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SCRATCHCorporate Hitman Vol. 2
scratch /skraCH/ Noun 1. Something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment 2. "Money" Inzio Vikhrov was nursed and raised on criminal intent. Born of an Italian mother and Russian father, he learned early how to operate on the 'not so right' side of the law as the family bookkeeper. Too bad that can't help him when he's betrayed by his own blood. Faced with hard time, he eagerly accepts Pierce Eaglemohr's offer to 'clean' the books as Treasurer of International Accounts at Hawk Global. Smarter than his roguish mouth lets on, his superior mathematical mind mixed with his ever ready boxing skills make him a dangerous asset. The books come in dirty, and he makes them clean. Working for Hawk Global is a messy business that involves more than just cooking the books. Nothing can come between him and the task at hand, direct orders from the boss, and any threat to the completion of a goal must be eliminated. It helps that he has the aid of a hotshot hacker to help cover his tracks, and the deadly tactics of the companies Security Specialist to make all other problems go away. He's also a born ladies man. Adept at charming the pants off of any woman he sets his sights on. So when FBI agent Monica Tidwell walks into his office, he's up for the challenge. But this one could mean losing his heart. Once again, betrayal stares him in the eyes when Eagle tries to pin him as the fall guy of a federal investigation into Hawk Global's shady accounting practices. History may repeat itself, but this time he's not alone. The Hitmen have his back. |
Excerpt From SCRATCH
Things never went his way. That was just how life was for Scratch, and he was used to it being that way. So when he extended an invitation to Monica for dinner, it was with little expectation that she would accept—if she responded at all. It had been a few days and he hadn’t heard from her about the date, or the information that he still owed to her. Not wanting to piss off the FBI, Glitch had prepared a vague summary report that included some information about TopSec. Most of it was false, but it was enough to satisfy her without offending her intelligence as she had so vehemently protested.
None of that really mattered anyway, because not hearing from her was almost as bad as the thought that she was upset with him. Not even the excitement of solidifying their plans to start over was enough to keep her out of his thoughts. The kiss they shared had awakened something inside of him. Jack’s warning kept ringing in his ears, but he ignored it. He wasn’t concerned about falling in love.
Monica intrigued him because she was different than the women he normally screwed with. The point being, that he couldn’t screw with her. As ticked off as he had been at first, the sight of her charging into his office was a turn on like no other. She raised her voice, but she didn’t scream. She made her point and gave him the opportunity to respond, and as much as she wanted to resist him, she gave into her attraction for him. Her honest approach to things was refreshing because she didn’t try to act tough. She showed both her strength and her vulnerability readily. The combination was an intoxicating elixir to a man who was suffering from a broken heart.
Maybe Jack was right. Scratch needed to handle this situation delicately. He would have to try his damnedest to be as honest as he could be. No need to fill her with unnecessary lies. She would see through that right away, and it would transfer onto the way she handled the investigation. He may be arrogant, but he wasn’t fool enough to think she would go easy on him because he was giving it to her right. Well, that’s if they ever made it to that stage.
Scratch had all but given up on the idea when his office phone lit up. That phone never rang unless someone called the wrong extension, or he was late to a meeting and they were looking for him. He almost ignored the call, but decided to pick it up at the last minute.
“Mr. Hines.” Monica’s smooth voice was like a symphony to his ears.
“Agent Tidwell,” he replied, trying to sound unaffected by her call.
“Tonight, eight o’clock, tell me where and I’ll meet you there,” she shot out like a torpedo.
“What if I’m not available tonight?” He was totally free.
“You will be if you want to have dinner with me,” she answered easily.
“Wow. I don’t know how to feel about this,” he teased. “I thought there were rules to this sort of thing. Like, never go out on the same night you’ve been asked, or what not.”
“Well,” she chuckled. “You asked me out, and I am saying yes. You didn’t specify a time or a date, so technically I’m throwing you a bone by even accepting. Now it’s on you to tell me where to meet you, or decline.”
“Throwing me a bone? You’re not even giving me the chance to be a gentleman. I’m supposed to pick you up. Walk you from your front door, open your doors, and at the end of the night hope you invite me in for a nightcap.”
“Oh enough!” She laughed in a way that let him know she was trying to hold most of it in. “We both know you can’t just show up to my place, nor can I come to yours.”
He did know that, he was just having a good time teasing her.
“OK,” he conceded. “The St. Regis hotel at eight. I’ll make reservations at King Cole.”
“The St. Regis? Oh my,” she said with a mock swoon. “You’ve earned a few points there, buddy.”
“Well. Like I said before, I’ll take what I can get.”
None of that really mattered anyway, because not hearing from her was almost as bad as the thought that she was upset with him. Not even the excitement of solidifying their plans to start over was enough to keep her out of his thoughts. The kiss they shared had awakened something inside of him. Jack’s warning kept ringing in his ears, but he ignored it. He wasn’t concerned about falling in love.
Monica intrigued him because she was different than the women he normally screwed with. The point being, that he couldn’t screw with her. As ticked off as he had been at first, the sight of her charging into his office was a turn on like no other. She raised her voice, but she didn’t scream. She made her point and gave him the opportunity to respond, and as much as she wanted to resist him, she gave into her attraction for him. Her honest approach to things was refreshing because she didn’t try to act tough. She showed both her strength and her vulnerability readily. The combination was an intoxicating elixir to a man who was suffering from a broken heart.
Maybe Jack was right. Scratch needed to handle this situation delicately. He would have to try his damnedest to be as honest as he could be. No need to fill her with unnecessary lies. She would see through that right away, and it would transfer onto the way she handled the investigation. He may be arrogant, but he wasn’t fool enough to think she would go easy on him because he was giving it to her right. Well, that’s if they ever made it to that stage.
Scratch had all but given up on the idea when his office phone lit up. That phone never rang unless someone called the wrong extension, or he was late to a meeting and they were looking for him. He almost ignored the call, but decided to pick it up at the last minute.
“Mr. Hines.” Monica’s smooth voice was like a symphony to his ears.
“Agent Tidwell,” he replied, trying to sound unaffected by her call.
“Tonight, eight o’clock, tell me where and I’ll meet you there,” she shot out like a torpedo.
“What if I’m not available tonight?” He was totally free.
“You will be if you want to have dinner with me,” she answered easily.
“Wow. I don’t know how to feel about this,” he teased. “I thought there were rules to this sort of thing. Like, never go out on the same night you’ve been asked, or what not.”
“Well,” she chuckled. “You asked me out, and I am saying yes. You didn’t specify a time or a date, so technically I’m throwing you a bone by even accepting. Now it’s on you to tell me where to meet you, or decline.”
“Throwing me a bone? You’re not even giving me the chance to be a gentleman. I’m supposed to pick you up. Walk you from your front door, open your doors, and at the end of the night hope you invite me in for a nightcap.”
“Oh enough!” She laughed in a way that let him know she was trying to hold most of it in. “We both know you can’t just show up to my place, nor can I come to yours.”
He did know that, he was just having a good time teasing her.
“OK,” he conceded. “The St. Regis hotel at eight. I’ll make reservations at King Cole.”
“The St. Regis? Oh my,” she said with a mock swoon. “You’ve earned a few points there, buddy.”
“Well. Like I said before, I’ll take what I can get.”
