – meant I wasoutofall otheroptions! Had you thought aboutherinstead of your goddamn self your ass would’ve left that call, got down here, and stopped this asshole before he ever reached the fuckin’ door!” Yanking the man’s leg harsher causes him to whimper behind the tape. “You wanna do somethin’, Lenkov?” My head cranes slightly forward. “Stay the fuck out of my way.Period.”

No further argument is made.

“Blu,” my attention shifts back to him, “order a tactical sweep of the entire area after you call Reynolds. I want the other offices on this floor emptied and secured. Personnel sent home. I want the ones right below hers, emptied and secured. Personnel sent home. Pairs stationed at every point of entry on this floor and leading to this floor from the one below and above. If my woman so much assneezes, there better be a small army’s worth of firepower locked and loaded and ready to hunt down those germs like they’re starring in a fuckin’John Wicksequel. Is that clear?”

“It’s descriptive,” Arley spiritedly inserts.

“Affirmative,” Blu acknowledges yet again.

I redirect my gaze to the brown pair that I’m so thankful are no longer flooded with fear. “You gonna tell me goodbye?”

More relief fills her expression at the same time she slowly shakes her head. “You know I don’t say goodbye to you.”

“And you better not start now.”

The corners of her lips finally reach her ears. “Stay safe, Cowboy.”

“Stay sweet, Angel Cake.”

“Stay funny, Blu,” he states to himself in a playful nature, immediately receiving a quirked brow from me. “What?” His innocent shrug doesn’t affect the aiming of his weapon. “I wanted to feel included!”

Laughter from Arley successfully smothers out the lingering tension the way he knew it would.

The way he knows I need it to.

The way onlyshecan.

With a much calmer, along with a much clearer, mindset I release a slow breath of focus and begin dragging the prisoner by the foot away from Arley’s office towards the elevator. Despite the fact there are faster ways for transport and that the transport itself would go much quicker if I had someone simply assist me in the carrying process, I deliberately choose the slower transferring method. Not only do I want him to endure additional bumps, bruises, and broken bones that will come from banging his frame into every hard surface I cross paths with, but I want to make an example out of him.

I want every man, woman, and fucking bug in this building to know that it’s a grave mistake to come after the love of my life.

Literally.

Chapter 2

Slater

Reynolds leans his back against the nearby wall. “I don’t think he’s breathing.”

“He is.”

“His chest isn’t moving.”

I slide on the first set of brass knuckles while quietly insisting. “It is.”

“You’re not even looking at the motherfucker!” squawks the other member of my interrogation team.

Not that Ineeda second to get shit done.

It’s simply protocol.

And a good reminder for whyheshouldstayin my good graces.

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