She saw his eyes land on the bouquet of roses she’d placed on the table a few days before.
She shrugged, set her briefcase on the desk, and pulled out her laptop from its case. As she plugged it in, she watched Axe open the card out of the corner of her eye.
“He wants in your pussy so bad, the piece of shit,” he gritted.
“Who?”
“Mr. Fuckface Palmer Rodgers, the motherfucker.”
She blushed.
“Why’re you turning red? You want something with this asshole?” Axe’s expression tightened.
Shaking her head, she said, “No. I already told you I didn’t, like, a dozen times. I’m not interested in him. It’s just that a girl likes to receive pretty flowers. At least, I do. It makes me smile. Nothing more than that.”
“Is that all it takes to get into your panties?”
“No one’s getting into my panties unless I let him and, for now, I’m letting you.” She smiled sweetly and looked at her computer screen.
Axe clenched his jaw. “You got the permits, so no reason to see the asshole again.”
Looking up from her keyboard, she leaned forward, her elbows on the desk. “Is that a request or an order?”
“Take it whatever way you want, but your contact with the motherfucker ended today. I told you before, I don’t like sharing, especially when it comes to things that belong to me.”
Before she could answer, he was at her side, pulling her to her feet. He took hungry possession of her mouth, his tongue slipping in through her parted lips. She moaned and leaned in to him, her arms circling his neck.
He pulled back, looked intently into her eyes, and whispered, “And you, sweetheart, definitely belong to me. Don’t ever doubt it.”
Then he was gone. Baylee stood in the doorway, staring at him as he swaggered along the corridor. Before he exited the lobby, he looked over his shoulder and winked at her, put on his sunglasses, and left the building.
Baylee touched her lips, the intense current that was always between them hot under her fingertips. Her insides were still tingling from his kiss and declaration that she was his. That was what he said, wasn’t it? He said she belonged to him. Do I want to belong to him? Hell yeah, I do.
She smiled then looked at the flowers, wishing they were from Axe. She picked up the phone and buzzed Tina.
“Would you like to have the flowers in my office? I’m allergic to them.”
“The beautiful ones that came this morning?”
“Yes.”
“I’d love to. I’ll be right down.”
“You can also have the roses.”
“Thank you.”
Focusing her attention back on her computer, Baylee smiled when her phone pinged, anxious to see what Axe had written.
Unknown: You cannot escape me.
Baylee’s stomach shot to the floor. She glanced around the room, went over to the window, and looked out. Everything seemed normal, like any other day.
Baylee: Stop it!
Unknown: Why? Aren’t you enjoying our little game?
Baylee: I don’t remember anything. My mind is still foggy. Leave me alone!
Unknown: It’s not that simple.
She sat at her desk, stunned. The psycho enjoyed taunting her, and he was trying to drive her over the edge.
Unknown: You look pretty in your white dress.
Baylee threw the phone across her desk, glancing down at her white linen dress. He wanted her to know he was aware of her every move, and it didn’t matter if Puck or Axe were with her—he was in control.
Baylee picked up the phone and called the police, who basically told her what Axe had—there was nothing they could do at that point. No crime had been committed and, as far as she knew, it could be a crackpot with nothing better to do than taunt her.
Axe had been right—the police weren’t going to help her. She’d rely on Axe and his club, and on herself, to beat the killer. With tightened fists and a set jaw, Baylee agreed with Axe.
The asshole just declared war.
Chapter Twenty
Axe sat on the ripped vinyl chair and listened to the squeaky click of the oscillating fan on top of a scratched filed cabinet. The portly gentleman behind the paper-strewn desk spit as he spoke on the phone, his fingers drumming on the desk every few seconds.
The man looked at Axe and rolled his eyes while he pointed at the phone, shaking his head. Axe tilted his chin. He’d hoped this guy could help him. Cara said she used him for most of her cases, that he was a top-notch private investigator. Coming to the PI’s office was huge for Axe since he didn’t like asking for help outside the club, but he figured he needed someone experienced in investigations. The moment the killer revealed he knew Axe was involved, that was when Axe decided to bring in someone who wasn’t in the Insurgents.