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Authors: Olivia Linden,LeTeisha Newton

SCRATCH (Corporate Hitman Book 2) (9 page)

BOOK: SCRATCH (Corporate Hitman Book 2)
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“You know what I want to hear,” he whispered in her ear.

 

“Zio,” she complied.

 

“Say it again,” he panted

 

“Zio...”

 

“Louder,” he commanded as he shifted the position of his hips so that her pussy took all of him in. Then he rolled his hips, making sure to pump upwards, caressing her spot with each stroke.

“Zio!” She shouted as her climax began to kick in.

 

“God, yes!” He shouted as his own release hit him like a freight train.

When his body managed to stop spasming, he rolled to his side, pulling her with him so that they lay face to face.

 

Monica looked deep into his eyes as she caressed and stroked his cheek. Scratch moaned as he rubbed his stubbled jaw against her palm.

 

“Tell me,” she whispered.

 

There was no going back for him now, so he told her the truth.

 

Chapter 15

 

Scratch
didn’t know
exactly how he felt heading to work that Monday morning. Friday night had been a revelation, in many ways. He and Monica had stayed up into the early hours of the morning talking about his life, her life, and what had happened. It hadn’t been just about how he’d ended up in jail, and why. It had been about them. For the first time, he could say someone knew him better than the two men he’d created a life with under Eagle’s thumb. He could be himself. No lies, no stress, no worry about her finding out.

 

And that was the problem.

 

Monica knew enough to get her in trouble, if anyone found out what she knew. While he was happy to have found someone that he could share his life with, he didn’t know how much of a life he could give her. Shit, he would have to be leaving the country with the others in his team to escape the set up Eagle had created. Would that mean he’d have to leave her behind? Could he? He just didn’t know the answer to those questions—didn’t even want to think of them.

 

As he drove to the office, breaking through traffic easy enough, he couldn’t stop thinking about the final kiss in his apartment before she dressed and left. She’d insisted to hail a cab a couple blocks away so no one would see them together if he took her home. Even though he understood the necessity of it, it still bothered him. She’d been the first women he’d brought back to his apartment, the first woman in his bed, and he’d had to let her sneak out to keep her career in tact.

 

He sighed roughly, pulling into his assigned parking spot. It couldn’t be helped, none of it could. They would find a way, they had to. For now, he needed to keep the investigation off Jack until they could get clear. Even the FBI would back off if they couldn’t find anything. Eagle couldn’t push too hard or he’d fall under suspicion. Scratch understood that game well enough. That at least gave them some breathing room.  He got out his car and took the elevator up toward his office. About ten floors up, the elevator stopped and Scratch swallowed an irritated grunt. 

 

“George Hines,” Agent Axe, said. “Just the man I wanted to see. Funny I catch you coming in.” Agent Axe got onto the elevator, with Monica coming in behind him. She smelled amazing—all lavender and passion. Scratch relaxed a little. She had that effect. She looked over him a moment, over Axe’s shoulder with a small smile on her face. Yeah, much better.

 

“What can I help you with, agent?” Scratch asked, trying to create some semblance of relaxation. He leaned against the wall and cocked his head at Agent Axe. Monica had told him about Roderick Axe as well. It seemed the man had a thing for Monica. Too bad that wasn’t happening. She looked on, confused, at Axe.

 

Ah, so pretty boy was playing his own game today.

 

“Oh, I’m not sure. Some thoughts I’ve had. Wouldn’t want to have this conversation on an elevator, you know?” Axe pressed the close button, not allowing anyone else on.

 

“You think? I may not care either way,” Scratch replied, letting his mask slip a little. It was only the two of them there.

 

“I know. But hey, why not,” Axe finished. He leaned forward and pressed the stop button on the elevator. Scratch tensed. Ten minutes. That’s how long it would take for the elevator to be forced to move. But, in two minutes they’d call in to make sure everyone inside was okay. A lot could happen in that time.

 

“What’s going on?” Monica asked, looking at Axe. The night before, Scratch wouldn’t have been able to tell if she was confused or bluffing. Now, he saw her through different eyes. Axe hadn’t alerted her about anything that he was doing now, and it worried her. Scratch tried to keep a lid on his anger for her sake. She’d seen it enough.

 

“George Hines didn’t exist before a few years ago. I wondered at that. Who has no real history? No paper trail? Started making me uncomfortable, you understand?”

 

“What,” Monica asked through gritted teeth, “the hell are you talking about, Axe?” She hissed the question at her partner, but it was loud enough for Scratch to make out. Axe looked at her a moment.

 

“Work I’ve been doing while your head wasn’t in the game,” he bit out.

 

“How dare—”

“Is there a point to this? I’m going to be late for work and not in the mood much for games,” Scratch cut her off. No use having her at odds with her partner. Anger made people slip, and Monica had a lot to lose.

 

“Fine,” Axe said, “let’s not play games then. Who were you fours years ago? Five? Ten?”

 

“That’s three questions. All of which I don’t have to answer. What you’re here for I’ve provided,” Scratch replied, placing his briefcase on the floor. He stood slowly, keeping his eyes on Axe. Monica sucked in a breath. Yeah, she’d seen him like this. She knew what could be coming. She stepped around Axe.

 

“This, gentlemen, is a conversation we can have in Mr. Hines’ office. I’d like to hear the answers as well, but this isn’t the place,” she added to her partner. She worked well under pressure. Scratch would give her that. And she never let on that any of this wasn’t news to her.

 

“Then how about I put it a different way? How the hell is Inzio Vikhrov out of prison and standing in front of me?”

 

Monica froze. Scratch didn’t outwardly respond. If Monica knew, then he wouldn’t be surprised if her wannabe boy toy went searching because he couldn’t get the girl. Not Scratch’s problem. Damage control was though.

 

“Who?” she asked, catching herself. “Vikhrov?” She looked to Scratch. She was convincing. He couldn’t show her his support, but he hoped she knew he was with her.

 

“And that would matter why exactly?” He asked, dropping his mask entirely. Fuck it. He was tired of being the nice guy. This shit was getting on his last fucking nerve. Axe could shove it where the sun didn’t shine and Eagle could take a flying fucking leap off the damn building. Scratch backed up a little, so his back was in the corner—easier to protect the sensitive sides and his body from kidney shots. If bitch boy wanted to tango, they could tango. At least if he acted like an ass it would take Monica out of focus if Axe started wondering why she wasn’t pushing hard with him.

 

“Because I asked you a fucking question, and you are going to answer. How you beat a quarter rap? Break out?”

 

“Mark’s case?” she whispered. For the first time Axe softened. He’d been close to Monica’s brother, she’d told Scratch. It was probably the first time he thought about the fact that his little game could backfire, but he was in too deep now to go back.

 

“I just did some research, Monica, and I couldn’t let it pass. Mark did good work on that case.” Axe didn’t understand Monica at all if he thought Mark had done a good job on that case.

 

“Answer the question, Mr. Hines,” Axe continued.

 

“You’re stupid and ugly as shit. Did you hear anything about a break out while you were searching dipshit? Try again.”

 

“I’m going to expose you, Inzio.” Axe had a smile on his face when he said it. That set Scratch off. Where did this fucker get off calling him by name, as if he was allowed? As if he meant a fucking thing to Scratch, that he was worthy of uttering those syllables. There one person on the elevator who had the right, and it wasn’t AXE.

 

“You listen to me. And you listen good, yeah? You haven’t got a fucking thing, pretty boy. I caught a plea. Too bad it’s above your pay grade to know about it. Keep playing with fire though, you’re going to find a bullet in you,” Scratch hissed, ignoring Monica’s gasp. Eagle didn't play easy when it came to shit like that. No one got someone out of prison on a federal case without an inside man. Axe could have endangered Monica just tapping into that shit.

 

“Are you threatening me?” Axe took a step forward, his manner aggressive, but Scratch kept his body loose. Trick to fighting in small spaces was keeping as much open area around you.

 

“Is everyone okay?” The question made Axe freeze. He stared hard at Scratch before turning and pressing the button on the intercom. While he was turned, Monica took the brief opportunity and ghost her fingers over Scratch’s hand. It was enough to calm him down.

 

“Clear here. Get me moving and I’ll be better,” he replied before turning again to Scratch.

 

“You’re worthless. You were then, and you are now. Always will be. No wonder your mother ditched you when you went to prison.” He said as Scratch lunged at him.  “Ah ah ah,” Axe said, pulling his gun, but not pointing it. “Wouldn’t be a good idea. Now you’re going to answer my questions.”

 

“Fuck you.”

 

“Not my type, sweet cakes. How did you beat a RICO charge?”

 

“Roderick, this is going too far. Put your weapon away. Mr. Hines isn’t even a person of interest.”

 

“He is now. Answer,” Axe continued.

 

“Didn’t. Caught a plea. Told you already. My answer doesn’t change just ‘cuz you have heat in your hands.”

 

“Makes me more likely to believe it. So you caught a plea, and then what?”

 

“Changed my name, legally by the way. Anything else you are going to have to work for, and you don’t have much time,” Scratch said with a dark laugh as the elevator moved. “Anywhere else but here, and I’d break you,” Scratch growled.

 

“You know assault is a charge on the threatening words you use.”

 

“Yeah? And elevators have cameras,” Scratch said, lifting his chin towards the camera in the right corner of the elevator. “By footage, I backed up, you pulled a gun, I didn’t move. I have your badge. Play the game if you want. I don’t scare easy.”

 

“Axe, he’s right. He has enough to file a case against you if he wanted. Put your gun away and calm the fuck down,” Monica argued.

 

Axe, unfortunately, paid attention and put his gun away. Pity. Scratch would have loved to take him on anyway. The elevator doors slid open silently. Ignorant of the near miss that had happened within its walls as some of Scratch’s coworkers greeted him. Scratch stepped out the elevator and headed to his office, but Axe dogged his heels. At his door, Scratch waited for the agent to say something, aware they had eyes. Axe simply nodded toward the door, before speaking quietly.

 

“We still have those accounts to go over, Mr. Hines.” Scratch gritted his teeth, wishing he could punch Axe’s nose into oblivion. Instead, he decided on opening his door and allowing the agents in.

 

“We weren’t done with our conversation.”

 

Scratch closed the door as calmly as he could.

 

“I thought we were. You lose, I don’t answer, and you get on your way.”

 

“I want to know why the files you have been giving Monica aren’t the ones we need. You have something else to hide?”

 

“I’ve given her everything you’ve asked for. You’ve gone through all the files with a fine tooth comb. You can’t find anything wrong because there is nothing there to hide. Period. Get over it, pack up, and go home.”

 

“Not that easy, and I’m tired of you talking to me like you have an iron jaw.”

 

“I’m tired of being harassed. I’ve given you everything I can. You know what? From this point on, I believe you need to deal with the company lawyer. I guess my cooperation isn’t what you need. I’m sorry about that. Truly I am,” Scratch added coldly. Those were words no cop wanted hear, and Scratch could see that Axe wasn’t any different. He swallowed heavily, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Scratch knew this wouldn’t go over well with Eagle, but it would at least buy him time.

 

“You don’t really want a lawyer, do you? You can still deal with me directly,” Monica said, keeping up with her good cop/bad cop. But Scratch needed her out of it too now.

 

“No, the lawyer works. You have any questions you can go through my boss and the lawyers. Have a good day, agents.” With that, Scratch went to his desk. Axe slammed out the door, with Monica behind. Scratch forced himself not to watch her exit. He had no doubt that Axe would be heading straight to Eagle’s office. But Eagle had two options, back up his employee and look like a legitimate businessman, or find some way to circumnavigate the lawyer. Either way, Scratch had bought some time.

 

He just hoped it was enough. Shit wasn’t going the way he thought it should be at all.

BOOK: SCRATCH (Corporate Hitman Book 2)
10.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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