Page 103 of Empire State Enemies

For a moment his mask slips, a glimmer of vulnerability in his eyes. But then the walls slam down again.

Hearing footsteps coming, I grab him on impulse and shove him into the supply closet.

He slams back into the shelves, sending bottles rattling around us. Considering his Viking-esque stature, it’s no small feat, but I guess the element of surprise was on my side.

He looms over me, disbelieving. “Nowyou want to hash things out? You should’ve picked up your phone on Friday, Lexi.”

I close the distance, meeting his gaze with a fierce one of my own. “We don’t mention Friday again, I’m over that. Now cut the crap. This isn’t about me. Why’d you really storm off set?”

“I told you. I had enough of their damn questions.”

“That’s crap, and we both know it.” My tone softens. “Come on, you can talk to me. What’s going on?”

I need something real, some shred of evidence that he’s not just a total jerk. That there was a legitimate reason he pushed me away so cruelly on Friday. Some glimpse behind the cold mask.

His eyes turn to ice. “I had a headache and needed some fresh air. That’s all there is to it.”

I’m not buying it. I grip his arm. “You don’t cause a scene over a headache. I know you can put on a show for the cameras.” My voice takes on a growl. “I’m not backing down until you’re straight with me.”

He steps closer, using his size to crowd me. “Back off, Lexi. Just because we fucked once doesn’t mean you know a damn thing about me. Stay the hell out of my business, understand?”

I recoil as if he’s slapped me, his harshness stinging more than I’d like to admit. Seriously, why am I even surprised?

“Why are you being such a jerk?” My voice wavers pathetically. “You were Mr. Nice Guy before we hooked up. You even promised to keep me safe when I told you about the car theft—”

“I meant what I said,” he cuts in, suddenly serious. His eyes soften faintly. “I’ll keep you safe. Now more than ever.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, only after we screwed around though, right? I bought your protection with sex.”

Connor’s face hardens to stone, nostrils flaring at my accusation. “That’s bullshit and you goddamn know it. I would’ve protected you either way if you’d just trusted me with the truth from the start instead of hiding things.”

“Whatever.” I wrap my arms around myself, feeling exposed. “I can’t figure you out, Connor. On Friday, when you pushed me away, I brushed it off as just another episode of your asshole behavior. But then today, you were even more erratic. There’s obviously something deeper going on you’re not saying.”

“Let me simplify things for you so there’s nothing left to figure out. Yeah, I’m an asshole, and I’d really appreciate it if you’d stop sticking your pretty little nose in my business. Clear enough?”

I snap my glare up to his infuriatingly handsome face as rage boils over inside me. “You know what? I don’t care about your issues anymore. Because deep down, you’re just a horrible man.”

My words don’t even scratch the surface. He gives me this condescending eyebrow raise. “Yeah, you’ve made your hatred for me pretty clear.”

The air between us crackles, like the heavy stillness before a violent storm erupts. One of us might not make it out of this supply closet alive.

My voice shakes with emotion. “I mean it. I hate you, Connor.”

His gaze rakes over me, voice low and rough. “Then start acting like it, angel.”

Before I can even react, Connor grabs me by the waist and pulls me in tight. My hands instinctively grip his solid chest, feeling the heat of his skin through his shirt, wanting to feel his bare skin.

He crashes his mouth to mine, angry and fierce like he’s punishing me for daring to speak against him.

I lean into the kiss for about five seconds, my traitorous body melting into his.

But then reality comes crashing back, and I remember how he treated me so coldly.

With all the willpower in the world, I shove him back, hard. He stumbles, caught off guard.

He blinks, looking genuinely stunned. “Sorry,” he mutters. “That was out of line.”

“You think I’m just going to go there after how you rejected me Friday?” I ask incredulously. “You think you can just kiss me and make me forget?”