When He's Dirty (Walker Security - Adrian's Trilogy 1)

Daniel clears his throat and sets a piece of paper on the table. “The list.”

Pri waves it off. “Irrelevant. I said no deal.”

“Then I’ll talk to the DA,” Daniel counters.

“Ed signed off on this,” Pri says, cool and confident, unfazed by Waters, at least on the surface, “and he’s now taken an extended vacation.”

“Good,” Waters says. “Vacations help people relax and let their guard down.”

“If Ed is really on board with the no deal strategy,” Daniel says, “he won’t mind if we send the list to the press, I assume?”

“Not at all,” Pri states, her eyes daring to meet Waters’. “And he and I will both tell the press all the reasons you won’t go free. We’re done.” She looks at me and in silent agreement, we turn for the door.

I’ve just reached for the handle when Waters says, “It’s always hard to say goodbye to the pretty ones, don’t you think, Adrian?”

It’s a threat against Pri, and despite expecting as much, it jars me. I inhale, all but radiating with my need to go over that table and destroy him, but once again, one last time with this monster, I hold back. I don’t, however, walk away. I know him and when he’s angry he acts quickly, or rather, he orders Deleon to act quickly. I use this moment and that knowledge as a chance to push him a little harder, to make sure he wants me dead tonight.

I walk to the table, press my hands to the top again, get in his face and say, “It’s over for you,” I goad, trying to get him to threaten me on camera. “I’m the end for you.”

“You’re overly confident, Adrian. The end is near, but it won’t be the end you write. It’ll be the end I write. The one I’m writing in my head this very moment.”

“In handcuffs, a striped suit, and about to go back to jail. I could have justified killing you twenty times over and if I believed you could hurt me, I would have. But I don’t. You’re pathetic, barely a man, one who had to hide behind his Dark Knight. I wanted you here. Learning what it’s like to be someone’s little bitch. And you will, many times over.” I push off the table and walk to the door, opening it and urging Pri into the hallway.

We leave Waters behind, but this isn’t the end of my story with Waters.

If we play our cards right, it will be the end of Deleon.Chapter Thirty-FourPRI

Once we’re in the SUV, Adrian kisses me. “You did good, sweetheart. You okay?”

“Yes. I just want that monster to go down.”

“And he will,” he vows. “I really am the end of him.” He strokes my hair and leans forward to talk to Adam, who sets us in motion.

I’m not listening to their conversation, though. I’m thinking of the interaction between Adrian and Waters. He asked if I’m okay. I know now, that deep beneath his surface, beneath the jokes and good nature, is a man tormented with deep scars. He calls himself dirty because he feels dirty, but I’m the one who’s dirty. I’m the one who helped people like Waters for money and accolades. He did what he did for the greater good, and I’m going to make sure he remembers that and it won’t be easy. Not when the press and the defense team will try to paint him as dirty as he feels.

Adam drops me and Adrian off at my office building, a necessity to ensure that he’s not followed back to the rental where the team is working. “Let’s walk to your place,” Adrian says. “And quickly, before you get cornered by someone exiting the offices.”

“You’re making sure Deleon sees you.”

“He’s seen me already,” he says. “Waters made that clear. Right now, I’m taunting him, telling him I’m not afraid of him.” He grabs my briefcase. “I’ll carry this. Do you need your flats?” He pulls them from my bag.

“Yes,” I say. “Thank you. And your arm.” I hold onto him, changing my shoes, struck by how comfortable I already am with Adrian, and I think that matters. It feels like a natural trust level I instinctively have for him. And somehow, he’s exciting and comfortable.

I slip my heels into my bag hanging at his side.

“You’re back to being very short,” he comments, “but you handled yourself like you were ten feet tall in there with Waters today.” He motions me forward and we start walking.

“I have a zone I get into when I’m with those monsters.” I glance over at him. “I’m sure you get it.”

He cuts his stare, and looks skyward a moment. “I do.”

“I can’t imagine what it was like being on duty, living undercover for two years,” I say, trying to remind him that he was on duty, doing a job, and what that job forced him to do isn’t what defines him.