Whistleblower (PALADIN Book 1)

Carrying a martini is a chore—they spill easily. I look graceless, walking awkwardly as I carry the drink I ordered for Eden to the bathroom. I can’t go back to the obnoxious gang of agents gambling in the corner of the lounge. Not when Eden’s having a meltdown. Not when she clearly needs me.

Oddly enough, she went into the men’s room. I left her alone for fifteen minutes and she still hasn’t come back out. At this point, my patience is gone. I knock firmly on the bathroom door… No answer. I even go as far as pushing against the swinging door—it’s locked. I could put a bullet in the damn lock and it’d come free, but I get the impression shooting my way to the girl I want might turn her off.

“Eden,” I say, knocking again, softer this time. “Please open the door. Let me help.”

“I’m okay. You don’t want to see me like this.”

“Wrong.” I let out a deep sigh. “I really want to see you like this.”

Silence.

“Eden,” I say, lowering my tone. “I’m fully capable of knocking down this door. You’ll be saving us both a lot of trouble, and Callen a property damage bill, if you just unlock it.”

She debates for a moment but then I hear the lock unlatch.

Upon entering, I find Eden leaning against the bathroom counter, her eyes are still red, and her cheeks flushed, but she fakes a smile. It’s obvious she was crying and then composed herself. “Some women would call it predatory, you threatening to break down the door to get to me in the bathroom.”

“This is the men’s room. I’m more within my right to be here than you are.”

Her face twists in confusion. “This isn’t the men’s room.” I point to the urinal in the corner of the private bathroom. “Oh.” She gasps, just now realizing she’s wrong. In Eden’s defense, the bathrooms aren’t marked “Men” and “Women.” There’s a martini glass on one door and an upside-down martini glass on the other. That could easily be interpreted either way.

“Here.” I hand her the orange-colored drink in my hand which she takes gingerly. “And I’m not a predator.” Not to you, anyway. Not to any woman. “Now that I know you’re okay, just say the word and I’ll go. Do you want me to leave you alone?”

She shakes her head before slamming the entire martini back in one gulp. “Someone broke into my apartment today. I’m a little scared to go home.” Smacking her lips together, she smiles briefly making her bubbly cheeks bunch up. “That was tasty. I should’ve sipped that.” She’s trying to make light of the situation to cover her vulnerability, but I’m in no mood. Every cell in my body is swelling with fury. Who the fuck was brave enough to break into Eden Abbott’s home while I still have a pulse?

“Judging by your panic, you know who broke in, don’t you?”

“Actually, I don’t. I think maybe I’m seeing ghosts. Linc…back home I have a reputation… It’s not a good one.”

Closing the space between us, I rub my thumb against her cheek, as if I could wipe the splotchy red patches away. “You were an informant.”

Her eyes hit the floor as she nods. “So, you know. Callen must’ve told you.”

“No. Even if he did, I don’t care. Eden, I’ve killed four men this week, who am I to judge anyone?”

Her heavy eyelids droop, but she places one hand flat against my chest. “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

“Then how about this? I don’t know what you think you heard, but I never fucked Doctor Hartley. I’ve never met her in person.”

Eden’s eyes light up in curiosity. There we go, that’s where all the avoidance was coming from. Poor thing was jealous. I understand more than she knows. I wanted to break Callen’s jaw when Eden entered tonight and immediately asked for him.

“Vesper said Callen sent you to get checked out,” she explains.

“I don’t take everything Callen says as law.”

She hangs her head and covers her eyes. I take a moment to soak up the visual of Eden dressed up tonight. She dresses differently at the office. Her clothes are flattering but modest. Tonight, however, she’s wearing a skin-tight V-neck, tucked into her high-waisted pants that show off her curves. It’s a clever move on a woman’s part—subtly seductive. A classy woman makes me weak and I don’t think I can keep my hands to myself a moment longer.

“I am so sorry,” she mumbles, as she splits her hand and peeks between her fingers at me. “Making assumptions and not communicating is the most disastrous thing you can do in the workplace. I preach this to corporations on my soapbox.” She lets out a small huff of laughter. “And now I’m a hypocrite.”

“You were upset,” I say, wrapping my hands around her waist. She rolls her eyes but then nods. “You thought I got over our kiss that fast? That I want anyone else but you?” I pull her against my body and my cock twitches to life. Eden nods again, this time into my chest. “You had no idea that I’ve spent every night thinking about you—wondering what you’re doing, excited to see you again. I’m not myself lately.” I kiss the top of her head and breathe in the floral smell of her shampoo. “And you’re the cause.”

She lets out a low hum of satisfaction as my hands sink from her waist to her ass, and I grab a fistful. Her dainty hand goes searching too, but instead of my hardening cock, she finds my holstered gun.

She flinches and folds her hands together. Dammit. Stepping backward I unfasten my holster while locking the bathroom door. The safety is on, she has nothing to worry about, but it still scares her. I tuck my weapon behind the toilet, out of sight. Then, I press my body against hers again.

“Better?” I mumble.

“Thank you,” she says. “I’m sorry. I know it must be annoying that you have to treat me with kid gloves.”

I touch my lips to her forehead, then her left cheek, then her right. I moan as I finally feel her plump lips against mine. “I’m happy to handle you with care because you’re precious.”

I kiss her again, and I’m trying to taste her tongue but she has more to say.

“Linc?”

“Yes?”

“Am I safe with you?”

“Of course you are.”

“You’d never hurt me,” she says, not asks.

“Never.”

She shudders as I duck my head and rub my lips up and down her neck. I feel her goosebumps rise.

Her lips touch my ear as she speaks. “Then right here, right now, I want you to kiss me like I’m precious, but fuck me like I’m not.”