Page 86 of Fractured Future

“Cute.”

Mouth now curled in a grin, he shamelessly looks me up and down. “You want to arrange that second date now?”

“Depends on the outcome of the first,” I throw his words back at him. “And since this is a street fight… rules don’t apply, right?”

Ignoring the bets being placed around us, I lunge at him to strike the first blow before the match has begun. Fuck the rules. I’ve had enough of cocky, self-entitled men… Even when they have a body like his.

CHAPTER 11

WARNER

ON & ON – PLTS

Blending into the frenetic crowd,I subtly weave through idiots waving their drinks high. Typical criminals, brazenly hiding in plain sight. I didn’t even have to bribe a guard or lookout to let us in.

My more logical side realises this is likely a trap. There’s no way I would be within touching distance of Blaine Madden or his crew unless he wanted it so. Not after we had him thrown in prison.

He’s back for a reason.

And somehow, Ember’s embroiled in it.

Searching the crowd for any signs of brilliant red hair, I’m not paying attention to the fight preparing to begin at the centre of the baying crowd. I have no idea why she came here tonight.

“Anything?” Hyland’s voice growls in my ear.

“Not yet.”

His curse vibrates through my concealed earpiece. “What the hell is she thinking?”

“She isn’t.”

“If I hadn’t checked her fucking tracker…”

Anger bleeding from his tone, he doesn’t finish the sentence. Admittedly, using the standard-issue tracking software that we had added to Ember’s phone is bending several of my morals.

However, our disregard for her privacy came in handy tonight. Without it, Hyland never would’ve realised that she’d slipped away, a fact he shared with us when he walked into our penthouse and promptly exploded.

“You check that thing often?” I prod.

“It’s my job to keep her safe.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What does that mean?” Hyland snaps.

“Nothing.”

Speaking of a lack of boundaries, he epitomises that exact red flag. I told him to head up Ember’s security knowing full well that he’d protect her with his life.

The ways in which he achieves that can be eyebrow-raising at times. Of course, Hyland doesn’t see it that way. But this isn’t the first time he’s gone above and beyond when protecting a client.

After all the shit he’s been through, he developed an obsession for safety. Those harrowing memories have intensified his protective instincts to a new level of crazy.

“Oh, shit!” Someone next to me jerks. “She just went for him!”

“Is that allowed?”

“Hell if I know.”