Definitely a questionable situation, then, and she didn’t even flinch from that punch. Color me impressed. Marco reacts, running forward before the mystery man snaps out of his momentary daze. Akila is little, so I’m sure he didn’t expect a punch like that.
I sure as shit didn’t.
I pick up my pace until I’m stepping in front of Akila, tilting my head to the side to assess the damage to my new friend. Turning to evaluate the rest of the situation, I see that Marco has the mystery guy’s hands held behind his back as blood drips from his nose, staining the white shirt he’s wearing.
“Well done, Akila,” I say with a smirk. I can feel her vibrating with anger behind me as she glares at the man in front of us. His nostrils flare while he stares back at her. “What happened?”
“This piece of shit followed me back here when I came to use the bathroom,” she spits. “Cornered me when I closed the door on the two of you.”
I hum and reach out and lift the man’s chin, trying to keep myself from gutting him right here in front of her. “Did he touch you?” I ask.
“Yes,” she breathes. Her adrenaline must be coming down, and the reality of the situation is most likely starting to settle in.
“Marco, what do we do to naughty little boys who touch toys that aren’t theirs?” I ask.
The man cries out as we hear the two audible snaps of Marco breaking both of his wrists. I smile, but I feel Akila shudder behind me. Lion will kill me if I do anything to this guy in front of her. I turn to her, and she swallows hard, but she keeps her chin held high.
Good girl.
“Why don’t you go back out and dance with the girls? Marco and I can handle this guy.” I make it sound like a question, but we both know I’m not asking. I jerk my head once, signaling the man behind me.
Akila nods and gives me a tight smile. “Thanks, Mal.”
I watch as she walks away and, once she’s out of sight, I spin around and grab a handful of hair. Shoving him forward, I smash his head into the wall. A crunch echoes with his cries, telling me his nose is broken. I sigh, because that felt fucking good.
I catch Marco’s gaze, and see that his eyes hold murderous rage.
“Basement?” Marco asks in a clipped tone.
I nod. “Think he needs a little lesson in respect, don’t you?”
Snot, tears, and blood cover the man’s face while he sobs. Marco pushes him toward the elevator, forcibly guiding him down to the basement. I follow behind, excited at the night’s turn of events.
Three
Liam
MONASITSACROSSFROMme, her legs spread just enough to show me her pussy if I wanted to look. Despite looking like a goddamn moron in her and Bastian’s attempt to set us—me andMalia—up that night at the club, she has remained persistent in her attempts to latch her claws into me.
After the incident at police department and witnessing the shitshow, Mona tried to swoop in and pick up the pieces. I almost fucked her again the night that happened, if only to erase Malia from my mind and body. I didn’t follow through on it though, and despite the fact that I once again “embarrassed” Mona, the bitch won’t fuck off.
A foot rubbing against my leg pulls me from my thoughts. Mona has kicked off her stiletto and is slowly creeping her toes toward my crotch. I shove her foot off my lap, and she snorts as Director Rene and Captain Thompson inform us all on the recent missing persons cases.
Women and children are disappearing off the street, and it’s become such a problem that the FBI is being forced to work closely with the local PD until it’s solved. The hope is to put a little heat under their asses to get this shit underway. Sex trafficking has reared its ugly head in D.C., and for once I’m relieved that my sister is across the country.
“Am I boring you, Agent Brenner?” Director Rene stops his lecture to call me out.
“No, Sir. However, it seems as though Detective Bridges may need a lecture on keeping her hands to herself.” I smile at my boss, knowing I will hear about my inappropriate outburst later, but the look on Mona’s face makes it all worth it. “Well, feet specifically. It’s a little distracting.”
The director and captain look between Mona and me. I lean back in my chair, letting my head fall on to the headrest while they move Mona to a different seat like a child who’s in trouble during class. When she turns to scowl at me, I wink at her, then chuckle to myself when she makes it a point to ignore me for the rest of the meeting.
Another torturous hour creeps by before the briefing finally ends. Once dismissed, I gather my things and waste no time getting the hell out of there before anyone can stop me. When I exit the building and notice a bundled-up blonde leaning against my car, I curse under my breath.
Bastian looks ridiculous in his winter outerwear—he’s covered from toe to nose in layers. It’s December and the temperature has probably reached single digits, so I get it, but Jesus he’s an idiot. I walk up to him—wearing my normal leather jacket and jeans—and stop, placing my hands in my pockets. The action is more for the sake of not hitting him in the face than the cold.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Bastian says. “It’s been weeks, Li. The bitch fucked us both over. We can’t let that cunt get in-between us like that, we’ve been friends way too long.”
I narrow my eyes on him as he speaks against Malia. She may have inserted herself into my life and fucked with me in every possible way, but hearing him talk shit about her takes me back to the last time he called her a bitch to her face.