Page 100 of The Rookie

Griffin tilts his head, amused. "See, that's where you're wrong. Everything in this room is my business."

I drop my face into my hands. "Oh my God."

"Avery," Gavin snaps, his frustration spilling over. "Are you seriously just gonna let him stand here and talk to me like this?"

I open my mouth, but Griffin beats me to it.

"No, no," Griffin says smoothly, lifting a hand. "She doesn't have to say anything. Because I already know the answer."

Gavin scoffs. "Oh yeah? And what’s that?"

Griffin’s grin sharpens, darkens, his voice dropping just slightly. "That you're not here for some friendly catch-up."

The air between them shifts, tightening like a coiled wire.

"You came here to win her back," Griffin continues, his gaze steady, unreadable, but cutting through Gavin like a damn scalpel. "Problem is, you waited too long."

Gavin’s face goes red.

"I—" He stops, struggling for words. "I didn't?—"

"Go on," Griffin drawls, crossing his arms. "Say it. Admit why you're really here."

Gavin’s fists clench at his sides, his whole body taut with frustration.

"Fuck you," he spits. "You don’t know anything about me."

Griffin raises an eyebrow, completely unfazed. "No, but I know her."

The words land hard, knocking all the air out of the room.

I freeze, heart pounding in my ears.

"And if you really knew her," Griffin says, his voice low, even, but sharp as a knife, "you’d know you already lost."

Gavin snaps.

In one quick, blind burst of frustration, he lunges at Griffin, shoving him hard in the chest.

Griffin doesn’t even flinch.

Doesn’t stumble.

Doesn’t react at all.

He just exhales slowly, rolling his shoulders, looking Gavin up and down like he’s an impatient customer at a deli counter.

"Feel better?" he asks casually.

Gavin’s breath heaves, his hands curling into fists, like he wants to throw another punch.

Griffin finally, finally straightens, cracking his neck, eyes flicking down at the inch of space between them.

"Think real hard about your next move, man," he murmurs, his voice softer now, but somehow more dangerous than if he’d yelled. "Because I guarantee you—if you put your hands on me again, you're gonna regret it."

Gavin swallows hard. He knows it too.

He knows he’s already lost.

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