Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
BECKETT
I tucked my cock back into my pants and waited for the confrontation I was sure would be coming.
"Absolutely not." Anita fixed her ponytail and straightened out her shirt. Partially getting rid of the just-fucked look she had going on. She couldn't hide the flush of her cheeks though or the red patch on her neck from my stubble. Those would stay for a bit longer.
"This isn't up for discussion." I was starting to learn I just had to be stern with her if I wanted to make any headway. She would never tolerate a pushover.
"Do I need to remind you who's in charge here?"
I loved when she threw her attitude at me. It made me want to fuck her again. "You can if you like, but it won't change the fact that I'm getting in that room with or without your help."
I had a point to prove. I was in all the way when it came to her. If I didn't think telling her would result in her pushing me away, I would scream it from the rooftops. That wasn't an option, though, so I would keep pushing until she got used to my presence.
"You're a pain in my ass, you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment." I kissed her temple and chuckled when she scowled at me in return. "Come on. I want to see you in your element."
"You're going to regret this."
No, I wouldn't. Anita intrigued me seven years ago, and that has only grown tenfold since she came back into my life. I had a strong feeling watching her work would intensify it even more.
We were halfway to where Alexander was being held when Nyx joined us. "Where ya headed?"
"None of your business," Anita snapped before I could answer.
"Someone has their panties in a twist. Was the sex bad? Is that why you're stomping across the compound?"
I nearly choked on my spit. I was prepared to take offense to her suggestion until Nyx looked over at me and winked. So this was the ball buster of the team. There was always one.
"Jesus Christ, Nyx! Do you have to say whatever shit pops into your head?" Anita grumbled.
"Yes, but you already knew that, so I'm not sure why you sound so surprised."
"Just once…can you keep your commentary to yourself?"
"Ahhhh nope."
It was time to move things along before Anita lost her shit and killed Nyx.
I wrapped my arm around Anita's shoulder and turned her away from her teammate.
"Let's go." At first, it seemed like Anita wasn't going to listen, but then she started to move.
"Nyx, you're more than welcome to join me while I watch Alexander get what he deserves. "
"Oh this should be fun." Nyx sounded excited. "I wouldn't miss it for the world.”
My woman grumbled something under her breath that I couldn't hear and didn't bother asking her to repeat. She was walking with me, so I took that as a good sign.
It was like a switch had flipped as soon as we walked into the room. Anita pulled away from me and straightened her shoulders. "Miss me?" she taunted Alexander.
"No one would miss a cunt like you." Alexander sneered. It took Nyx putting an arm across my chest to stop me from lunging forward. A good thing too. I doubted Anita would let me stay if I interfered.
"Tsk tsk." Anita walked over to the bench full of tools, effectively giving Alexander her back and letting him know just how unimportant he and his words were to her. "Is that how you treat someone after they've given you the five-star treatment?"
"Untie me and I'll give you a piece of that five-star treatment."
Anita gave him her full attention. "You already tried that, remember. Didn't work out for you so well. I didn't even break a sweat as I kicked your ass."
Alexander's face flushed so deep red that I was worried he would stroke out before Anita could finish him off.
"Now." Anita's voice grew cold. "I'd like to get back to why you're here. Tell me where Nova's body is, and I'll kill you quickly."
"Fuck you," Alexander spat.
The man never learned, but that was fine with me. I wanted to see my woman in her element.
"No, thank you."
In one swift move, Anita walked over to Alexander, grabbed his ring finger, and forced it back until it broke. Alexander wailed in pain.
"She's magnificent, isn't she?" Nyx leaned in and whispered to me.
I didn't bother to answer. I was too fixated on what would happen next. Magnificent didn't even begin to describe Anita in that moment.
"You have nine more. Care to change your answer?"
"Fuck…" The rest of what he was going to say was cut off with another scream as Anita broke his middle finger.
"I can go all day. Your screeching doesn't bother me. Although I must say. You scream like a little bitch. The least you could do is go down with some dignity."
She wasn't just hurting him physically. She was destroying him mentally. I had to give her credit. It was a nice combination.
This continued until she broke every finger on his right hand. With each yell, I shook my head. Anita gave him just enough time for Alexander to hiss at her before she struck.
"One hand down. Have you changed your mind about answering me?"
Tears poured down his face. He was no longer even trying to act tough. For a crime boss, he was weak. I expected him to have thicker skin. To back up the threats he used to make. If only his men could see him now.
"I'll take that as a no." Anita returned to the bench and picked up a small paring knife. I could only assume she was bored with breaking fingers and wanted to change up her method. Nyx confirmed as much when she leaned in and whispered, "Anita gets bored easily. Plus, she prefers knives."
I hoped her boredom didn't extend past torture. I was falling for her hard, and it would be a damn shame if she shook me off because I no longer interested her.
Nyx proved that she could read me easily. "Don't worry. I'm pretty sure she plans to keep you around. She wouldn't allow you here if that wasn't her intention."
That did make me feel better.
For the next few minutes, Anita placed little, shallow cuts all over Alexander's body. It got to the point where he wasn't even hollering anymore. If I had to guess, he was either disassociating from the pain or his body shut down.
Anita must've recognized it as well because she stopped and walked away. She was barely a foot away from me when Alexander grumbled something low.
"What was that?" I asked before I could think better of it.
"B.L.T.D." The letters were barely more than a whisper, but we all heard them.
Nyx pulled out her phone and quickly typed something. "It's a storage facility on Charlotte Pike." Now we were getting somewhere.
"What about it?"
"Five one five."
Anita stomped back to him. "What's in the storage unit?"
Alexander didn't answer. His head hung down to his chest. I knew even before Anita grabbed him by his hair and yanked his head back.
Alexander was dead.
"Fuck!" Anita roared. That wasn't the outcome she was hoping for. "We need to get to that storage unit and figure out what the hell was so important that he said it with his dying breath."
I headed straight for Anita and wrapped my arms around her. At first, she was stiff as a board, but after a few seconds, she relaxed enough to let me hold her. Eventually she even hugged me back.
"I just want to find Nova's body," she whispered. "Is that too much to ask for?"
"No, it's not." I rubbed circles along her lower back. "I'll help you find her. I'll be with you every step of the way. You're not in this alone."
She didn't argue, and I took that as a good sign she was getting used to the fact that I would be around. It wasn't quite the love declaration I would've liked to give her, but it would do for now.
Love?
I couldn't say exactly when it happened, but I think it was right in this room while I watched her at her worst and still wanted her in my life. I was used to death in my line of work. So what if Anita brought it to others. It didn't change how I felt about her.
I wasn't sure what that said about me or my future as a federal agent, but I knew one thing for sure. Giving up Anita wasn't an option. I couldn't say the same for my career.