“I got busy, okay?” Alaric complains. “I would have been alerted if he escaped. Trust me. Let me do a sweep on him.”
He hangs up on me, and I’m left slack-jawed in the middle of the office. The thief is lurking somewhere in the building and neither my brother nor Rev seem to be concerned that he’s a threat.
Do I need to reevaluate Alaric’s workload? It’s this type of careless behavior that leads to data breaches or people dead. I know for a fact the government likes to sniff around, eager for a reason to shut me down. While I’d like to believe people would agree that we’re doing the world a justice by wiping out high-profile scum, that wasn’t always the case.
Fuming, I stride to my office and unlock the door, only to be stopped short by Ezra curled up in my desk chair like some sort of street cat.
For a few ragged breaths, I just stare down at him. My brain can’t process what the fuck is happening. I feel like I’m being tossed around on a broken down fair ride, hurtled this way and that. And all by some rough-around-the-edges kid.
Part of me is still convinced he’s a traitor, allied with Gabriel to ruin me or ordered here by the government as an undercover operative. The other part can’t help but be intrigued. Ezra snuck into my building, broke out of the corner office, organized the entire floor, and ate Steve’s lunch.
I almost want to snort. Itiskind of fucking funny.
Maybe he was searching for the drive. But why would he put so much effort into cleaning? Why wouldn’t he try to escape?
It seems more like he was… bored.
Ezra stirs and blinks up at me with those pretty hazel eyes. I clench my jaw.No, not pretty.
“Oh, shit. Guess I fell asleep,” Ezra says, popping out of my chair. “Should I go back to my corner room now?”
I want to correct him that it’s nothiscorner room. And this isn’thisoffice to upheave. I’m in control here.
Instead, I pinch the bridge of my nose. I’ll be fighting a headache today, no doubt. “What in god’s name are you?”
“Could be a changeling.”
“A what?” I ask, cutting him a glare.
Ezra fiddles with his lip ring. “A mythical creature swapped with a human baby at—” He drifts off as I stalk over to him, forcing his smaller frame back against the glass windows. His Adam’s apple bobs under my hand as I wrap it around his neck.
“Is all of this your doing or not?” I demand, finding that I’m more curious than aggravated. I do my best to ignore the twitch of my cock in my slacks, though I can’t help my leg from pushing between his, sealing our bodies closer together.
Defiance lights up his eyes. “Hey, you act like I made a mess. I put shit back in order. Jen totally stole that credit card machine, and Steve had a receipt for that taco shop instead of eating the lunch his wife probablypacked for him. And that stupid espresso machine needs instructions. All the hit lists in people’s desks are a little questionable, though.” He furrows his brows, and that heat I felt the other night trapped in a small room with him rushes through me, overwhelming all reason.
My gaze drifts down to his pouty lips. His skin is flawless and smooth under my touch. I loosen my grip on his neck, letting my thumb drift down to his pulse point. I stroke over it a few times, satisfied when I feel him responding with enthusiasm.
Do I make him nervous? IknowI turn him on. How fast could I get his heart to beat?
Fuck these thoughts.
Ezra shrinks under my intense stare. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I just really don’t like to be locked up.”
I fall victim to the captivating swirl of vibrant green and light brown in his eyes, desperate for a sign that he’s manipulating me. I can’t stand betrayal. Won’t tolerate it from my staff or contracted killers. They all undergo interviews with Rev and his team before they even have a chance at meeting with me.
Ezra’s body slumps, and I hook fingers through his belt loop to help keep him upright, fighting the urge to tug him closer. His slipping confidence is throwing me off center.
“You can hit me if that would make you feel better,” he murmurs. “I don’t mind the pain. I think I need it.”
What the fuck?
Unable to stop myself from testing him, I pull out my knife and press the cold edge just under his chin. A single bead of blood bubbles from his skin. He doesn’t so much as flinch.
Why am I a little desperate to bring his sassy edge back to the surface?
My fingertips brush lightly over his neck once more. I stop breathing as his dark lashes flutter and his mouth parts. It makes me want to close the space between us and claim his lips with my own. Makes me want to reach down to stroke a hand along his length, curious if I could draw a moan from him.
I back the fuck up and flick my knife closed before I do something stupid. “I honestly have no idea what to do with you.”
