Page 37 of Pretty Broken Wings

There’s a tiny spark in Gage’s eye, then he goes back to his normal look. “No problem.”

“Right. And I’m the Queen of England.” I wave at the papers.

Gage snorts. “Far from it.”

The way he says it makes it sound like he thinks I’m worse than the gum on the bottom of his shoe. I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, she’s polite and doesn’t carry weapons around to hurt people with.”

“Not people. Only men.” I smile at him. Gage’s eyes seem to track the movement on my face, and he grins back.

The look makes me consider grabbing the knife that’s sitting in my purse just to remind him that I have years’ worth of anger that would love to turn him into a pincushion.

“I don’t think you would.” He’s sorting the papers.

I arch an eyebrow. “What?”

“Hurt me.” Gage leans in, putting his arms on the table and getting so close I smell mint on his breath. “I think you’re too scared.”

My heart races, and I realize again just how big of a person he is and how secluded we are. He didn’t seem this threatening yesterday.

“Wanna bet?” I hiss, ready to fight again. I’m always ready to fight. It’s fucking exhausting.

“Scared little Raven, always so angry.” Gage tilts his head. “Want to know what I think? I think you’re running from something.”

The way he looks at me is all-knowing. Like he looked into me and knew everything about me. Fear hits my body in a rush of adrenaline. He can tell? No, surely he has no idea.

I shove up from the table, legs shaking. Gage also stands, rounding the table toward me.

I grab my knife, fumbling to get the blade open, and then Gage is right there.

“What is yourproblem?” I jerk the knife up so it’s sitting on his chest. He stops, and I know he feels it because it’s cut through his button-up shirt. “Get off me.”

Gage stiffens for a second, glancing down. Then, he smiles, raising his hands to show me they’re not touching me. “Jumpy, aren’t you?”

“You came up on me!” The adrenaline is coursing through me, and I want to scream and fight.

“You looked like you were having a panic attack. I came to help.” Another grin. He doesn’t seem the least bit concerned that I have a knife to his chest.

“Back off.” I shove, earning a hiss from him when the knife meets his resistance. He doesn’t move.

Something isn’t right.

I stare up at him, watching every movement. “Why the new case all of a sudden?”

Gage just smirks. “Don’t change the subject. You’re running from something, Raven. And I want to know what.”

“What did we talk about yesterday?” My body is shaking.

Gage leans his head closer to me, then pulls in a deep breath. “You know, it’s a shame I can’t see you right now. I’m sure you look so pretty with those lips trembling and tears in your eyes.”

“Axel,” I breathe.

He grins. “Hey, little bird.”

Confusion rocks my world for a second. Then, I register the mint and the slightly manic glint in Axel’s eyes. The confusion morphs into rage. How fucking dare he?

I try to shove at him again, and all I feel is warmth on my pinky. Warmth? No, liquid.