Hero by Julia Sykes

standing in my office.
    “What’s up, Dex?” Sharon asked. “Are you sick or something? You look pale. If you’re contagious, go home. I don’t want to get infected. I don’t have time for that shit.”
    “What’s she doing here?” I demanded.
    Chloe’s full lips turned down in a frown, and her dark eyes hardened on me. “ She’s here doing research for a story,” she said drily. “Good morning to you, too.”
    Research again. What was it with this woman butting into my life and treating everything I cared about so clinically? “You’re researching BDSM in the field office? I don’t think so. We might all be in the lifestyle, but this is completely inappropriate.”
    She planted her hands on her hips. “It’s not for you to tell me what I can and can’t do. And I’m not researching BDSM. I’m also a journalist, and I’m working on a story about the Latin Kings. I’m shadowing Sharon today.”
    “What?” I demanded. I turned my attention to Sharon. “She’s not serious, is she? She’s a civilian. She can’t go out in the field.”
    “ She’s sick of you referring to her in the third person when she’s standing right here,” Chloe said testily. “And I can go out in the field. You don’t have a say in this.”
    “It’s too dangerous,” I insisted, trying my best to rein in my irritation. “Kennedy won’t allow it.”
    “Kennedy’s the one who authorized it,” Sharon supplied.
    “He wouldn’t,” I asserted, positive that I was correct. “Ken wouldn’t put a sub in danger like that.”
    Chloe made an exasperated noise. “I don’t see what my sexual proclivities have to do with anything. Besides, I already told you I’m not a sub. Not that it should matter. Carina’s a sub, and she’s perfectly capable of being a journalist.”
    Carina. Of course she was behind this. Kennedy had a soft spot when it came to his precious sub. She must have convinced him to agree to this outrageous scenario.
    I took a breath, struggling to summon up my control. “I’m not saying you’re not capable.” I tried to soothe her. “But I am saying this is dangerous. I’m going to talk to Kennedy about it.”
    “Are you implying that I’m not competent enough to protect her?” Sharon demanded, her fiery temper rising. “I might be a sub, but I’m an agent, just the same as you.”
    “And don’t you dare try to change Kennedy’s mind,” Chloe interjected. “I’m not going to let you ruin my chance at getting my big break. Just because you’re a Dom doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do.”
    My head throbbed. Is this seriously happening right now?
    I’d resolved to put Chloe behind me, and here she was, interfering in my life. I’d allowed her lack of respect to irritate me last night, but now the woman was downright infuriating.
    “It’s not like you to be a dick, Dex,” a new voice drawled.
    I closed my eyes for a brief moment. Things were about to get worse.
    Smith James stepped into our space where we were crowding the elevator. Of course the office gossip had come to see what was going on. He might like to think of himself as a badass agent and an even more badass Dom, but the man loved to get involved in everyone’s business, the juicier and more dramatic the better. I was sure every agent in New York would hear about my little run-in with Chloe within the hour.
    “I’m not being a dick,” I said as calmly as I could manage, meeting his silver eyes. They danced with mischief. I didn’t at all care for his high-handed attitude. I might respect Smith, but his arrogant self-confidence grated on me at times. I’d known too many assholes with similar attitudes in high school. We hadn’t gotten along, to put it mildly.
    “I think the lovely lady would disagree.” Smith tipped his head at Chloe. “Is he bothering you, Miss Martin?”
    She gave a little dismissive wave. “It’s fine.” Her eyes found mine again. “I appreciate your concern, but this is my career.