Contracted Hearts

stared back at El

The only sound was the frantic clicking of Damon'

f his grip. The heat of his body had been suffocating,

ng. She spun around to face him, her hands shak

on't. You go to your room, you lock the

team just got hacked by a cartel boss, Marcus! They were inside your system. They are inside

Marcus warned, ste

it would buy us time. But think about it! If I retract the statement, I am useless to them. I am no longer a threat. Why would

st heaving, waiting

rey eyes, which were usually so cold and empty, shar

racting the statement buys us time, b

y thrown off by his admis

unction. We're not retracting the statement; we're moving the trial up. If we can get a grand jury indictment against Cortez before

s fingers flying

pe igniting in her chest. It was a bold

," Marcus said, tu

here is," El

e else to guard you," Marcus said, his voice flat. "Damon is handling the t

n a guard,"

k to look at him. "I am your personal shadow, Dr. Vasquez. I will

. "Absolutely not. I do

urned his back on her and walked toward the door of the command c

llowed him, her anger spiking. "I am not

, sleek kitchen. The room was a masterpiece of white ma

d the kitchen island. "The cartel's reach might be deep

g right in front of her. "T

n't kno

pping to a dangerous growl. He stepped fo

pt co

chen island. She gasped, her hands f

s chest was inches from hers. She could smell the dark, masculine scent of ceda

rarely used her first name. It sounded intimate and terrifying all at once. "They are either bo

the faint stubble on his jaw and the dark circles und

spered, refusing to back down

ez out," Marcus said, his eyes dropping to

s sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn't hiding behind a shield of d

she said, her

mouth for a fraction of a second too long, a

he rules, Doctor?"

out of her chest. She hated him. She hated how he ma

ear," she

ond, a loud, jarring buz

inte

a man cornering a woman to a lethal weapon ready to strike. He pushed off the island, one

el on the wall and pressed th

voice crackled through the speaker. "We are he

n cold. "Arrest

he lobby appeared on the small screen. Six uniformed officers sto

ated. "We have a warrant for th

he breath leaving her

mask of dark, dangerous fury. The buzze

dge William Holloway,

land, her knuckles turning white. "What

was a deadly whisper. "They didn't just hack my system. They framed you. And

bell ran

side shouted. "Open this doo

on between them was electric, hea

voice low and commanding, "you stay behind

d walked tow

etween a man who wanted to use her

*