Page 82 of Monsters Wear Crowns
Rafe wanted me to stay here, hidden away, while my company took the hit. While the reputation I’d built with blood and sweat crumbled under a calculated attack. I wasn’t going to let that happen.
And I wasn’t going to let Rafe control me either.
The door to his office was cracked open. I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed inside, finding him exactly where I knew he’d be–behind that massive desk, phone to his ear.
“I don’t care how you do it,” he said, his voice cold and low. “Find out who fed Moreau that information. And when you do–” His eyes flicked up, meeting mine. The dark intensity there stole my breath. “–make them fucking regret it.” He hung up without another word.
“Do you have everything under control, then?” I asked, my tone sharper than I meant it to be. I crossed my arms over my chest to steady the riot inside me. “Or should I just stay out of the way while you fight my battles for me?”
His jaw tightened. “Adela–”
“No,” I snapped, stepping closer. “Mycompany is under attack. My people are losing trust because of this. Because of him. And while you’re playing whatever game you’re playing,I’mthe one who has to clean up the goddamn mess.”
His eyes flashed. “And I’m the one keeping you alive.”
I froze. The words hung heavy between us. “I wouldn’t even be in this mess if it weren’t for you.” I said flatly.
“No,” he agreed, pushing back from his desk. He stalked toward me. “You wouldn’t. But I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
My heart thundered in my chest as he closed the space between us. He didn’t touch me, but his proximity was overwhelming.
“You think you can fix this from your office?” His voice was a low growl. “You think Moreau will stop with your reputation? With your clients? He’s drawing blood, Adela. And you’re giving him a perfect target if you walk out there and try anything.”
I tilted my chin up, refusing to back down. “I won’t hide.”
“You should.”
“I won’t. I don’t know what kind of women you are accustomed to, but you’re fucking with a powerful bitch now. And that comes with knowing she doesn’t stand down.” My voice dripped with the kind of venom that made men shrink away from me.
He stared at me for a moment. Then, his hands came up, framing my face, gentle and rough all at once. His thumb brushed my jaw, and his touch calmed me even if my body burned from anger.
“Why won’t you listen to me?” he whispered.
“Because I don’t take fucking orders from you,” I shot back.
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. And then his mouth unexpectedly seized mine. It wasn’t a kiss, not really. It was a battle. Teeth and tongues and heat, his grip tightening when I tried to pull back. He wouldn’t let me go. My hands fisted in his shirt, dragging him closer, even as my mind screamed at me to stop.
But I didn’t stop. Neither did he.
The edge of his desk hit the backs of my thighs. He lifted me onto it in one smooth motion, his body pressing between my legs, his hands sliding into my hair.
“You’re so fucking frustrating,” he muttered against my lips.
“I’m glad,” I gasped, arching into him. “You deserve it. You’re anasshole.”
He laughed, and I felt it all the way down my spine. But before it could go any further, his phone rang. He ignored it. His teeth grazed my throat, his fingers digging into my hips.
It kept ringing.
“Answer it,” I murmured, breathless.
He swore under his breath and pulled back just enough to grab the phone from his pocket. I watched his face as he answered, and the shift was instant. The heat vanished, replaced by something cold and deadly.
“When?” His voice was like ice. “Where?”
A beat of silence. Then his eyes met mine, and my stomach turned to stone.
“We’re on our way.” He hung up and grabbed my hand, already moving.
