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“Navarro told me you almost destroyed the hospital.”

“Bull fucking shit.”

“I heard they’ll need a new decorator. I’m just saying, this girl is your match. Accept it.” Kruz moved past me toward the door, chuckling the entire time.

The last fucking thing I needed was for everyone to consider her my equal.

Funny how the thought alone kept my cock at full attention.

I remained where I was for a few seconds before grabbing my jacket, shoving my handgun into the holster. When I stormed outside, I thought about how to handle her.

How many times did she need to be attacked before she realized that…

That what? That she was supposed to sit around in one of our homes, waiting for my return? Yeah. Well, that hadn’t worked out so well. Did I like having her by my side?

Yes, even if she annoyed the hell out of the brutal man inside.

Yet I’d never be able to convince her that keeping her in a cocoon was better for her health and welfare. And forcing her to obey? As I jumped into the truck, starting the engine, I grinned from seeing an image of her face when she was furious. She’d disobey and then I’d need to punish her.

There could be worse things.

I took off, rolling toward the ammunition compound where the soldiers had gathered. She was not going on the mission. Not this time. It was far too dangerous.

The engine was barely off when I jumped onto the ground, taking long strides past several vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition into the building.

Soldiers were heading out, right on time as required. After pushing through them, I located Genevieve, who was carefully loading up a bag.

As soon as I approached, she tensed but continued shoving explosives into the duffle.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Preparing for the attack.”

“You arenotgoing.”

“You donotget to tell me what to do.” While she wasn’t exactly manhandling the devices, her grip was firm and forceful.

I placed my hand on hers, forcing her to stop. “I don’t think you want to blow us up.”

“They’re squibs, you know, low-level explosives? They aren’t volatile. However, those are. But their range is better, up to several hundred feet.”

As she went on to explain their purposes, my dick continued to throb. Right now, what I wanted more than a lesson in explosives was to tie her spread-eagled to my bed and spend hours tormenting her into submission.

“I appreciate the lesson, but you’re still not going.”

She zipped the three bags without looking at me then pulled a Glock I hadn’t seen before into her hand. Now she kept her eyes pinned on mine as she reached for a fresh magazine, yanking the old one and tossing it aside, slamming the fresh one into place without looking at her weapon.

“Are you trying to impress me?” I asked.

“I’m not trying to do anything but my job.”

“Your job is to run the corporate side of the business.”

Now she smirked. “Check your contract, Mr. Asshole. It says we are fifty-fifty equals. There is no codicil about your handling the rough stuff while I tolerate being inside an air-conditioned office all day.”

“Yeah? Well, there needs to be a change.” I moved closer.

“Fat chance of that happening. I’ll never agree to it.” She shoved the weapon into her holster and inched toward me, her head held high and her eyes flashing with irritation.