Visiting enforcer, Miles knows that something is shady with Lylia. She’s hiding something and he knows it. Determined to uncover her secrets, Miles follows Lylia into enemy territory. What Miles discovers is more devastating than he could have imagined. Now, Miles and Lylia must work together to destroy their rivals once and for all. But will teaming up lead to something more—something deeper—neither expected?
~ EXCERPT ~
(This is an unedited preview.)
She was closing the safe when her door opened. Miles didn’t bother knocking like any normal, sane person. He just barged in catching her off guard and scaring the shit out of her. There was a look of sad triumph on his face. It was still accusatory but she had come to believe that was just how his face was. This, though, she didn’t like the feel of this look.
Miles didn’t say anything but came in and dropped a bag on her desk then waited. All the blood drained from her face as she looked at the clear plastic bag, the one she had filled with money not even an hour ago. The one she had scribbled a hasty “fuck you” note on and taped to the bottom of a metal folding chair. The one that should have been in the hands of her blackmailer and not this enforcer.
“What have you done?” she asked with a hollow voice. They would expose her now. They would turn her pack against her, drive her out or kill her.
“Explain this,” he said.
“You have to take it back,” she urged, lunging for her desk. Lylia grabbed the bag and thrust it at him. “Take it back now.”
Miles shook his head. “Answers. That’s what I need. We can do this here, in private, or I can take you down to interrogation.”
“Miles please,” she begged. “If they don’t get this…”
“What? What will happen? What do they have on you?”
That was not an option. Telling him, of all people, would not happen. Miles was ruthless when it came to Canidae and his wife. Lylia knew both. She closed her mouth and shook her head. It was over anyway. He wasn’t taking that money back. They’d all find out soon enough that she had grown up Canidae and she’d face the consequences.
“You are going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”
Lylia steeled her shoulders. “Take back the money and I’ll make it easy.”
“I can’t do that,” he said.
“Then neither can I.”
He took a step toward her and she took a quick one back. Miles let out a frustrated growl. “Don’t run. You’re only going to make it worse for yourself.”
She rounded the desk on the other side as he lunged at her. With her heart pounding, when she had a clear shot at the door, she took it. Lylia was two steps into the hall when he grabbed her around the waist. They both hit the floor but he had taken the brunt of the fall having spun them so she didn’t land on her face. Even with the wind knocked out of him, he held on to her.
Arms caged around her. His mouth was at her ear, his warm breath heated her skin as he spoke softly to her.
“Lylia, please,” he begged. “We just need to talk.”
She fought because she had seen his version of talking. Lylia had never been a very physical person. She’d never thrown a punch before, but she did now. Arms and legs flailed as she tried to get free of him.
Their struggle attracted those on the first floor. Blurred faces appeared in the doorways, concerned voices telling Miles to let her go. Lylia barely saw them, she had to get free. She had to run.
“What the hell are you doing?” came an outraged voice above the rest.
“Lee, stay out of this,” Miles grunted as Lylia elbowed him in the stomach.
He rolled them so she was now face down on the floor. The grip on her wrists was like steel. His face was covered in blood, it startled her enough to pause. Had she done that? Miles turned and wiped his nose on his shoulder, blood smearing in the already stained fabric. Then one by one a thin plastic cord was looped around each of her wrists and tightened.
She didn’t stop fighting though.
“Stop Lylia,” he commanded. “You’ll lose circulation.”
“Let her go,” Lee said running over to them and pushing Miles, he didn’t dislodge. “Don’t worry Lylia, I’m calling Owen right now.”
Miles didn’t respond this time. He lifted Lylia to her feet, both of them heaving. Lylia’s bun had come undone and hung limply off her head. She had to wipe her cheek with her shoulder to get the hair out of her mouth and noticed that she was covered in blood as well. Miles’ nose was crooked and swollen. His nostrils flared and then he was tugging her, moving her forward. A dozen or so people watched on in horror as Miles pulled her to the stairs, to the interrogation and holding rooms.
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