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Chapter Two

Matteo

G rumbling to myself, I pack up my laptop and snatch a bunch of cords off the table. Globe peaks his head out of his office door, brows furrowed deeply.

“What are you doing?” He huffs, his bulky arms crossing over his chest, causing the soft material to stretch tight. I do my best not to let my eyes linger too long before moving back to packing things into a go-bag.

“One of the girls from the foundation called about her computer not working. Don’t know, her tower is missing, though.

Could be that Hawk or Jones replaced it before she got back and could be told what needs to happen,” I say with a shrug.

Their having basic computer issues is the exact reason that Globe threw me into this position.

When I joined the club three years ago, there wasn’t much that I could do.

I didn’t have any actual job experience, but the basic technical side was easy enough.

He hums before pushing off the door frame and walking toward me. I don’t make any move to notice him, but when his hand lands on my shoulder, I can’t help but tense.

He doesn’t know…

Taking a deep breath, I glance over at him and see his deep brown eyes burning into me. Like an inferno raging around us, his nostrils flare, causing the appendage in my jeans to grow tight against my zipper. Tilting my head to the side, I inhale deeply before gently shaking off his hand.

“It’s fine. I just need to go show her how to use the laptop with the switch box, that’s all I’m sure.” Or at least I fucking hope it is. Unlike Globe, my technical skills are subpar at best.

“Want me to come with you?” He asks, his gravelly voice shaking with something I can’t quite put my finger on.

Does he…

I shake my head. “Nah, all should be fine.” I step away from his heated body, a slight sweat collecting on the back of my neck at his proximity. Also, it should be illegal for him to look this good. Though being a one-percenter, I don’t think it would matter all that much if it were.

Globe says nothing as I turn my back on him to throw the last items into my bag.

At his hesitation, I sigh and turn toward him once more.

“If something is wrong, I will call you as soon as I can. There was a fresh shipment of littles that came in from the rings that I don’t want to scare off by having you there.

” I wave my hand toward his body, with the colorful tattoos and shredded muscles on full display.

“They might not see you as a protector just yet.”

He huffs before turning on his heel and stomping back to his office. I can’t help but snort at his dramatics. The walk over to the agency is quick. I’m stopped by a girl at the front desk, her brows raised in question.

“I’m here to see…” I pause, my voice trailing as I realize I forgot to get the name of the individual. That doesn’t seem to be an issue, though.

“Are you here to figure out what’s going on with my computer?

” A snide voice comes from around the corner, my brows furrowing in confusion.

Her posture is tense, the tall heels on her feet clacking as she gets closer.

The second her eyes land on me, something inside of her deflates.

Her gaze roams over the planes of my body, and I instinctively straighten my spine to show off.

Something about her is oddly familiar, yet I can’t place my finger on it.

“I’m sorry, this computer debacle mixed with other things happening has my anxiety fighting for its life inside of my head.

” Her laugh goes straight to my balls, and I fight myself to keep from adjusting the boner inflating itself.

I wave her off, my cheeks heating. “Don’t worry about it,” I say, realizing that it’s definitely not the right thing to say to someone with anxiety.

“Show me the way?” She turns around, not waiting to make sure I’m following.

I glance at the woman at the front, who simply shrugs at me.

At six-three, the power-walking female could easily be at eye level with me.

It could also be the high heels she’s sporting.

Without them, I would say she is about five-foot-nine or so.

Still, the legs on this woman are a mile long, and I definitely wouldn’t mind sinking my teeth into her.

After a short walk, she waves her hand into an open-door office.

“I don’t know what’s happening. All I know is that the tower thing is missing and there’s new equipment I haven’t seen before.

” Nodding, I glance around the office at her setup.

I’m not sure what I was thinking would be here, but the dark accents around weren’t even in the realm.

I drop the bag gently onto the pristine carpet and walk over to her desk.

There are black accents everywhere, yet nothing personal anywhere.

No photos of her or others, no signs that would wish someone well.

It’s just…black. All decor is solid black with some marbled black accents.

Clearing my throat, I tear my gaze away from the lack of personalization and focus on her computer setting.

I bring my laptop out of my bag as well as the connection wire.

Plugging it into mine and hers, I bring up the diagnostic tools and get to work.

Her entire screen is blacked out, but when I glance at the back, I realize the primary connection isn’t attached.

Rolling my eyes, I reach back toward the black connection box and push the plug back in.

The screens around her laptop immediately illuminates as they search for the monitors.

“I swear,” she curses, and when I look up, her fingers are pinching the bridge of her nose. “I checked all the freaking connections before you got here to make sure it wasn’t something stupid like that.”

I snort, unable to hold in the humor of it all.

“Don’t worry about it. Computers fear me coming, so they work their magic before I show up.

” She cracks a small smirk as she stuffs her hand into her pants pocket.

“Let me run a few diagnostic tests just to make sure everything is in order, then I will get out of your hair.”

She nods, sitting down in one of the comfy-looking chairs on the other side of her desk and scrolling on her phone.

I take a moment to look over her stoic features.

Something about her calls to me—a darkness within her that has me itching for more.

A simple glance up from her phone has her dark gray eyes, almost the epitome of darkness, staring directly into my soul.

With shoulders straightening, scowl deepening, she breaks the connection quickly and looks at her phone.

Exhaling softly, I ensure the rest of her stuff is fine before unhooking. “All is good; seems to have just been a loose connection. Don’t feel stupid or anything, and if something happens again, you know how to reach us.” She nods, looking anywhere except at me.

“Yeah, uh, thanks for the help,” she chokes out before standing next to the door. It’s clear she can’t wait for me to be out of her space, and with the air growing thicker and thicker, I can’t wait to be out of here either.