“You’ve done this before?”
“My parents,” she confirms and looks away again. I hate when those eyes aren’t on me, assessing me, trying to figure out the ‘real’ me.
And what is this fascination I have for her?
Why do I want to bend her over right now and fuck her, but only after I taste her first?
“I would give my condolences, but I don’t really care,” I tell her.
Her next words surprise me. “Neither do I. And the last thing I would want from you is sympathy. Keep it and shove it.” She goes to step away from me, but I capture her hand. Her head whips back to see where we’re joined, then her gaze moves to my face, and I squeeze her fingers, pinning her with a stare.
“I’ll have you, you know that, right? And not by buying you either.”
Chanel pulls her hand away from mine. “If that’s what you think. The only way you’re getting this is by payment. And lucky for me, you can’t afford me no matter the price.” She turns and saunters off to where her friend and brother are currently seated.
“Sir.” I don’t bother turning to face Sergio. Sergio has been with me since I was a teenager, but he isn’t family. And trust me when I say, everyone hated that fact. It’s a family business, what we do. And even then, if they aren’t, it’s in a contract of a friend or a family member. We always make sure we have something over someone. And I do over Sergio, but I’ve never had to use it and don’t think I’ll ever have to. He’s too loyal.
“Boss is on his way. You want to clear things out?”
I look back to where she’s standing near the stage with her brother. When Keir comes, he likes to talk in private, not that he comes here all that often. But tonight I don’t want to kick her out, so I turn to Sergio. “No. Watch that one.” I nod to Chanel, then walk out the back where I know Keir’s car will arrive. Everyone who’s currently in the back scatters and leaves. I hold the door open as I watch his car come to a stop. It starts raining, but it doesn’t bother him. Joey gets out and walks over first, followed by Keir. Joey is Keir’s younger brother, and Keir’s our boss. He’s one of the only men I respect, and that’s saying a lot since I hate almost everyone.
“You’re open,” Joey says, obviously hearing the music. I nod and show them in. “What’s the occasion?” he asks, raising one brow.
I ignore him and look at Keir. “What brings you here?” I ask.
Joey heads out to the bar and then it’s just the two of us. I sit down at the round table, and he pulls out a seat and sits across from me.
“It seems Romarc’s men are angry.” He leans forward, hands on the table, fingers tapping on the surface. “Apparently, me killing him didn’t appease everyone.”
I huff.
Romarc was a supplier. He sold and distributed, then he thought, stupidly, that he could outwit Keir.
No one outwits Keir.
That ended with him dead.
But I like to think the real reason he ended up dead was that he took an interest in Keir’s wife, Sailor, who Keir just so happens to be obsessed with. He wasn’t meant to marry her. He had a contract signed by his father and another family that stated he was meant to marry Paige. But it turns out Paige is one hell of a crazy bitch, and by that stage, he was already in love with Sailor.
We all knew it wasn’t going to stand—the contract, that is.
It just took Keir a while longer to figure out how to get around it. Because he follows his rules, and he absolutely loves what he does. He is the most feared and untouchable man, and you would be stupid to cross him. His temper is short. Not as bad as mine, but he is more calculated.
“And you want me to do what?” I ask him.
His fingers tap again, and he looks me dead in the eyes. “Clean it up.” He stands, then walks to the door that leads to the bar, and I follow him. Joey’s at the bar and next to him is Chanel. I push past Keir and stalk over to her. She notices me first and sighs heavily as I approach.
“Nice talking to you.” She smiles at Joey, and I bristle at that. She then proceeds to give me the stink eye as her gaze falls to me, before she takes off.
“Why are you watching her like that?” Joey asks, eyes locked on me.
“Like what?” I ask, turning to face him.
“Like you plan to fuck her.”
I’ve thought about it, multiple times. Even right now, I want her. To bend her over to taste and smell that sweet-ass pussy. Her taste is going to be immaculate. And knowing me—because I clearly have an addictive personality—I’ll become hooked.