“This isn’t fucking happening. We’re not going back in the monster’s den.” He shoots his eyes to me before refocusing on Raymond. “Ellie’snot going back there.”
Raymond grits his teeth, an indecipherable emotion rippling across his face. “The Divine One wouldn’t have told anyone about Ellie and all the drama surrounding her. Everything Aria does is for a reason. I doubt your father knows that Ellie was put up for sale, now that the listing has been taken down?—”
“It’s only been taken down because someone bought her. A-fucking-gain. And who’s to say he didn’t see any of the previous listings?” Ryker cuts in darkly, his husky voice resembling the serrated edge of a blade slicing at skin. “He might even be the one who bought her this time, but we don’t know, because you refuse to allow us to look into it anymore.”
A tense silence permeates the air, all of my guys glaring at Raymond, daring him to contradict them.
Raymond sighs and forks his fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair. “I think this decision needs to be Ellie’s. We’ve been sitting idle for too damn long. We need a smoking gun, and Harvey is quite literally offering us entrance into the den.”
“The lion’s den,” Landon snarls.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Zane bursts to his feet, his hands balled into fists. A tendon in his forehead throbs. “Aren’t you supposed to be an FBI agent or something? How could you possibly suggest this?”
Beckett scoffs. “Isn’t it obvious? He doesn’t give a damn about us or Ellie. All he cares about is taking down POP. We’re nothing but cannon fodder.”
The thigh pressed against my own begins to vibrate, and I immediately drop my hand to it, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Beckett captures my hand in his and begins to play with my fingers.
Anger hardens the line of Raymond’s jaw. “What, exactly, are you insinuating?”
Zane jabs a finger in Raymond’s chest, unencumbered vitriol spewing from his brown eyes. “I think you know exactly?—”
A high-pitched yelp interrupts Zane’s dogmatic declaration. Zane freezes and whips around, a cry of terror catching in his throat…
Just as a six-pound chihuahua comes barreling around the corner, his tongue lolling.
Some of the tension melts from my shoulders as I bend down, wanting the comfort only my pet can bring.
“Hey, baby,” I coo as Frodo runs straight toward me. I scoop him up and settle him on my lap, allowing him to pepper my skin with kisses.
Beckett leans forward to pet the tiny dog behind his ears while Dominic attempts to give him belly scratches.
Zane simply stands there, some of the bravado draining from his expression, his face unnaturally pale.
It almost looks likehewas the one who had gotten stabbed recently.
“It appears as if my mortal nemesis has returned,” Zane says stiffly, hurling daggers with his eyes at the tiny dog.
Frodo simply barks in response.
Zane narrows his eyes to slits. “Menace.”
The dog barks again.
Zane turns toward me. “Princesa, did you not hear what your pet just said to me? Do you allow that type of language in your household?”
This time, Frodo yips two times, stands, walks in a perfect circle, then throws himself back down in my lap, shooting Zane what I would almost describe as a smug smile.
“I allowyouin my household,” I quip.
Zane places a hand over his chest, feigning indignation. “Are you comparing me to that…beast?”
“You do exhibit some dog-like qualities,” Beckett points out, always feeling the need to push every single button Zane possesses.
Dominic nods in agreement. “That’s true. He’s high-maintenance, energetic, and constantly feels the need to mark his territory.”
Zane’s narrowed eyes morph into a downright glower aimed at the tiny pup. “Great. Now you’re turning everyone against me.” He steps even closer and lowers himself slightly, so he can speak directly to the dog. Even still, his hushed voice carries, adopting a tone you would use to talk to babies, despite his harsh words. “I hate you so much. So, so much. Yes, you. I hate you. Die in a hole.”
I lower my face to Beckett’s shoulder to hide my mounting laughter.
