Page 26 of Hero & Villain (Super Serum Billionaires #1)

I lunged out of Dirk’s lair, closing the door and then locking it behind me while my heart raced and my fingers tingled.

I started laughing from the rush of adrenaline and the fact that I’d gotten absolutely nothing other than a claw swipe, but this was my first foray into Dirk’s den.

It would take some time to conquer its contents.

That was fine. I had time. I’d break in once a week or twice a week, look around, get clawed, and get out.

It was good to start slow since the chaos was so great.

Which meant that I’d actually have to talk to Trixie, or Ron would probably mention it, and people would say, ‘What were you actually doing at the compound after hours?’

I limped over to the garage and found the Dragon under a car, coveralls over legs, which were the only things I could see of her.

I cleared my throat. “Trixie? Maybe I’m supposed to call you Dragon? I hate to bother you, but…” This was idiotic. Why would anyone bet their entire paycheck on one fight? I wouldn’t be able to buy chocolate. Or pay rent. Or get gas.

She rolled out from under the truck and sat up, wiping her hands on a rag.

She was so at home covered in grease in a pair of coveralls.

Also effortlessly beautiful, with all those curls coming out of her braid to frame her high cheekbones.

The way she looked directly into your eyes was disconcerting, like she had absolutely no shame, and didn’t expect you to either.

“Did Nix send you to get me? He doesn’t need me and Jezebel at a fight; I don’t care if it raises ticket sales.”

Right. Let’s explain why I was here and hope she didn’t notice my leg wound. I crouched down next to her. Ow. But it wasn’t that bad. “It’s not that. I got paid today, and I was thinking of blowing it all on the fight. Who do you think will win?”

She studied me, first my face, then shifting her attention to my clothes.

The look on her face was incredulous as she tugged on my kitten cardigan.

“I know this sweater. Minx bought it for Jezebel one Girl’s Night.

I think that she sincerely thought that Jez would like it.

Maybe she did, who knows, but she couldn’t wear something that cute or people would think she was accessible. ”

“Minx?”

She waved her hand. “Dagger’s good, really good, but he’s not invested. I think he loses half the time just to piss off Nix. You know, his whole ‘no one can tell me what to do’ thing. If you want him to win, you’ll have to give him something worth fighting for. Do you like him?”

I blinked at her. She asked just like that. “I…Well, I sort of…”

She exhaled and grabbed my arm, pulling me upright.

“You’re bleeding. Did that miserable cat get you?

Were you looking for Dirk at his shop? Marcus Licinius Crassus is his most rabid fan, probably because he’s always feeding him burgers.

You can’t negotiate with extortionists. Didn’t anyone ever tell him that? ”

She dragged me across the warehouse to an area in the back I hadn’t noticed. Was it a dressing room? She picked me up and put me on a counter like I weighed nothing, and I let her, because I wasn’t sure how to object to the Amazonian once she had her trajectory set.

“So, do you like him?” she repeated as she started washing out my leg under the sink, twisting my leg awkwardly, but not uncomfortably, like she was used to cleaning out wounds of people she didn’t know.

“Um. Yeah. I guess.”

“Because he likes you, but he’s kind of gun shy about women, probably because he doesn’t know how to say no to them.”

I blinked at her. “You think he likes me?” My heart exploded into butterflies, while I tried to lock all my facial expressions down.

She grinned at me. “Sure. So, if you want to inspire him to win the fight, and maybe put it out there that you’re interested, maybe you should wear something else.”

I looked down at my kitten cardigan. “He doesn’t like cardigans?”

“It’s office wear. Maybe you should look like a date instead of a co-worker.” She shrugged. “Dating is not my forte, but I know someone who has it down to an exact science. I’ll call her.”

I inhaled sharply, and it might not have been from the antiseptic spray she put on my wound. “I don’t know if this is a good idea. I mean, betting on him is one thing, but putting myself out there…” I’d dumped him in the desert.

She slapped a skin-colored bandage over the wound and straightened up to stare into my eyes with disturbing intensity. “If you’re willing to bet on him, why not bet on yourself?”

Something about the way she looked at me made me feel completely naked, faced with an honest question that burrowed into my soul.

I was this close to stabbing her or bursting into tears when she turned away and pulled out her phone.

“Minx, do you want to play dress-up? My friend is trying to make an impression on Dirk. Pink. Of course I’m going. She’s going to wear her heart on her sleeve. I wouldn’t abandon someone that brave.”

She actually said that. Was she mocking me? How could she not be mocking me? She gave me a smile and a nod that said, no, she wasn’t mocking me; she really did think it was brave to put yourself out there when you liked someone.

“She’s about your size. Mm-hm. Nice. See you in twenty.” She lowered her phone and nodded at me. “Do you mind ordering something while I shower? It takes forever to get the grease off my hands.” She headed into another cubicle while I sat on the counter, still reeling from the whole thing.

Okay. I was dealing with strong, weird, very strong personalities.

Also just strong. I could definitely order dinner while I hyperventilated about wearing my heart on my sleeve for Dirk Dagger.

Was I actually doing this? Maybe it would somehow lead to seduction.

It was much likelier than knocking him unconscious and dumping him in the desert.