Page 49 of Before and After

Wow, the place was going to be huge. I spotted a burly worker in a hard hat. “Hi. I’m looking for Caden. Mr. Castro.”

The guy gave me a chin lift. “He’s back there.” He pointed toward some draped plastic sheets.

I pushed through the plastic. The work sounds dimmed a little, and then I spotted him with a measuring tape measuring up the wall.

I dragged in a deep breath. “Caden?”

His head jerked up. His face looked as though it was carved from stone.

I lifted my chin. “I need to talk to you.”

His dark gaze narrowed. “What is it?”

Glancing around, I noted there were no workers close by. The plastic sheeting made it feel like we were all alone. I swallowed, suddenly feeling like an insect, pinned under his gaze. “I cleaned the ESG’s rooms.”

A dangerous look crossed his face and he tilted his head. “You went in their rooms?”

His tone made goosebumps prickle across the back of my neck. “They weren’t there.”

“I told you to stay away.”

“News flash, I didn’t listen.” I put my hands on my hips. “I’m not stupid, Caden. I didn’t do anything risky. Well, I did look around a little, but I didn’t find any drugs.”

He made a low sound.

I was done being intimidated by him. “I’m not letting my team members in there if they’re dangerous.”

Waves of something powerful were emanating off him.

“I saw powder on the desk.” I licked my lips. “Maybe we could take a sample of it, or something.” I pulled out my phone. “I took some pictures.”

He moved. One second, he was standing there, the next he gripped both my arms. “You went in there.”

I shoved against him. “Back off, Broody.”

His face darkened and he looked intensely lethal. “I told you to stay away from them.”

“I heard your order, but I had to do what I think is right. I?—”

“Put yourself in danger.”

My heart kicked. That was why he was pissed? “We can test this stuff and get proof.”

“It would be a trace amount. It would prove recreational use, at best. They’d get off with a slap on the wrist.”

I sagged. “Oh.”

He leaned in, his face an inch from mine. My heart beat went into overdrive, and my hands clenched on his chest.

“If they’d caught you…” He leaned closer and pressed his face to the side of mine.

Shit, I wasn’t supposed to be touching him again. It was like we were a magnet and metal. Anytime we got close, bam, we stuck together.

“They didn’t catch me.” I smelled dark spice. I wanted to roll around in that scent. God, I trembled, wanting to touch him. “I had a legitimate reason to be there. I’m housekeeping.”

“You have no idea what they’re capable of. They could hurt you.” A shudder went through him.

What was going on?“Caden, I’m all right.” I pressed my hand to his stubbled cheek.