Page 28 of Pretty Broken Wings

That makes me smile.

Axel looks back up at me. “Well, you clearly need a job.”

The statement makes me angry. “I already have a job.”

A flush creeps across Axel’s face. I watch it bloom on his skin.

Axel genuinely doesn’t like that I’m working with Gage. A thrill mixes in with the anger. I have control over something that Axel hates.

“I just thought you’d want a stable job.” Axel adjusts his suit jacket. “My brother only needs help until his glasses come in, so he won’t pay you for long.”

I rip my gaze from Axel’s veiny, strong hands on his jacket. Why the hell does he care how long Gage pays me?

He’s jealous. He’s totally jealous. Jealous of the girl he stole from and then got fired from her job.

And now I have power over him. And that thought makes me happier than I’ve been in a long time. I’m not sure if it’s the exhaustion or the delirium from not eating for a while, but I can’t stop the next words from coming out of my mouth. “Beg.”

Axel’s gaze snaps to mine. “What?”

“You heard me. Beg me to take it back.” I stare at him. Anger flickers in his eyes.

Fear shoots into my muscles, and I tense. Immediately after that, a rush of excitement follows.

If Axel tries to hurt me, I’ll splatter his brains across the ground.

But, instead of trying to hurt me, Axel locks eyes with me and then slowly sinks to his knees. He grits his teeth, the word coming out tense. “Please.”

I stare at him, watching the way his pupils dilate. He’s on his knees in front of the whole street. Begging me.

My blood feels like it’s full of tiny firecrackers.

I like this. I like it a lot.

But instead of letting him see that, I say with a bored expression, “I’ve heard men beg much better than that.”

Axel makes the tiniest flinch my way and my entire body tenses. Then Axel holds himself still. There’s a beat where I’m not sure if I’m going to actually have to hit him. But then his chest heaves, and his pupils widen so much there’s barely any color on the edges. He gives a tense laugh. “Goddamn, woman. I’m trying my best here.”

“No, you’re not.” My heart is racing, and I can’t tell if it’s fear or arousal. Or maybe both. “If you were, you’d be crawling for me.”

There’s a beat of silence, and a challenge flashes in his eyes. The cold air whips around us, going up my skirt and making me shiver.

Am I really doing this? I’m playing with fire right now, and I feel like I’m either about to die or about to truly live.

Then, Axel drops his giant frame over, bending to put his hands on the threshold. He looks up at me from under wispy, white hair, his tone mocking. “Please?”

I can’t help the tiny grin that stretches across my face as I look down at him. The muscles under his suit jacket are bunchedand coiled like he’s uncomfortable, and that goes straight to my pussy.

I lift the bat, tracing it gently up Axel’s arm. “What a good boy, doing what you’re told.”

Axel gives a heavy huff of air, and his whole body shivers. He hates it, yet here he is, still on his knees.

I trace the bat up along his collarbone until it’s at his sternum. Axel watches me closely.

I bend down so I’m closer to his face. “Now. What was it you wanted?”

His eyes bounce between mine, and there’s a glint of a smirk before he says, “Work for me.”

It’s that smirk. That Playboy smirk. He thinks he has me. Just like he thinks he can get any woman, either through money or sex. Andthatpisses me off.