Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 105065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 525(@200wpm)___ 420(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 525(@200wpm)___ 420(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
“Still dealing with the Armenians?”
He nods and leads me to the bed. I hesitate for only a moment before climbing in beside him with a sigh. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing anymore.
Chapter Eighteen
Mackenzie
“When do I get to go back to work?” I ask.
Lachlan glances up from his breakfast. “Ye don’t.”
“What do you mean I don’t?”
Him and Ronan exchange glances. “Told ye, sweetheart. Things are going to change. The only lad you’ll be dancing for from now on is me.”
“Like hell.” I start to have a mini panic attack at the prospect. “You aren’t taking my job away from me!”
Lachlan leans back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head as he observes me. “Ye should’ve thought about that before ye came to my room last night. Remember who ye’re talking to, butterfly.”
I cross my arms in stubborn refusal. “I’m not leaving the club.”
“If I say you are, then aye, you fucking are.”
“Or I could just walk out the door right now,” I threaten.
He laughs, and so does Ronan. “You’d have the Armenians up your arse in two minutes, sweetheart. Do ye honestly think I’d allow that to happen? I told ye I’d protect you, and I meant it. Even if that means I have to handcuff ye to my bed, which I’m not opposed to by the way.”
Shit. This is not happening how I planned it. He’s right about the Armenians. But I’m not here to play house with Lachlan. I’m here to get information. So I attempt to be sweet though it’s totally not in my nature.
“Look, Lachlan,” I say calmly. “I really don’t want to be the little woman you stash away in your house while you’re out all day doing God knows what. I can’t just sit around and wait for you, I’ll go outta my fricken mind. You promised me a job, you can’t just take that away. Let me do something else if you don’t want me to dance. I can do your books, cocktails, whatever. My talents are endless, really.”
He gives me a coy little smirk, and I know he’s thinking about last night. As a bonus, it seems like he’s actually considering my words, so I throw a cherry on top.
“Besides, I don’t want you there without me. Mandy thinks she’s gonna’ get her claws into you and she’s got another thing coming.”
Now he’s giving me one of those boyish grins of his. Go figure. Ronan, however, is even more suspicious of me than ever judging by the scowl on his face.
“I’ll tell ye what, sweetheart,” Lach says. “You can keep working at the club for a few hours a night. I’ll find ye something to do. But what I say goes.”
“Of course.” I flash him a victorious smile. “Whatever you say, Lachlan.”
Ronan rolls his eyes and grunts. When Lachlan goes back to eating, I stick my tongue out at him and grin. I always get what I want.
***
Lachlan
When I get back to my place, I only have time for a change of clothes before I have to set off again. Turns out it doesn’t matter since the girl’s asleep. In my bed, no less. I move to the edge and watch her for a bit. In her sleep, she looks even younger and more vulnerable than I already know her to be.
She fancies herself a tough nut. Thinks she can handle my world and anything I throw at her. I’d have to disagree. I’ve seen this life bring full grown blokes to their knees before. A girl like her should be in college, messing around with guys who play football and act tough in pubs on the weekend. Not lads who look over their shoulders at every turn and question who is gunning for them this week.
I’ve no choice now. She’s in it, like it or not. It’s either that, or buried six feet under. That option’s got some appeal to it, if I’m being honest. I almost got myself shot tonight when I was thinking about her sucking my cock. Jaysus. The woman is doing my fecking head in. Making me lose focus and using resources I can’t afford to spare. I’ve got Ronan bitching in my ear and Niall to contend with, and everyone’s on my goddamn case. I can’t let her go, but I don’t want her to stay either. She’s confusing me. The way she touches me. How she looks at me. Inside, I see her for the fragile girl she really is, and that’s a weakness.
She’s in my bed, my house, my clothes. Fucking up everything. I should want her gone. There’s no room in my life for any woman who isn’t one of Viktor’s daughters. Especially ones who keep secrets. Flashes of Mandy shagging Sean on my desk blur my vision, swirling with all of the others before her who’ve fucked me over. Then I think about Carrick. How badly he wanted me to marry. If I’d had a choice in the matter, he’d have liked Mack. Would’ve told me to put a couple of babies in her and carry on our bloodline. Those aren’t things I want. Never have. All I ever wanted was to take my rightful place at Niall’s side, and this girl… she could destroy that.
My fingers drift up Mack’s rib cage and over her throat. I could end it right now. Make it all go away. She moans something in her sleep, and my eyes move to her face. She isn’t awake, but her eyes are fluttering. She’s dreaming. Another moan, and this time I can hear it clearly. My name.
“Christ,” I mutter.
I lean down and kiss her. I haven’t a clue why, other than that I want to.
“Goddamn you, Mack.” When I pull away, she whimpers.
Without another glance, I walk down the hall. There’s something I’ve been putting off that needs sorting out. It can’t wait another minute.
Ronan’s eyes snap open as I walk into the room. He’s sick of sleeping on my sofa and I don’t blame him. His frustration with me grows every day he has to stay locked in this house with Mack. But he’s the only lad I can trust to protect her and not put the moves on her.