Dominant Predator (22 page)

I scoffed. “Right. ’Cause a couple of alley fucks make us friends.” I emphasised the last word, an accusation, so he would have no doubt about the disdain I felt for the idea.

“So it’s true.”

“Fuck you,” I spat out.

Armise sat back, stared me down, as if he was victorious. “That’s what I thought.”

We stared at each other across the table—a challenge that didn’t need to be spoken because it was always there. A living breathing third entity at the table with us. Between us always.

Armise frowned. “So that’s how it’s going to be between us?”

I clenched my jaw. What the hell was he talking about? “What other way is there? Or has there ever been for that matter? We both have our orders.”

Armise pointed at me. “You constrain yourself by blindly following what you’re told.”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Killing you seems like an excellent order for me to blindly obey.”

“So do it,” he ground out, showing the most emotion I’d seen from him in our brief encounter.

“Not until we get that key.”

Armise seemed to be considering my words, and I wondered if he’d really given me the real answer by providing intel on this Chen Ying. I knew there was information he was keeping from me. We all had our secrets.

In fact, I seriously doubted there was a place for truth in this world. Maybe there never had been and never would be. Those that hoped, that prayed to a non-existent god, were fooling themselves. Living a lie.

There were too many shades and shadows—differing perceptions—for the search for truth to be a valid journey. I lived in a world of shifting loyalties and selfish motivations—we all did—and to pretend otherwise was foolish.

Armise sipped from his cup again, then changed the subject. “Did you hear your president’s press conference today? He intends to hold the games again.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “The games?”

“The Olympics. Surely you remember your history, an educated man such as yourself,” Armise quipped.

I ground my teeth together. “If you don’t recall, a vast majority of our history was wiped out,” I evaded. That history was of particular interest to me was something even Armise wouldn’t know.

“Hence, your search for the key to the mysterious infochip. It won’t be the solution you’re seeking. I hope you know that.”

“And I hope you won’t be offended that I choose not to believe you,” I replied.

“Some day you will,” Armise said with a surety that chilled me.

Armise turned away. He gazed at the mountains, his thoughts appearing to drag him out of the present, as he considered information I didn’t know, couldn’t access. At least not without a painful interrogation session. Unfortunately, that was not part of my orders since he’d already given me the intel I’d come for. Armise’s jaw ticked, the movement betraying his unease.

“It’s been too long…” Armise then said, the words dragging out as he turned back to me. His heated gaze raked over me, making his underlying meaning completely clear to me. I froze.

So that was what this was about.

It had been two years since I’d last seen Armise. And while time had faded my anger, my desire for him had only strengthened. I didn’t understand it. I’d spent more time in the last two years trying to forget him than should have been necessary.

Armise pulled a hotel keycard from his pocket and laid it on the table.

And I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to say no
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About the Author

Sam sleeps little, reads a lot. Happiest in a foreign country. Twitchy when not mentally in motion. Send her a picture and a song and she’s bound to write a story about it. And yes, that’s an invitation.

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