Page 45 of Cannon

Javi’s jaw clenched, but he backed up a step. “All I’m saying is be careful. That man looks at you like you’re his, not the other way around. And I can smell the convict on him. He’s too young for you and way too dangerous.”

“Get out of my office.”

The door slammed behind Javi, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. I barely had time to exhale before Cannon returned, filling the room with his big dick energy.

“Everything okay in here?” His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine.

“Yeah, I’m good. But for future reference, Javi doesn’t need an escort. He’s safe enough to come up on his own.”

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click that somehow sounded like a threat.

“Let me make something crystal clear.” His voice dropped an octave. “Every single person who comes to see you goes through me first. No exceptions.”

He moved closer, the space between us shrinking with each step. “You should feel lucky, I even left that nigga alone with you. You don’t get to decide who bypasses security. That’s my job. That’s what you hired me for.”

“He’s my ex-husband, Cannon. The father of my child.”

“I don’t give a fuck. He’s a cop. I clocked that shit the second I laid eyes on him. Cops can’t be trusted. Especially not around here.”

He had a point but Javi had never done anything to betray me, not even when I shot him in the leg.

“I fuckin’ hate that you were ever tied to a lame like that.” His jaw clenched.

There was nothing I could say in return. I’d always known I could do better than Javi, but I chose him because I needed stability. When we got together I was so used to handling everything on my own, I thought a cop would be responsible enough to hold me down. I was wrong.

“If you undermine my security procedures again,” Cannon’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, “I’ll make sure you remember who runs security around here.”

The threat hung in the air between us, electric and charged with something that wasn’t quite anger. His eyes held mine, demanding submission without saying a word.

And the most fucked up part? I wanted to give it to him.

“Understood,” I said, the word coming out softer than I intended. Who in the hell was I? I do not let men talk to me like this.

He studied my face for a moment longer, then nodded and turned toward the door. My heart pounded in my chest, relief and disappointment battling for dominance.

“That’s all,” I called after him, my voice cool and dismissive, desperate to regain some control over the situation.

Cannon turned back to me, his hand still on the doorknob. His lips curled into something sinister.

“That’s all?” he repeated, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. “Nah. You want something else from me. You just won’t admit it.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He stepped back toward me, each movement deliberate, predatory. “All that attitude… it’s just a front. I see right through you, Queen.”

“You don’t know shit about me,” I snapped, but my voice betrayed me, coming out breathier than I intended.

He laughed, the sound dark and knowing. “I know more than you think. I know how your pulse jumped when I put my hand on your throat. Even your scent changed when I touched you. I know you’ve been avoiding being alone with me because you’re scared of what might happen.”

Heat rushed to my face. I hated how accurate he was, how easily he read me.

“Get out of my office.”

“Make me,” he challenged, moving closer until I could smell his energy.

I stood my ground, refusing to back up even as he invaded my space. “You work for me, remember?”

“Do I?” His eyes traced over my face, lingering on my lips. “Feels like something else is happening here.”