Page 46 of Cold Mercy

My entire body tenses, and the only thing stopping me from breaking his arm right here is the number of witnesses.

“Touch me again and I’ll snap your fucking wrist, Reed. Try me.”

Evelyn laughs loudly, her eyes bouncing between us.

“I knew it. You two slept together, didn’t you? And now you’re doing the entire guilt-to-enemies routine? Please tell me yes, I need this entertainment.”

I inhale slowly so I don’t rip her hair out.

“Evelyn, I get that you and Reed screw anything that breathes, but some of us still have dignity. Now stop wasting my time, or this gets unpleasant fast.”

Thomas shoots her a look, and though it's subtle, she gets it instantly. Oh, so that’s how he does it?

Manipulates every woman around him until they just… obey? Fantastic little harem you’ve got going, Reed. There’s an awkward silence. It feels like they’re having some silent conversation that I want no part of.

“I’m getting a drink.” I stand again. “When I come back, if you still don’t have anything real for me, I’m leaving. And you, fuckboy?” I point at Reed without meeting his eyes. “Don’t you dare bother me again.”

I turn and walk to the bar. I walk far enough that their voices blend into the background noise of the bar. I order a drink, lean on the counter, and the moment the alcohol hits my tongue, I can see them arguing. Whispering, but still arguing. It looks like a married couple is realizing their night just went sideways. There’s an energy between them, something sharp but also familiar just for them.

And yes, it pisses me off. She pulls confidential files for him like it’s nothing. How? He lets her talk to him like she owns the room. If Reed wanted me to hate him more, he just put a whole buffet of reasons on display. I take another sip, and try to collect myself, but I catch my own reflection in the mirror behind the bar. And there it is: jealousy. I don’t even know why. He was never mine, I was never his. And I never will be. Still… I can’t sit here another second.

I walk back to the table but don't even bother sitting, and they both look up at me as I stop beside them. Reed with something softer in his eyes, Evelyn with pure annoyance.

“So?” I ask.

She pulls out three folders from under the table and drops them onto the surface, opening her mouth to speak, but I don't give her the chance. I snatch the files, turn on my heel, and leave without another word. That’s it, the end of this entire Reed-shaped disaster. I’ll handle this investigation myself, like I always have.

“Wait!” he shouts behind me.

I hear the bar door shut as he follows, and he catches up to me in only a few quick strides.

“Moreau, just fucking wait, please.”

“For what? What else could you possibly want from me?” I turn back to him.

He looks thrown off, but also like the answer should be obvious.

“What do you mean, for what? We were supposed to work on this together. Those files were for us, both of us. Not for you to storm off like you always do.”

He’s raising his voice, gesturing like I’m the unreasonable one.

I laugh once, sharply.

“You’re insane. You show up with your ex as your ‘contact,’ for what? To piss me off? Congratulations, it worked. And don’t pretend you didn’t study every page of these files eight times before I even walked in.”

He looks genuinely confused, like he suddenly forgot where he was tonight.

“You’re talking about Evelyn? You think I brought her to hurt you?” He scoffs.

“Since when do you get jealous over someone you just don't give a fuck about?”

The word jealous lands, and something in me snaps. My hands curl into fists, fury buzzing under my skin.

“Jealous of you? Please, don't be pathetic.” My voice cracks, and I hate it.

“You are undoubtedly what I thought you were the moment I first saw you.”

“Please, enlighten me.”