Midnight Toxicity

25.

"Good morning, Charlize." Golding greeted me on the steps of the stone porch.

My new boss stood naked from the waist up, and although I tried to stop my eyes from dipping up and down his firm torso, I failed without an ounce of shame. His salt-and-pepper hair glistened with sweat, and just like the first time we met, my libido once again chose to ignore our age difference.

The man oozed power with every measured step he took in my direction. My nipples grew hard, which was frustrating because he terrified me, yet my body responded to him in ways I hated to admit might place me in a hell of a situation later.

Focus, play nice, I chanted in my head, smiling at him with false wakefulness. Did they not drink coffee? "Wow, I'm not a morning person, but it's beautiful here. I wonder if I'm still dreaming."

Motley Hall sat at the top of a slight hill, sloping down to the left to a cleared field with the lake below. Last night I hadn't checked out the premises, what with Gary giving me the stink-eye after dropping me at the bottom of the drive. Due to the lack of sleep, the colorful sunrise held my attention far longer than necessary.

Golding moved closer, a small smile forming on his handsome face. "Glad you see the promise of what we're building here. Sorry that I didn't welcome you when you arrived, but I had business to attend to."

Right, he's unaware of my knowledge of the lakeside bonfire. I shrugged my shoulders, careful to hide my trepidation. "Chace showed me around a little, but I thought he was meeting me here."

"He must not have shown you the practice area," he chuckled, sounding amused at my confusion. "I sometimes run with the crew but rarely find the time. Come with me. I'm sure they're waiting for you to join them."

We retreated through the house, and I found his backside just as appealing as the front. A few scars marred his muscled back—one drawing my gaze. He had been shot, spotting an old bullet wound the size of a dime on his right rib cage. He walked confidently, with a natural swagger that drew you closer. I kept wondering, why me? What did he plan for my future? Nothing good; of that, I was certain.

We had barely stepped through the creaky double-sided doors when a blur rushed towards my face. I ducked on instinct, shifting my weight onto my back foot. A woman with beautiful ebony skin and long braids swung at me again, only this time I grasped her forearm in mid-air, smacking her across the face with my other hand so hard her neck cracked loud enough to hear. She yelped in surprise, staggering on her heels, suspended in place by my death grip. I preened at the proud smirk on Golding's face.

"What the hell?" I hissed, letting her go to place some distance between Golding and the attacker. "Is this a setup?"

"Too slow for my newest recruit, Tiana." Golding clicked his tongue seductively, and we both stared at our boss with desire. What sort of voodoo did he possess to make us wilt bow and scrape for his approval?

"Eh," Tiana flipped her braids around her backside, winking at me to show no hard feelings. I slightly relaxed my posture, remaining vigilant after noticing people standing off to the side. "She's quick as lightning, although her muscles need strengthening."

They must be the teams Chace warned me of last night. None appeared older than twenty-five but looked like a rough bunch. One was bald with a septum ring through his nose, wearing nothing besides a pair of athletic shorts. I spotted Chace with the group before Golding blocked him from my view. Other than Glen, I did not recognize anyone else. With a set of 'socks' on a job, the rest witnessed my badass bitch slap.

"Tiana and Malik," He nodded at the tall man with the nose ring. "They are my weapon experts. How did you know she was behind the door?"

I felt unnerved with so many dangerous eyes on me. "I didn't. She gave herself away by swinging too soon."