Page 11 of Over the Edge

“Fine,” she bit out. “But for the record, I don’t like this.”

“Noted,” Ethan said dryly. “Keep playing your part. If you can’t get a tracker on him, plant it on Vidal. Flynn, you stay close. If Moreau tries anything, shut it down.”

“Easy enough,” I said.

Ethan’s eyes cut back to Lyric. “And, Renard?”

She stiffened. “Sir?”

“Keep your emotions in check.”

Her face didn’t move, but I saw the flinch in her eyes.

That hit a nerve.

I scowled at Ethan. He could be such an ass sometimes. Okay, most times.

“Understood,” she said.

The screen went black.

Lyric stormed toward the bar, yanking open the mini-fridge with enough force to rattle the glasses on top. She pulled out a miniature bottle of vodka and downed it like a shot.

“Drinking on the job?” I asked, eyebrow raised.

“I’m off the clock until tomorrow.” She tossed the empty bottle in the trash. “And I need something to help me tolerate your presence.”

I chuckled, pushing off from the wall to wander around the suite. It was nice—not as opulent as Moreau’s, but still dripping with luxury. “You know, most women find me charming.”

“Most women haven’t had their operations hijacked by you.”

“Just following orders.”

She scoffed. “Men like you don’t follow orders.”

“Men like me?”

“Lone wolves. Contractors.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Men who think rules are suggestions, and loyalty is negotiable.”

“Well, I make an exception for Ethan.” I let out a low whistle. “And he really doesn’t trust you, does he?”

“He thinks I’m not good enough. I’ll never be as good as—” She caught herself and kicked off her shoes, sending them skittering across the marble floor. One landed upright, and the other toppled onto its side. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, it definitely matters. Youwantthem to trust you.”

“You don’t?”

I shrugged. “Trust gets people killed.”

She faced me fully. “And yet here you are. Playing watchdog for a team you have no interest in belonging to.”

I smiled. Damn. I liked this woman and her quicksilver tongue.

“I’m here because Ethan asked. It’s that simple. But you?” I stepped a little closer, testing her. “You, I can’t figure out. Why are you fighting like hell to prove something to people who won’t even let you in the door?”

Her eyes narrowed. “That amuses you?”

“Hell, yeah, it does. Because I already know how this ends, Siren. You keep trying to be one of them, and one day, you realize you never were.”

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