Chapter Fifteen
O’Connor
Iwatch every inch of her face transform from shock to fear. She is coming to the same conclusion about this room that I did.
I haven’t been able to fight the urge to tell her about it, and even though it goes against everything I’ve been trained to do, I needed her to know.
The same way that it killed me to ignore her at that damn bar. Anyone watching me would know to use her as a threat against me.
To use Avery.
The thought rolls bile in my gut. I don’t let myself become so manipulable. I’ve gone soft, and no one can know that.
Because there were definitely eyes on me. I only go into town once a week for a proof-of-life check-in. I don’t speak to anyone, but I’m observed.
Linden rushes down the hallway and back to the party, and I watch from the windows as she gathers Avery up and says forced goodbyes.
But this time when I follow them out to the cars, there is more security stationed around the valet station. I guess they didn’t take kindly to one of their workers taking a forced nap in the grass.
Nothing they can do will stop me from seeing these girls get home safe, though. I’d snap their necks for trying.
I duck around cars until I’m tucked behind the last one and wait patiently for Linden to drive past me. Minutes tick by as I ensure no one is following them before I make my retreat back home. I stick to my shadowed route, but something stops me just past the garden.
Two men are smoking cigars where they shouldn’t be.
They look at me with wide eyes because they don’t know who I am, or what I am. But I know who they are. They are clients of the Scotts. I recognize them from the photos from the dark web.
One of them invests in the illegal Scott enterprise, and the other one is a buyer.
I pull my sidearm from my thigh holster, putting a single silent bullet between each set of eyebrows.
Their bodies hitting the dirt is the loudest part.
* * *
“Progress report,” the disguised voice relays from my computer. My boss is not someone I’ve ever met, but I know they’re more connected than Big Brother. Watching me, always.
“I eliminated two conspirators earlier this evening. Fred Mahan and Aurther Beal. Their bodies were disposed of, and no trace was left behind.”
“What else?”
“I’m still waiting for the French dictation translation to come back on my audio files. I retrieved the computer files. Working to crack those now.”
“You’re behind.”
“I know. I’ve had a few hiccups. I’ll infiltrate the lower level of the house during the next large gathering. It’s the only question mark left in the mansion.”
“And the neighbor?”
My heart sinks. Always watching. “What about the neighbor?”
“You’re distracted.”
“I’m not. I’ve remained objective.”
“Use her closeness with the family. Get in and get the confirmation we need to eliminate the Scott enterprise.”
“I’m not–” I stop, regaining myself. “I’m not using innocents as pawns.”
“Get the job done. Or you’re off the op, and I’ll get someone in that will do whatever needs done.” The call disconnects, and I stare at the screen in front of me.
“Fuck!” I shove my keyboard across the desk as I stand, and my chair flies back, smashing into the wall.
Calling me out for being distracted puts me over the edge after all the struggles I’ve had trying to crack these computer files. It’s infuriating. I’m not a computer expert; it isn’t my thing. Killing is my thing.
I don’t use people to get what I need either. I refuse to get Linden involved in anything that could endanger her or her daughter.
I stare at my fists against the desk for several minutes, letting my rage simmer before smacking the space bar on the far monitor.
All of my camera feeds pop up, showing me my perimeter and Linden’s. It’s past midnight; I’m sure she’s fast asleep.
With everything so quiet, I drag myself down the hallway to the shower and try to drown myself in steam.
It doesn’t matter. All I think about is the woman next door. Her smile, her laugh. My cock reacts before I even get to the shape of her ass in the tight jean shorts she wears. The curve of her breasts peaking out of the top of her tank tops.
She wears these loose t-shirts to bed every night, and every night I watch her at her kitchen table with a bowl of ice cream or a brownie.
I would kill to slip through her back door and lay her out on her kitchen table so that I could have her as my midnight snack.
I know she tastes just like her sweet personality. Like, warm honey.
Fuck. I grip my cock, fucking my hand in desperation. She has no fucking idea how bad I need her.
How fucking consumed I am.
I just want her soft hands to touch me as tenderly as she touched me the night I told her about my parents. I didn’t mean to scare her off, but her touch terrified me. It felt too good. The exact thing that would break me when I need to be an impenetrable shield.
I want her to do more than break me. I want her to whisper my name in a plea. I want to make her feel as good as she makes me feel.
I picture her in front of me, those warm golden eyes gazing at me so lovingly. Then she grabs my hand and lets me touch her face, cupping her cheek.
And my release jets out all over the shower wall.
I watch it drip down towards the drain as I catch my breath, and scrub a hand over my face.
If I’m not supposed to be distracted, why does it feel so good to have her in my head?
Because she’s light and I’m dark. If she ever finds out about me, she’ll be terrified of me. That’s why I’ve stayed away. I’d rather her be confused about my distance than afraid.
I walk down the dark hallway and go still, sensing a disturbance before I ever set foot in my control room.
Rain has started falling heavily, but it wouldn’t cause one of the motion-activated lights to chirp.
I don’t check my property first. I scan Linden’s as I drag jeans on, and loop a shirt over my head.
In her driveway is a car that I distinctly recognize.
I crank the sound up, and their voices fill the room as I yank my tac boots on, not bothering to tie them.
“Please, go. You’re going to wake Avery up!”
“I don’t care! She’s my daughter!”
“No, stop!” I hear the loud crash as he tries to shove past her door. The last thing I see is her attempting to block him before I’m out of the room.