Shadowed (Team Zero #4) by Rina Kent

Mist’s hawk eyes zero on me and their deep hazel is striking against the crimson red hair. “Yes?”

I straighten my posture. “I’m Zoe and I’m to start working today.”

I thought about using another name, but that will give me away for sure since I don’t respond to other names. However, I changed my last name and got a fake ID to go with it. Liam managed to hide my police track records, so they shouldn’t find anything suspicious. I’m only an orphan who bounced from one foster home to another.

“Right.” Mist measures me up and down. “Natalie was supposed to take you on a tour.” She faces the still crying girl — who I assume is Natalie — and her tone softens. “You can take the night off.”

Natalie sniffles and shakes her head. “I’ll be fine. I’ll freshen up and then return.”

She walks to the stairs that must lead to the third floor.

Mist keeps watching Natalie until the girl disappears upstairs. She faces me and gives one hard, but not harsh, look over. “You can wait for her downstairs.”

Then she disappears behind a door.

I go back to the Victorian-styled bar and slide onto one of the stools. Partying isn’t new to me. It made me forget things. Elle has always been an unwilling accomplice and barely went with me, though.

Le Salon is a million times different from my usual clubs. It’s elegant and the men here are groomed and put together. I prefer someone ruggedly handsome like that boxer from yesterday.

I shake my head. While I like his looks, his darkness and arrogance are a major turnoff and he brings serious flashbacks from the monster in my childhood.

Besides, I was out of that game since my freshman year when my then boyfriend Nick told me I’m not normal. I’d rather stay celibate than be judged for my preferences.

You’re fucked up, Zoe. You should do some counselling. No woman in her right mind would want that.

Sometimes, I can’t help thinking he’s right.

I push the haze away and order a martini — only because they don’t have coffee here unlike they do in pubs. Coffee relaxes me more than alcohol.

I take my first sip when heat radiates down my back. Warm breaths tickle my ear before a dark voice murmurs, “Stalking me, beautiful?”





Chapter Four





I never thought trouble would come to find me. I’m the one who crashes into it head first.

But here she is. Right under my fucking roof.

The woman who almost made my guard impotent is staring at me with huge green eyes. I would’ve called them jade or emerald or some fucking cliché, but they’re not. It’s like they didn’t know whether to be blue or green and settled on an imperfect, nagging colour I can’t even describe.

Fucking annoying.

I can, however, imagine those same eyes staring up at me while little miss trouble has those full red lips wrapped around my cock.

Only… the headache isn’t worth it.

From that encounter yesterday, it’s clear that she has an attitude that doesn’t interest me. I prefer my women bound and fucking silent. Unless they’re screaming.

And yet…

My gaze rakes over her. The tight dress – that would look better on the floor – hugs her full tits and gives her long legs more leverage. It almost rivals the leather dress from yesterday.

Nah. I preferred how she struggled to stop her tits from spilling.

The moment I caught sight of her sauntering to the bar, I couldn’t fucking look away. Must be the red lips. They’re so much like blood.

Little miss trouble stares at me as if I’m a ghost. It’s close enough.

“So?” I repeat when she says nothing. “Are you stalking me?”

She reverts her gaze to take a sip of her martini as if I don’t exist. “In your dreams, mister.”

There. The reason why I didn’t stay away even though she’s incompatible.

Women are usually willing – if they’re into what I propose. Even if they play hard to get, they don’t attack me head on. It’s been a damn long time since I’ve been with a woman, though, so maybe I’m losing track of things.

Unlike the others, little miss trouble has no fucks to give. She even flipped me off. It takes a lot of balls to do that. I’m sure she’ll change her attitude once she knows who I am.

“I’m Shadow.” I slide on the stool beside her and place my arm on the counter.

“Uh… okay?”

“You don’t know me, do you?”

“Should I?” She flips her hair back. Its colour is as confusing as her eyes. It’s like it had fucking trouble at deciding whether to be blonde or grey so bam. Some grey-blonde shit as a compromise.

“Hmmm.” I let my eyes roam over her body before sliding back to her narrowed gaze. “You’re new in the area?”

She releases a feigned gasp. “Are you stalking me?”

“Believe me, beautiful. If I’m to stalk you, it would be more…” My voice drops a range. “Intense.”

Her lips part. She has this cupid bow shit that I would usually want to ruin just because.

I hate perfect fucking things.

And yet, on her, with those fuckable red lips, all I keep thinking about is shoving my dick between them.

“If you don’t want me to stalk you…” I tap the table in front of her. My hand is inches away from hers that’s clasped tightly around the drink. “Tell me your name.”