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I look to Tom. The anger is slowly simmering beneath my skin. There is a rapist disguising himself as a sergeant in his force. He raped both of his daughters, and he wants to stand here and talk to me about compatibility in the force. I grip the armrest so hard, it detaches from the screws and falls to the floor. A knock on the door draws my attention away from the chief.

“Come in,” I order.

Emilia enters my office, her eyes widen, and she bows her head. I make a note of it to bring it up later. She bows to nobody.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were in a meeting,” she states.

“It’s okay, we were just finishing up anyway. Unless you have anything else, Chief?” I spit out the rank. He doesn’t deserve the title.

“So it’s agreed then, lovely. I’ll see you all when you get back for a debrief. Emilia, come to my office at the end of the day, please. I need to speak to you and Tom about the wedding.” He orders.

“Father, it’s a bit early to be talking about a wedding, we only got engaged a few days ago.” She hisses and starts rubbing her arm. I only noticed it for a moment until she straightens her posture and glares at Tom.

“Don’t be silly. We’ll organise it now, so you’ll be married in the next six months. It’ll line up perfectly for the election. It’s not negotiable Emilia, just be there,” he barks and leaves my office with Tom in tow. My headache just got worse. There won’t be a wedding. No groom, no wedding.

“Get Cass and Cara in here, now!” I order. Cyrus goes to find them, leaving me and Emilia in my office.

“What the hell is going on?” she demands.

“Tom is coming to the retreat along with his whole unit. It’s a clusterfuck, the leach can’t leave you alone for five fucking minutes,” I spit out.

Cyrus, Cara and Cass storm into my office. Cass looks like he could put a hole through the wall. Cyrus obviously filled them in on everything.

“What’s the plan?” Cass asks, determination in every word.

I look to the people who I care about the most in this very room. We have become a family unit and it’s being threatened. I don’t take well to threats, especially when they’re aimed at my people, my viper.

“We are going to show Tom and the chief exactly what this unit is capable of,” I announce.

EMILIA

Ineed to work off this headache and nervous energy. Everyone is in shock about Tom coming to the retreat, but I’m not. Nothing shocks me about the devil anymore.

I’ve just ended my workout, finishing with some stretches. I can feel the tension in every muscle. Everything is sore. My head is still pounding and I can still feel phantom shocks going through my arm. I know Kade caught a glimpse of my reaction, I’m hoping he doesn’t ask. Usually I’m a really good liar but Kade always seems to be able to see right through me.

I’m just walking out of the gym when someone grips my arm hard and pulls me into the supply closet.

“What the fuck, Kade!” He puts his hand over my mouth, presses my back against his chest and his other hand circles around my waist.

“Anyone would think you’re trying to avoid me, Viper.” He nuzzles his face into my neck, leaving featherlight kisses there. I moan into his hand and push back against him.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he groans. I turn to face him.

“We can’t do this. He has access to the cameras in the hallway, Kade!” We’re being incredibly stupid, and a part of me doesn’t even care.

“Cyrus is scrubbing them as we speak. I know what I’m doing, Sweetheart.” He smirks, placing his hand at the nape of my neck, and drags me to him.

His sinful mouth is addictive, and so is his tongue. He turns me around so my back is to his chest again. I push back against him hard, so his back hits the wall of the closet. He places one hand around my neck and tilts my head to the side, giving him more access. He nips and bites down on my shoulder while his other hand roams lower to the waistband of my leggings, causing me to whimper.

“What do you want, Viper?” He smirks into my neck, knowing full well what I want. I grab his wrist and move his hand lower into my leggings.

“Use your words,” he orders. I would if I had any. I don’t have logical thought when he touches me. It’s like my brain doesn’t work. He’ll stop if I don’t tell him, though.

“I want you touch me, Kade,” I plead.

“Good girl,” he praises. God I didn’t think it would be such a turn on to be praised like that, but it is. He teases my clit with his fingers, in slow torturous circles.

“God, you’re so wet already, and I haven’t even touched you yet,” he breathes.