Page 40 of Pink Ink

“Where’s your proof? That’d be easy to appeal.” I raise my chin. I feel more like a kid arguing over toys than something that could seriously harm me and my scholarship. “If you’re done with your threats, we can agree to disagree that my dates with the Shadow will continue.”

His entire being hardens like I just said something downright offensive, but his face goes expressionless. “If you took your education seriously, you wouldn’t be going on dates with anyone.”

My jaw drops. Oh my God, I’m going to kill him. “If I took my edu—” I clamp my mouth shut and take a deep breath. “You don’t need to worry, I take my educationveryseriously.”

I clap my hands together because slapping him isn’t an option, then say, “If we’re done going around in circles, we can call it a day and bothbe on our merry way. And if your free will also involves attending crime scenes, then I wish you all the best.”

He uncrosses his arms and places his hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, resuming the deceptively relaxed facade he dons so well. “Fine. If you want to act recklessly, then so be it.”

I blink.

Oh. That was easy. I expected more of a fight.

“Good.”

“I’ll be accompanying you from now on.”

Wait.

Back up.

“Come again.”

His gaze turns heated. “That’s not something you want to say to me, Miss Sinaga.”

What is that supposed to mean—

Oh.

A shudder rolls down my spine. I don’t think my heart is beating.

He grimaces, then brushes it off like he didn’t just insinuatethat. “Anytime you intend on visiting a crime scene, you will tell me, and we will go together.”

Huh?“No.”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not.” No fucking way.

“I apologize if you mistook my statement for a suggestion. If you want to go, I’m accompanying you.”

I gape at him. “I take my apology back. I am very muchnotsorry. Stop being so overbearing.”

“You want me to be more palatable, I want you to stop putting yourself in danger; not everyone can get what they want.”

“I don’t need you to be my goddamn babysitter.”

“Then it’s agreed. You’re acting like a child.”

I take a deep breath, look heavenward, then count to three. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. “Right,” I say, heading for the exit. “Thank you for your time this afternoon, Mr. Shaw.”

He shifts to the side, effectively blocking my exit with his imposing frame, trying and failing to appear relaxed. “I didn’t dismiss you.”

“Then it’s a good thing I wasn’t asking for your permission to leave.” And here he was callingmethe child.

Shaw can give me his detached demeanor all he wants. I heard the dark rumble in his voice. The man is two seconds from blowing up. “We aren’t done here.”

“We never started.”