Oh, she had tried to call him, but there hadn’t been an answer, and his reply texts had been short. After that, she had given him space, knowing he obviously dealt with this in his own way, and her continuing to pester him was only going to make things worse.
She pulled the curtain aside and felt her brows lift to her hairline at who stood on her porch. Pulling the front door open, Tatum smiled.
“What are you doing here?” Tatum stepped aside. “You want to come in?”
“Actually, no, but thanks. Leo sent me over to bring you to the club.”
Tatum felt her brows knit in confusion. “Really? Why didn’t he just call me?”
“Not sure, but I do know he’s got a lot of shit going on right now. He just said to come get you and bring you to the club.”
The situation was weird, but Tatum did get the feeling that Leo had been busy today and had a lot on his mind after she told him about Slade. She still didn’t know what their issue was with each other, but it obviously ran deep. “Well, okay, let me just grab my phone and call him.”
“We really need to go. I know there is some shit going down with Slade, and he said to get over there quick.” Tatum started to feel really uncomfortable with the urgency.
“I think I should at least call him, let him know I’m on my way.” Tatum turned to get her phone, when a searing pain lanced the back of her skull. The world tilted as she fell forward. The last thing she saw before darkness crept over her was a pair of mile-high stilettos stepping in front of her face.Tatum blinked several times to try to clear her vision. She was on something soft, and when she inhaled, she caught the scent of leather. Was she in Leo’s office? For a moment, she couldn’t remember anything, and the pain in her head stopped her from delving any deeper.
“Ah, she wakes.”
Tatum closed her eyes and struggled to sit up. Rubbing a hand over the back of her head, she winced when she skimmed over a particularly sensitive spot.
“I have to apologize for Lucy. She got a little carried away.”
Tatum turned to the sound of the voice and saw Slade sitting across from her in a leather chair. His suit jacket was thrown across the back of it, and the periwinkle-colored dress shirt was unbuttoned at the throat. The color itself was feminine, but on Slade, it seemed to make him look all the more dangerous.
“I specifically told her to bring you in unharmed, yet she got a little excited when you went to call Leo.” Slade leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “You see, we can’t have you spoiling all the fun just yet.” His grin was all teeth and filled with predatory excitement. He leaned back and threw his arms over the chair.
The knock on the door was overly loud, and the pounding in Tatum’s head intensified. The door opened, and in walked Peaches—or Lucy, as Slade called her. Peaches sauntered over to Slade and placed her tiny ass right on his lap.
“Baby, I thought you were just going to shift and deal with her?” Peaches let out a sexual purr and rubbed herself against Slade. Clearly, the woman knew all about men changing into lions, and clearly, she didn’t bat a lash at that knowledge. In fact, it seemed Peaches wanted Tatum out of the picture. If she could have, Tatum would have left right then and there, but Slade wouldn’t have any of that, not until he got whatever he wanted from her.
Slade’s hand landed on the busty female’s bare thigh. “Shut up, girl.” His tone was serious, but he looked at Tatum as he addressed the other woman. She let her eyes go back to the woman she had thought was her friend at one time.
Today, Peaches wore a bright-pink, pin-straight wing, a pair of boy shorts, and a shirt that looked more like Tatum’s bra selection. Looking between the two of them, realization finally slammed home.
“You’re a smart one, honey.” Slade grinned and crept his hand up Peaches’s leg, stopping at her bony hip.
“You’re happy with me, baby?” Peaches rubbed herself against Slade in a sickening display of affection. “I did just like you asked.” She leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth, but right before her lips made contact, Slade jerked away.
“Not now, Lucy.” He glared at her, and Tatum watched as the young girl curled into herself. “Can’t you see I have a guest?” He pushed her off and made his way toward Tatum. She moved to the farthest corner of the couch and eyed him warily.
“What is this about?” she asked as she looked back at Peaches. The girl had narrowed eyes trained on her. When Tatum looked back at Slade again, he had his upper body turned toward her and a smirk on his face.