Page 46 of Up in a Blaze

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose and glared at a smirking Tech.

Malice laughed again. “He is as protective as you are, Blaze. That’s good for you. Will your lover allow some computer advice?”

“What type of advice?” I asked.

“I need you to find a couple of people who are being difficult to locate.”

Henri’s hand slipped to the back of my neck. I knew exactly what he would be wondering. If the people Malice were after were good or bad. Usually, I wouldn’t care, and I would do what I had to so I could have the information I needed. However, my life was different, and that was for the better. Which meant I didn’t want to step back into any type of involvement in Malice’s world. Still, if I refused, would I jeopardize the information I had to have?

What the hell did I do?

We needed to find out if Malice knew anything.

I suppose I could….

“What about if I find someone else to handle your thing?”

There was silence on the other end.

“Malice?” I called.

“You really want nothing to do with this world?”

“Nothing.”

“Will this person be willing to work with me on more than one occasion?”

“She could for the right price.”

“She? Call me intrigued. Ask her if she will do what you won’t, and if she agrees, only then will I help you.”

“And you call me greedy,” Henri snarkily commented.

Fuck.

“He didn’t mean that, Malice,” I said quickly.

“I only allow so much, Blaze. It’s fine to scold your man, Blaze’s lover, but I won’t be talked to like that. Especially not when it’s your man who called me for a favor in the first fucking place.”

Fear and fury filled me. I knew what Malice was capable of. I’d been there when he’d shot his own brother in the shoulder at the fucking dinner table for not respecting their mother. But I also wouldn’t let anyone talk to Henri like that. “Malice?—”

“Non, mon amour.” He squeezed my neck before running his hand over my shoulders. “Mr. Malice, I must apologize for how I spoke. I will keep my fire for my lover only,” Henri offered.

“Fucking hell, no wonder you got Blaze wrapped around your finger with that sugar-sweet tone. Bet it gets you outta a lot of shit.”

I glanced up at Henri, who smirked. “I am but an innocent angel.”

Malice guffawed. “Fuck off you are. Blaze, get back to me, and this time, I’ll take your call.” He hung up, and I swung my chair around to Henri.

Tech, with horror in his tone, said, “That was Malice. As in the North America mafia boss?”

“That’s him.”

Tech cursed and scrubbed a hand over his face.

Henri slid his ass on to my knee and hugged me close. “Sorry, mon amour. My mouth gets away from me sometimes.”

“Lucky I love your mouth,” I told him.