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Not exactly the same as having a drug or arms empire.

I guess this is what they’re talking about when they talk about small man’s syndrome.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around this last week,” I say. “It’s taken some time to get things sorted after my apartment was trashed, and I’ve had to restart my search for the Hunter because my laptop was stolen.”

None of this is new information to him. In fact, I’ve told him this same thing every day this week because he constantly expects me to have something new.

“You know what I think, Ember? I think you’ve got a new boyfriend, so you’ve been slacking off.”

“That’s not it. It’s just like I said.”

“It’s been weeks since I gave you that file, and you’ve got nothing?”

I glare across the desk. “Every other person you’ve given this assignment to has had months and has come up with nothing. I don’t think it’s surprising that after weeks—and losing all my progress—I don’t have anything concrete. I have a few leads that I’m chasing up, but unlike all the incompetent idiots you’ve had doing this search in the past, I’m not going to go off half-cocked with information that, not only is not true, but could get me killed.”

“Your brother was one of those idiots.”

The reminder only makes me pause for a second before I shake it off. “He was an idiot. He was too cocky, and that’s what got him killed. I don’t intend to follow in his footsteps, which means I need time, and I need you to stop blowing up my phoneevery day asking for updates. When I have one, I’ll let you know, but in the meantime, just let me be.”

He shoots to his feet so quickly I can’t help but flinch, but I hold his eye, never letting him see my fear. Because the reality is, I am scared. I’m scared of Lucas. I’m scared of whoever tried to have me kidnapped. I’m scared of whoever trashed my apartment. I’m just fucking scared, and I’m sick of it. “You do not speak to me that way,” he growls, and not for the first time, I’m glad there’s a desk between us. When he gets like this, he gets violent, and somehow, I don’t think I’d be able to explain away a black eye to Orion when I get home. “I am your boss. I am your fucking owner until you pay off your debt.” The malice in his words makes me swallow around the whimper that tries to escape.

I’ve always known Lucas isn’t completely sane, but until recently, I’ve felt like I could handle myself with him. Suddenly, that doesn’t seem as true as it has in the past.

I press my lips together to stop myself from arguing with him. It’s not going to get me anywhere, not while he’s this amped up.

“If you can’t pay off your debt in a timely manner, I’ll start using your body to speed up the process.”

“You can’t do that,” I whisper.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want, Ember. And you’ll do well to remember that.”

He nods to one of the men standing by the door, and before I can think to push myself out of my chair, they’re on me.

The first punch comes so quickly that I don’t even have a chance to take a breath before the pain radiates through my skull.

Agony hits me in the stomach next, my entire body keeling over to protect itself, but that just leaves my ribs vulnerable.

Hit after hit leaves me gasping for air, and I don’t bother trying to stop the tears from falling. What would be the point when this is the most pain I’ve felt since the accident?

“Stop,” I beg, but I’m not even sure they hear me as the chair I was sitting in is tipped on its side, sending me tumbling to the hard floor. Usually, I would be disgusted at the idea of being on the ground in a place like this, but right now I’m just focusing on not passing out from the pain.

If I pass out, they could do anything to me, and just the thought has a wave of panic slicing through my chest.

A kick to my already excruciating ribs steals a yelp from my throat, and another round of pleas falls before I can swallow them.

A slamming door in the distance vaguely processes through my foggy mind, but I can’t bring myself to think anything of it.

At least not until a familiar voice cuts through the pain.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Killian barks.

“This is none of your business,” Lucas snaps.

“Oh, I think it is very much my business. Do you think it’s wise making an enemy of a man like Orion?”

It’s only now I realize the hits have stopped coming, but I don’t move, too afraid of causing myself more pain.

“This has nothing to do with him. This is between me and Ember.”