Page 35 of Hero & Villain
Trixie spent thousands and thousands on tires. Did she need whitewall tires on her assault trucks? I did a quick search and found several far less expensive industrial-grade tires that weren’t as pretty, but would look the same after five minutes racing across sand. Maybe she could switch out the pretty ones for functional ones after the big start if she couldn’t give them up altogether. I made notes of possible expense cuts and saw the receipt for feed that Jezebel used for her menagerie. I made a few more specific notes in that regard.
Dirk Dagger’s side kept things lean, probably not keeping everything that came and went on paper. Probably half the tech he used was in the patenting process without being entirely protected. It would be so easy to break into his warehouse and take a look around if there weren’t a mountain lion, but even if I were prepared with diversion snacks, I wasn’t entirely versed in cutting-edge tech. I’d need to see him developing something to know it was worth stealing, and even then, it might end up useless. Was there any way that he’d let me close to him after I’d dumped him in the desert?
I shook my head and refocused on the paperwork. Nix spent way too much money on ‘entertainment’ expenses. What was that supposed to be? If taking beautiful women to MMA fights was part of company expenses, then he needed an internal investigation. I made a few more notes and finished inputting as much as I could find on the last month’s data by the time the door opened and Dirk Dagger came in with tape across his nose. For a second I froze, mostly because how could someone look so sinfully perfect with his white tape across his obviously swollen nose. That was my nose. I loved seeing him wear my violence.Which was completely sick. I also loved the way he looked at me, devouring me with his eyes. Super sick.
I stood up and grabbed the stapler, watching him walk into the office like he belonged there. Of course he belonged there. I’d bet my cello he owned stock in Death-Hammer. No, I wouldn’t bet Straw on anything, but it was very likely.
I spoke quickly before he could call me out about not being Toni. “Do you have any idea how much Nix has spent on ‘Entertainment,’ calling it a business expense?”
He blinked at me and then shook his head. “I can’t say that I do. Nix isn’t the cleanest businessman.”
“You know that he’s screwing over his own company? Why don’t you do something about it?”
He smiled slightly. “He’s in charge.” He didn’t look like the kind of person who would let other people be in charge of him. He’d run a team and now let someone else run him? It didn’t fit.
I exhaled. “Fine. If nobody cares that everyone except you is running Death-Hammer like their personal piggy bank, why should I?” I put the stapler down and walked towards him. I had to smile and apologize for knocking him out and dumping him in the desert. Maybe I could blame the last part on Jezebel.
I tried to smile and widen my eyes, but even trying to flirt made me nauseous. He didn’t move out of the way, but instead leaned against the door, crossing his arms like he was getting comfortable. His arms were so nicely muscled, like sculpted marble carved by a master. Only warm. Soft. Comforting.
His voice had an edge to it. “You’re still here. I thought dumping me in the desert had finality.”
I raised my chin and stopped staring at his arms. Not that his face was any better. His taped nose. I could focus on that. “No, that was my reaction to being stalked.” Which was a complete overreaction unless you were psychotic. I should have called the police. That’s what a normal person would have done.
He raised a brow, head cocking slightly. “You left my car doors open. The battery was completely drained.”
“You should have a smarter car. One that knows how to shut off before that happens.” Why couldn’t I just apologize for assault, lying, and leaving him to die? No idea, but I just…couldn’t.
He grabbed my arms, pulling me close to him while he stared down at me, his eyes as hard as his mouth. “You shouldn’t have put down the stapler.”
He felt so good. Was he going to break my nose? Would that feel good if he did it? I couldn’t imagine him doing anything that he didn’t like. My stupid voice was breathless. “You’re a hero. You wouldn’t hit a woman. You should hit Nix for running his business so sloppily. You’re the only honest person in this outfit, at least if honest means you let him gouge you for everything you do.” My heart was pounding, and adrenaline rushed through me, making me ready for absolutely anything.
He kissed me, soft and sweet. I gasped as his mouth covered mine and every intelligible thought drifted away. I wrapped my hands around his neck and surrendered without the slightest resistance. He wouldn’t ever hurt me. He was the one who saved me, at the top of the world and at the top of the cliff.
The stress and worry melted away as he held me gently, cupping the back of my head as his lips drew out every drop of unhappiness.
He pulled away too soon with a low growl, leaving me disoriented and loopy. His brows were drawn down as he scowled at me, eyes somehow soft even after I’d broken his nose. “You can’t kiss me with Jezebel holding me at gunpoint and not expect me to reciprocate as soon as I get the chance.”
My breathing came short and quick while I stared at him, at that soft mouth and soft eyes. “Is that proper heroic behavior? I had no idea the code was so complex.”
His scowl relaxed, and he slid his hand down my throat. My head tilted sideways, letting him touch me any way he wanted to without the slightest resistance. His touch was delicate, and so right, like I’d been made to have his hands protecting my vulnerable neck.
The door opened, and Nix came in, carrying a box of electronics stuff, cords and wires spiraling out of the top like hungry snakes.
We leapt away from each other, me straightening my skirt and Dirk crossing his arms while I smiled at Nix. I probably looked like a psychopath. Too bright, too fake. “Don’t you think his nose will heal cleanly? I was just looking at it. Anyway, I’m done for the day. I have some notes that you’ll want to look over. It’s the stack under the stapler. I’m supposed to get a car from Trix so Jezebel doesn’t have to keep driving me around. I’ll make sure to keep the tires simple.”
I pushed through them and left the office, waiting until I was outside to press my hand to my chest, trying to get my beating heart under control. And my mouth. It tingled, and his taste was still on them. I hadn’t taken a few steps before Dirk followed me outside.
“You think that you can just walk away?” he growled directly behind me.
I shivered at the sound of his voice. “Clearly. Wait until I’m sleeping to stalk me. It’s safer for you.”
“How long have you had night terrors?”
I stopped walking. I crossed my arms before I whirled around to face him, chin raised, stomach tangling. “How is that any of your business?”
He stared at me for another moment until his eyes softened. “It’s not.” He held out a black card. “There’s someone on the circuit who makes mental health his business. It’s a side-gig that he doesn’t advertise freely, but I got permission to give you this.”
I looked down at the number on the gold-embossed card. It was subtly scented, a masculine scent that was part money, part power. I stared at Dirk. “This tells me nothing.”
