18. Chapter 18 #2
Click! Evan grinned devilishly at the sound.
Finally, they’d see what Frankie deemed important enough to be locked away.
They cracked the safe door open slowly, half convinced an alarm would still go off.
Frankie’s 9mm was the first to come into view, and just like the last time, the sight stole Evan’s breath momentarily.
It wasn’t hard to picture the determined, capable woman gripping the gleaming gun in her strong hands; it wasn’t far-fetched to imagine Frankie using it either.
What was hard to swallow for Evan was the fact that the woman they were very likely at least halfway obsessed with had not only pointed a gun at Caleb but had opened fire on him.
Why? Why him, why then? Caleb wouldn’t even have been in the alleyway if it hadn’t been for Evan.
“Why’d you come anyway? Dad’s gonna skin you alive when he finds out.
” Caleb shoved Evan, annoyance evident in the way his dark eyebrows comically slashed together.
His mouth sat in a tight grimace. For being only twenty-three, Evan’s big brother looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, and they told him that.
“You’d look old and stressed out too if you had a kid tailing you to every party you tried to go to.”
“Well, I hate being left home with him! Lately, all I’ve gotta do is walk in the kitchen and it sets him off.”
Caleb’s face softened. “He doesn’t understand you, Ev.”
“Yeah, well, he doesn’t need to understand me to show a little respect.
” Emotion swelled in Evan’s throat. They grabbed the beer out of Caleb’s hand and took a long swig.
Some of the liquid dribbled down their bruised chin, and they swiped it away with a shaky hand.
“It sucks being cooped up in the bedroom all the time, especially since you get to strut around like a fuckin’ golden boy. ”
The distinctive tap of stilettos coming down the hallway broke Evan out of their silent reprieve.
“Shit, shit.” Evan’s heart thudded frantically as they scraped their lock kit from the floor and stuffed it back into their jeans.
They hadn’t even gone through the entire safe, too checked out in the past to focus properly.
Had they locked the door? How much time did they have?
Evan pulled out their phone and quickly snapped a picture of the inside of the safe before closing and locking it.
Evan gave a terse glance around with the flashlight, making sure everything was in order.
If they survived this, then breaking into Frankie’s filing cabinet would have to wait for another day.
Flicking off the flashlight and jamming it into their jeans again, Evan scrambled to the front of the desk just as the door to Frankie’s office opened. Their heart was in their throat as they came face to face with the woman they were supposed to hate more than anything else in the world.
“Jesus!” Frankie’s hand flew to her chest in alarm, and she hit the light on with the other. Evan caught the flash of fear in her eyes, and then it was gone, replaced with the kind of hardness Evan had suspected to see. “What the hell, Evan? You’re supposed to be at the dish pit.”
Panic chilled Evan’s insides. Frankie showing up this soon hadn’t been in their plan. She never left the bar during a rush. Stupid, stupid! I can’t go back to prison. Evan took a deep, steadying breath, and shot Frankie a shaky smile. “I-I knew you’d come looking for me.”
“Come again?” Frankie shut the door and folded her arms across her ample chest. An indiscernible glint shadowed her brown eyes as she walked toward them. “Did you break into my office?”
Evan swallowed and forced themselves to relax enough to lean against Frankie’s desk. “Maybe, but only so I could surprise you. It’s been hard trying to get you alone today.”
“So you … what? Thought it’d be appropriate to help yourself to my office during one of our busiest times?
” The confusion on Frankie’s face was paramount.
“I don’t believe you. You have me to yourself morning and night, and it’s been a week since you spoke a full sentence to me, Evan. Do you realize that?”
Evan thought for certain Frankie would take the bait.
She was always so eager to flirt and touch and tease them.
Hell, a part of them was disappointed that she wasn’t falling over their feet yet.
The other, more rational part of them was glad they might escape the mess they’d found themself in without taking off their clothes.
“What’s really going on? And don’t lie.”
“It’s true,” Evan insisted, forcing themself to keep eye contact.
If they looked away, Frankie would know it was a lie.
Evan relaxed their breathing, going so far as to grin a little.
“Listen, I’m not great at discussing my feelings, Frankie.
I figured … what better way was there than for you to find me in your office again?
Wasn’t there some kind of sexual punishment promised? ”
Frankie’s jaw sagged, and for an uncomfortable stretch of time, she stared at Evan.
“You clearly don’t understand as much as I’d hoped about Domme/sub dynamics.
I’m not built that way, Evan. I can’t just forget how terrified I made you feel that morning.
As a Domme, hearing you scream for me to let you go …
” Frankie trailed off, visibly upset now.
She turned toward the door. “I’m not sure what to think about this situation but know this: if you seriously want to get involved with me, we will sit down and discuss matters like adults. ”
Like adults. Humph. Evan tried not to let the comment sting. It was a well-deserved dig, they’d give her that. After all, Frankie wasn’t the one breaking into someone’s office and lying in wait. Evan cleared their throat. “Okay.”
Frankie opened the office door before looking at them again. “And Evan?”
Fuck, the broken shards in her voice were enough to choke Evan up. Something was seriously wrong, and they’d hazard a guess that it went well beyond Evan rejecting her in the bedroom. “Frankie?”
“If you ever break into my office again, I’ll have you arrested.”