ChapterTen
KEATON
“Did you miss me?” I ask, and Elsy rolls her eyes in the most adorable way.
“Will there be enough room in your car with your inflated ego?”
“I think we can manage,” I say as I take her by the hand and lead her outside. “But my dick might be a problem.”
“Keaton!”
“Come on, sweet girl, you’re going to be late.”
I open the rear door of the SUV and lift Elsy into it. She pretends to be annoyed as I slide her over and then pull her against me. The driver pulls away from the curb, and I hit the button to raise the privacy screen. It’s soundproof and blacked out, so essentially we’re all alone.
“You look beautiful,” I say as I tug her even closer. “You know what, just come here.” She squeals when I lift her off the seat and then place her on my lap. “Okay, that’s better.”
“You’re crazy.” She laughs as she says it and then touches my cheek. “Thanks for the ride to work.”
The reminder of where she’s going brings my good mood down a fraction. I spent most of the night researching what the hell happened with John Malice and why Gray was so angry at my father last night. JM Tech is in his hands now, but it’s more secretive than ever. There’s a lot I couldn’t see, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. It just means it’s going to take me a little longer to dig up the dirt. From what I saw, there are questionable contacts between the government, JM Technologies, and one of the largest organized crime units in North America. So far, it’s not looking good.
“About that,” I hedge, and Elsy raises an eyebrow. “Why don’t you come work for one of my father’s companies instead?” I offer, but the look on her face gives me her answer. “It was worth a shot.”
“It’s not that I wouldn’t be grateful to work for the Lones, but you know I’m not exactly a fan of your dad after the way he kept me away from you.”
“It was for your own safety,” I say, and she sighs.
“Are you going to tell me exactly what it is I’m in danger of?”
“Besides me?” I try and tease, but she shakes her head.
“I’m serious, Key.”
“That day in the lab, it was a chemical compound that my father was experimenting with. He was trying to create a performance enhancing drug that could be sold to our military.”
“Oh my god.” Her eyes widen with worry, but I brush my fingers over her cheek.
“It was too volatile, and he was trying to isolate the problem. When the glass fell over, I was cut in several places, and the compound seeped in. Since then I’ve been trying to figure out how it’s changed me. In some ways I’m the same, but I’m faster, stronger, and my senses are heightened. The worst part is trying to control it. Some days it’s like there’s this ticking time bomb that’s about to go off inside of me, but the moment I was standing next to you, the timer shut off. When I’m with you, I feel like I’ve got a grip on everything.”
I squeeze her ass to make my point. She smiles at me, and some of the melancholy leaves her.
“Part of the reason that I’m worried about you working for JM Tech is that Gray’s father John died while working on this compound with my father.”
“Is that how he died?”
“I don’t know, and my father isn’t talking.” I sigh as I kiss her forehead and then her cheek. “I won’t stop you from going to work, I just want you to be safe. Will you let me do that?”
“How do you plan on keeping me safe?”
“Taking you to work and picking you up. And having lunch with you every day.” I smile, and she pretends to think it over.
“I mean, I guess I can do that.”
My hand slides up the inside of her thigh, and I brush my fingers under her skirt. “Spread your legs.”
“Key,” she admonishes and glances around.
“Nobody is going to see. Spread them for me.”