Page 708 of One More Kiss

“Yes, and in order to take matters into your own hands, you need to be able to prove that.”

“Witnesses,” Will offered.

“And if there aren’t any?”

“That’s not fair,” Lizette said.

“Nope. It’s a calculated risk. Taking his life to save yours, might just cost you yours in the end. Is it still worth it?”

“Yes,” Mia said.

All eyes swung to her.

“Really?”

She shrugged. “At least he wouldn’t be walking around enjoying life when he took mine. If I’m going out, I’m taking him with me.”

“What are you, like one-ten soaking wet? Okay, you’re taking him out,” Josh scoffed.

“You don’t think she can? I asked.

“No,” Josh said with a snort. “She’d be overpowered in a heartbeat.”

Mia pushed her seat back and stood with her arched black eyebrow raised in a brazen challenge. “Well? I’m right here. If I’m so damned easy to take down, show me what you’ve got.”

“I can’t do that; you’re a girl.”

“Scared?”

“Hardly.” But he made no move to get up.

“Big talk until someone finally forces you to put up or shut up,” she said before sliding back into her seat, leaning back with her leg stretched out, unwavering confidence in her defiantly relaxed position.

“Okay, let’s change up the scenario. Someone’s on your property, breaking into your house. What if they don’t have a weapon on them?”

“Well, that’s different,” Justin said.

“Okay, and how are you going to make that decision in the spur of the

moment. What if you can’t see?”

“It’s better to be cautious,” Lizette pointed out, volleying back toward her original position.

“Until you have to justify it in court. And your caution might have just cost someone their one shot at life. Can you live with that?” I asked.

“If someone is on my property, they’re mine,” Mia said, her eyes back on mine. “They don’t like it, they never should have crossed my lines.”

I stopped in front of her seat, the toe of my shoe barely brushing the toe of her boot. If she felt me there, she didn’t show it. “That’s a bold position. So, they’re your possession just for being on your property?”

“Something like that. They know right from wrong. They know where they belong, and they know where they don’t. You want to wander onto my property. I’ll do whatever the hell I want with you.”

Her words held a tone of warning. As if she might have been in this situation before or had prepared to be in the position in the future. “Interesting.”

“Is it?”

My throat grew thick, my pounding blood riding on a wave of painful lust. My pants grew tighter, forcing me to head to my desk to hide my growing problem. “Oh, very.”

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