Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Her eyes were locked on mine, hanging on to every word.
“I meant what I said before. If there comes a time when it is you running the show, you’re going to need someone you trust to watch your back. Others will see you as an easy opponent and are more likely to fuck with you. You need a man to keep the dogs away—”
“And you’re that man?” she asked, but this time with a smile.
I stared at her hard, almost lured back into the flirtation. “I’m just being honest with you. I’m surprised your father hasn’t had this conversation with you. He must have a plan.”
“He said his men and his allies will look after me in his absence.”
“Once a king dies, so does the loyalty of his men,” I said. “That’s just how it goes. He overestimates his power beyond the grave. Do you even know how to shoot a gun?”
She chuckled.
“I’m serious.”
“You think I’m my father’s daughter and I don’t know how to shoot a gun?”
My eyes narrowed, trying to discern a lie in her words.
“Would you like me to show you?” She extended her hand across the table.
The curiosity was too much to ignore, so I pulled my handgun from my jeans and slid it across the table toward her.
She didn’t fire the gun, but she did something more impressive. She dismantled it piece by piece, laid out all the components on the table along with the bullets that were in the barrel. Then she put it back together and slipped the bullets back inside before she slid it back to me. “Yes, I know how to handle a gun.”
The grin stretched my face as I shoved the gun into the back of my jeans. “My mistake.”
“I can handle myself, Axel.”
“What else can you handle?”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t need a gun to kill you, sweetheart.” I could choke her to death with a single hand. I could break her arm with a single twist. Her thin body had no chance against someone built like me.
“Would you like me to show you that as well?”
My jeans instantly felt snug, just the thought sexy. “As enticing as that sounds, I don’t think your father would appreciate seeing me raise a hand against you.”
“Who says you would have a chance?”
Fuuuccck, this woman drove me crazy. “Guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”
Her father emerged from the house then approached the table where we sat. He was in dark jeans and a gray shirt, his body fit and tight from his workouts with his personal trainer. He was a handsome guy, and I knew he got pussy left and right. He just didn’t show it in front of his daughter.
“Do you mind if I have a word with Axel, sweetheart?” When he spoke to Scarlett, he was always genuine and charming, regarding her like the light of his life. He seemed incapable of the maniacal insanity he’d shown me last weekend.
“Sure.” She rose from the chair. “See you later.”
“See you later.” I kept my eyes on him as she walked away.
Dante took a seat, lit up a cigar, and his butler immediately came outside to cover the table with drinks and a small platter. Since he was hosting me like a guest, I assumed he wasn’t angry—unless he was trying to poison me.
Dante sat there for a while and enjoyed his cigar, watching me across the table.
I led the conversation. “I’m having some issues with our American distributors, but I’ll figure it out.”
“What are the issues?”
“They’ve suddenly increased their fee. I think they want a bigger cut now that they see how well the product is selling. Your stuff is superior to other shit on the market, and now they want to invest.”
“We made a deal,” he said calmly. “They get nothing.”
“I know.”
He gave a slight nod. “Good.” He gestured to the cigar placed in front of me.
I lit up and let the sultry taste roll around my mouth. There was nothing better than a good cigar and a stiff drink…especially after a hard fuck.
He gave no indication that he’d snapped at me last weekend. He acted like nothing had happened at all. But I knew it was all pretend. He wasn’t the forgive-and-forget type…but the grudge type. “Let’s talk about the other distributors.”
We got into the nitty-gritty of it. We both had access to the reports, but he liked to discuss everything that had already been presented on paper. Even when business was good, it wasn’t good enough. His sights were always set on the horizon.
“I have a question.” The discussion of business had concluded.
He let the smoke slowly leave his mouth, his eyes locked on mine.
“Do you think it’s wise to select your daughter as your successor?”
His eyes immediately narrowed at the question. “You wouldn’t ask me this if I had a son rather than a daughter.”