Page 120 of Controlled Burn
Dean’s hands had curled into fists halfway through. Not from shock—he knew what she sounded like when she came. He knew how her body trembled when she was close.
But she hadn’t sounded like that with him.
She’d sounded stronger.
And that’s what cut. Not thatshe’dlet King touch her. That she’d orchestrated it. Turned the man into a goddamn puppet and made him worship her.
And the next day? She came to him. Eyes fire-bright, mouth sharp, dragging him into his own office and bending him to her will like it was her right.
He should’ve felt powerful. Instead, he felt replaced. Likeshe’dprovenshedidn’t need him at all.
He was the captain. The one with everything to lose. The one who broke the rules for her. And now he couldn’t tell if he’d ever had her—or if she’d just wanted to see if she could take him, too.
The worst part?
He’d let her. Again. And again.
Because every time she touched him, he burned. And he’d rather be ash than untouched by her.
McKenna’s Warning
Later, McKenna found her alone by the lockers, phone still in her hand.
“You okay?” McKenna asked.
Talia didn’t answer at first.
“Someone’s using footage. Trying to own me.”
McKenna nodded slowly. “Of course they are.”
“I thought if I stayed sharp—stayed ahead—”
“You can’t outpace a system built to watch you burn,” McKenna said. “So don’t run. Burn on your terms.”
Talia looked up.
McKenna’s mouth curved into something feral. “Set the fire so hot they’ll pray for smoke.”
The Trap
Later that night, at home, Talia poured a glass of water and opened her laptop.
A folder:Countermeasures.
Spreadsheets. Access logs. Names.
Her insurance.
She added a new entry: Brooks.
Then, she opened her camera app and pressed the record button.
Her face, sharp in the screen light. Blue eyescalm. Commanding.
She didn’t blink.
“Let’s play.”
