Page 42 of Capture Me
A mental picture of being owned by him sends a thrill through me. The only problem is that I can’t deny the connection I have with Akio.Fuck, Fallon stop. They literally kidnapped you!
“So, what is on the agenda for you kids today?” Ms. T’s voice jars me from my thoughts.
“The usual, work out the kinks in the new design, try to get Menace to behave, and cause a little mayhem.” Matteo gives Ms. T a teasing grin as he continues to cook.Since when is he funny?
“Hey, dickbag, I heard that.” I glare at the back of his head, but Ms. T comes to my defense.
“She’s not a dog, you neanderthal.” She shoots me a wink. “And speaking of dogs, where’s Hades?”
I glance around seeing that he has, in fact, disappeared.
“If he isn’t attached to Siren’s hip, then he probably went out back to run around,” Akio chimes in from the kitchen table.
“Well, I am going to find him and get him some breakfast.” She strolls out of the room to get started with her day.
I hop off the bar and head toward Akio, who is now resting his head in his hands. Pulling out the chair opposite him, I let the legs screech on the floor. He looks up and the bags under his eyes make sense. This must not be the first encounter with Quinn. She’s giving them hell.
Laughter is bubbling in my chest when Declan joins us. He lumbers into the room, silently pours a cup of coffee, and then plops down in a seat at the table. He drinks black coffee? Fucking psychopath.
“So how is my girl Quinn?” My finger circles the rim of the mug as I shoot small glances at Akio.I eat boys like you for breakfast…Lyrics to that Dove Cameron hit plays through my mind.
“At another dead end obviously.” He waves a hand in the air, pointing out the lack of alarms and music.
“I mean, for now. She doesn't lose. You’re so fucked. Say goodbye to your beauty sleep.” Declan watches our banter with a smirk, but when he catches me looking at him, his stony expression slides back into place.Boo, no fun.
“Fallon, there is a reason I’m the best at what I do. She may have slipped past a few weak spots, but there is no way she can find you. Nothing connects us to you. Your friend is out of her league.”
“We’ll see.” I shrug. He bites back a grin as he shakes his head in exasperation.
“She wasn't able to hijack my system for more than twenty minutes at a time. No amount of Trojan horses, or viruses she tries to put in will break through my encryptions, nor will she be able to install the ransomware.” My eyes glazed over after his first sentence, much like when Quinn goes all evil nerd genius.
“Dude, we have no idea what you just said.” Matteo interrupts any further conversation with breakfast. We dig in and I catch the furtive glances from him. Not that I will admit it, but I will be damned if this isn't the best omelet I’ve ever had.
Later on, I’m dressed in leggings and a matching black sports bra, one of several sets that Akio brought to me the other day. I’m heading to the home gym that the guys frequent, which results in them wandering around the house all sweaty and yummy.No, Fallon, not yummy.
I walk into the spacious room and feel at home with the smells and rubber-like flooring beneath my feet. There is a weight rack off to the left, a large sparring ring in the middle, several boxing bags hanging in the back, and cardio equipment to the right. The layout reminds me of the gym I started going to after I was attacked. I was determined to learn to defend myself and they had classes dedicated to exactly that.
I weave between equipment, heading for the treadmill. This is going to feel amazing after weeks of being locked up. Setting a high pace, I’m quickly lost in thought.
They’re starting to let me in, and I feel safer than I have in a long time – because of them. We’re fighting for the same thing, and they’re aligning more and more with the justice-seeking badasses I thought they were. And then there are the sparks – the moments – that push me to them.It’s just because they’re hot. They’re all walking red flags,I reason with myself.I clearly have a type. Jacy is going to have a field day with this... if I ever get out of here, that is.Do I even want to?Yes, bitch, shut up. Giving up freedom for hot sex and romance is only fun in books.
I’m jarred from my thoughts when the door to the gym slams shut. Declan comes in wearing shorts and a tank top with the armholes cut out so big I can see the entire side of his torso. He’s cut in the most glorious way,and all of that ink has me ready to make a fool of myself. Black and gray skulls, the reaper, ravens and smoke cover his arms.
Catching me staring, he smirks and I jerk my attention away.Did he just fucking chuckle? I didn’t know he could laugh.Shifting my focus back to my run, I ignore him.
Well, for all of two minutes. Glancing up, I see him throwing combinations at one of the bags. Our eyes meet and the rush is better than any high. We both look away. This happens several times before I shut off my machine and approach him.
“What do you want, Poison?” His bored tone contrasts the tension in his body, the tension growing between us.I wonder what else is growing…Eyes up, Fallon!
“Maybe I want another chance to kick your ass. You didn't play fair last time.”
“There’s no way you could manage that.” He huffs a laugh.
“Maybe not three against one, numbers you apparently needed because you’re scared of the big bad, five foot five, normal fucking human being.”
He stops hitting the bag and comes toward me. His huge frame towers over me. Fuck he smells good, like sandalwood mixed with something earthy... that I could roll around in…focus, Fallon.
“I don't need numbers. I can easily get you right where I want you and there would be nothing you could do about it.”
