Page 8 of Ride the Lightning

Jonah mentally cringed but tried not to show his contempt in front of Mr. Ling, who thought he was bestowing an honor on Jonah. “I’m a survivor, but that doesn’t make me a hero,” Jonah said. When Mr. Ling went to answer the phone again, Jonah snagged Dakota by his polo and jerked him forward. “Don’t you dare do anything to hurt the Lings. Don’t steal from them. Don’t show up for your shifts late or call in sick. Never make Mrs. Ling cry. If you do, I will come back here and show you how deadly a person can be without a gun. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Dakota replied, nodding like one of those bobblehead dolls.

“I’ll be watching,” he said before releasing SWG’s shirt and leaving the store.

The first thing Jonah did when he reached his office was run a background check on Dakota, who was surprisingly clean. He didn’t like the Bugles blocker working for the Lings, but he had to trust their judgment.

Outside his office door, Jonah heard the familiar sounds of Avery’s arrival. His accelerated pulse matched the resurging gusts inside him. This was the moment Jonah anticipated and dreaded the most each workday. Avery would open the door and enter, bringing the brightest ray of sunshine with him. It would pierce Jonah’s gloomy universe, making it that much darker when Avery exited his office.

And, like last night’s storm, it wasn’t a matter ofifhe left. One of these days, Avery would leave for good, taking his warmth and brilliance with him.

Jonah hated clichés, but he was the moth to Avery Bradford’s flame. Over the past eight months, he flew closer and closer, longing to feel Avery’s heat against his skin just once.

Once was all it would take to reduce him to a pile of ash. Still, the lure became harder and harder to resist each day.

What have you done to me, Aunt Ellie?

A question he asked himself every day since his aunt, Ellen Rigby, the newly appointed police commissioner, had convinced him, and later the deputy director, that Jonah needed Avery’s assistance. She said he was brilliant with computers and was eager to use his skills for the greater good, so they’d hired the guy sight unseen. No interview. No resumé. That was the kind of influence Aunt Ellie had over him, or maybe it was the caramel macarons her wife had baked for Jonah that had softened him toward her big idea.

Or was it a big mistake?

Jonah’s door opened a few minutes later, and Avery breezed inside. He didn’t have to glance at his intern to know he held two mugs. One would hold the nectar of the gods, coffee, and one would contain a liquid Avery called tea. Based on the stench, Jonah surmised the brewing method required leaves, dried flowers, and sweaty gym socks. “You won’t believe the latest gossip,” Avery said excitedly.

“I’m sure I won’t care,” Jonah replied drolly, not taking his eyes off his computer screen displaying Dakota’s driver’s license picture.

“Okay,” Avery said coolly, placing Jonah’s mug on his desk. “Please tell me you’re not screening potential boyfriends.”

Jonah jerked his head in Avery’s direction. His intern’s hazel eyes glittered with mischief, and Jonah flapped his wings closer to the flame. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“That’s right,” Avery replied sagely, running his fingers over the row of buttons on his pale lavender dress shirt. Was it new or had he just never worn it to work before? The color made his hazel eyes look more green than brown and went well with his fair skin and golden hair. When Jonah had last seen Avery yesterday afternoon, his hairstyle had looked a bit shaggy with overlong bangs hanging in his face. This morning, Avery’s fade looked tighter and his quiff smoother. A new shirt and a trip to the barber? Jonah resented noticing these things at the same time he cataloged them in his brain. “You don’t do the boyfriend thing.”

“I don’t,” Jonah agreed. He fucked. Just not lately. “This jackass tried to rob the corner market store in my neighborhood last night.” Technically, SWG hid in the closet, then pissed himself, but it didn’t sound nearly as interesting. “The owners showed the guy mercy and hired him instead of pursuing charges. I wanted to make sure he had a clean record.”

“You don’t think people deserve a second chance?” Avery asked.

“I do,” Jonah said. “I also know that a high percentage of people don’t appreciate them. I don’t want to see Mr. and Mrs. Ling get hurt.”

Avery smiled and his eyes sparkled with admiration. “You’re a good man.”

Jonah’s skin heated, and his face felt like it was engulfed in flames. He usually recoiled when someone called him a hero or praised his character but not with Avery. He wanted to be the good man Avery saw, and on many days, Jonah could almost believe it was true.

Sensing Jonah’s discomfort, Avery nudged his coffee mug closer to him and changed the subject. “Bill is back with Ashley again.”

“Again? Does that make it the tenth time?”

“Aha! It’s the eleventh. You do pay attention when I repeat the water-cooler gossip.”

Jonah rolled his eyes. “I feign interest so you’ll spit it out and get to work.”

Avery studied him over the rim of his mug as he sipped his sweat-sock stew. He set his tea down and smiled devilishly. “You hang on to my every word. Admit it.”

“Do not.” He so fucking did. Sometimes Jonah watched those lips form each word, then replayed them later when he was alone. Especially in moments like these because Jonah could almost believe Avery was flirting with him.

“Is today the day you finally admit how much you like me?” Avery asked.

The corner of Jonah’s mouth twitched. “Like is such a strong word.” It wasn’t strong enough.

Avery smirked but didn’t press harder for an admission. “You look tired.”