28. Nicholas

28

NICHOLAS

"Raven!" I shouted as she ran for the door. "Get your ass back here!" She ran right past Cash and I saw how he winked at her. "Cash!"

He spared only a single look for me before walking my way. That bastard.

"What's the matter? Did you lose something?"

"You let her walk away!" I snapped. "I'll fucking kill you!"

He tossed his head back in laughter. "Not when you're all tied up."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "She took your keys."

His laughter died on his lips as he spun around in search of his keys. With a panicked glance at me, he took off for the door. There was no way he'd catch her now.

"Nice acting, man," Fox said, hopping up on the table across from me as he stuffed his face with something questionable in a jar.

"What are you eating?"

"Chocolate-covered worms. They're quite tasty," he grinned, his teeth outlined in chocolate.

"Why the fuck are you sitting there eating worms while I'm tied up?"

He cocked his head at me. "You didn't want to be this way?"

"No."

He pointed his fork at me. "So, the whole tied up thingy…that wasn't at your request?"

"Why would I request to have myself tied up?"

"That's a good question," he answered thoughtfully. "Then again, I can think of a few people around here who would be more than willing to switch spots with you."

"I don't give a fuck about their kinks!" I shouted. "The only thing I'm interested in right now is wrapping my hands around Raven's throat and squeezing the life out of her!"

"Yeesh. Maybe dial it down a notch. I'm the crazy one. If you start acting like this, what will people think?"

"That a woman is driving me fucking insane."

"Right, but I'm more concerned about what they'll think of me. I can't lose the title. I did that for a few months and I gotta tell ya, I didn't like the way people looked at me."

"Since when do you care what people think of you?"

"You have a point. Still, I think it's important we keep boundaries between us. A basic set of ground rules, if you will. For instance, I'll give up some of my psycho time if and when the mood strikes for you, if you supply me with endless amounts of Funyuns."

"No."

"See, I don't think you really thought this through. It's a great deal for you. Just think of all the times I'll have to step aside to make room for you. I mean, maybe I should give you a few pointers first. If you're going to do it, you should do it right."

"Not interested."

"I see what you're saying. You don't think you can handle that much freedom." He sighed heavily. "I have to be honest with you, it's a heavy burden to bear. So much to consider, not the least, how your woman will handle it."

"She'll handle it however I tell her to."

He winced. "See, I don't think you're getting the right end of the stick here. Your woman shouldn't be the reason you go insane. I mean, I suppose if it's insane jealousy…yeah, I could see that. But it should never be directed at her."

"Fox."

"Yeah?"

"Shut the fuck up and get me out of here."

"Ooh, sorry. I can't do that. I'd love to help you out and all, but I sort of have a deal with IRIS."

Fuck, what was it going to take to get me out of these damn ropes? "And what's your deal with IRIS?"

"Oh, it's totally about you. See, he feels slightly bad about setting that third charge off so soon and nearly killing your lady love. He really wishes it hadn't gone down like that, but what are you gonna do?"

"Not set off the explosives early," I deadpanned.

"Right," he snapped his fingers at me. "That's a definite possibility, but what are some other ways we can avoid all this extra rigamarole?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, clearly, you're going to kill IRIS. Now, as much as I love a good beatdown, I can't allow you to kill the man. He has a woman to think about."

"So do I," I bit out. "Yet, I'm still tied to a fucking chair!"

"So, you see my predicament."

"What I see is our friendship quickly dissolving."

He laughed at that. "Wow, you almost had me there. Close to being convincing, but if you want some good pointers, you should go to the Kamau. He's great at coming up with evil looks and comebacks that set my skin on fire."

"Do I look like I want to talk to the Kamau?"

"Well, I can see where you'd be jealous. He's a hard act to follow."

"I'm not trying to follow him."

His eyes went wide as he swung his legs lazily. "You want to surpass him? Not sure that can happen, or that I would ever allow it. Frankly, I just don't think you have it in you."

"I have plenty in me."

"Yeah, but you're just not the Kamau. I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen. You're like…the medium light to his darkness or the medium darkness to my light. See what I'm saying?"

I didn't, and I wasn't about to continue debating with him about this. "I don't give a shit what the Kamau is like. All I care about is getting out of these damn ropes and getting to Raven before she does something stupid!"

"She took my damn car!" Cash shouted as he ran up to me. "Why the fuck would she take my car?"

"Because you were the one stupid enough to leave your keys on the table," I pointed out.

"Still, after I helped her out, she could have taken someone else's car."

"If you untie me, I'll go after her and make sure she pays."

His eyes flicked my way and a smile lit his face. "Nice try. As much as I'd love to let you go after her, I promised her a two-hour head start."

"But she stole your car!"

"Yeah. It reminds me of something Eva would do."

"So, that's it? You're just going to leave me tied to a chair?"

"It sucks, I know, but it's for the best."

"Makes the chase better," Fox grinned, holding out the jar to him. "Worm?"

"No thanks."

"They're surprisingly good."

"I'm sure they are," Cash said, hopping up on the table beside Fox. "So, what should we talk about as we wait?"

I glared at the man. "I thought you didn't like it when people brought their personal problems to work."

"Very true, but I've found that I have a talent for getting involved and putting my own twist on things to help the men I employ to find their way out of the hole in the ground."

"I don't have my head in the ground. I'm the one chasing her," I snapped.

"He's right," Fox nodded. "He's been chasing her this whole time."

"Yes, but when he catches her this time around, think of how much better it will be."

I couldn't believe this. The man who was supposed to be the level-headed leader of OPS was plotting with the resident psycho on how to get two people together.

"When I get out of here, the first thing I'm doing is knocking you both out."

Cash laughed, shoving his hand in the jar and pulling out a worm, popping it in his mouth.

"Hey! A little manners," Fox snapped. "Use a fucking fork."

"Fox, we're eating chocolate-covered worms. Do you really think my germs are the problem?"

"It's not about germs. It's about common decency. You don't see me grabbing food off your plate and eating it."

"You offered!"

"Yes, but use a fucking fork! It's not that hard to behave like a fucking gentleman."

"He's right," I grumbled, hating that I was agreeing with the man. "The least you could do is use a fork."

"You know, I might leave you tied up longer than two hours."

"And I might tell Eva that you ate worms."

He barked out a laugh, clearly not threatened by me at all. "All I have to do is tell her Fox was involved."

Fox shot me a toothy grin. "Me and Eva are like this," he said, crossing his fingers. "She likes watching Oklahoma with me."