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)
“No,” I said quickly. “I’m just saying—”
“What are you saying, baby?” he asked, his head still cocked. “Give it to me straight.”
“I just want to make sure that you understand this isn’t going to ever be something more.”
His expression remained hard. “And why do you think that’s a concern?”
“You hit on me a lot.”
“Have you looked in a mirror?” he asked. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Scarlett. My dick was hard the very first time I saw you.”
I felt the heat flush into my cheeks. He spoke loudly enough for others to hear, and I was embarrassed by that too.
After a moment, he spoke more calmly. “I’m not going to fall for you, Scarlett. If that’s your problem, then we have no problem. Although, I’m insulted that’s such a hang-up for you.”
“It’s nothing personal.”
“It feels pretty fucking personal,” he snapped. “What’s your aversion to me?”
I didn’t want to say, so I looked away.
“Scarlett.”
I ignored him.
“Answer me.”
I was forced to look at him again. “My father told me he doesn’t like you.”
His expression didn’t change, just as hard and angry as before. “What was the context of that statement?”
“He said he’d had to change distributors because of that previous relationship, and he’d never found a suitable replacement. I said that he had you, but then he said he didn’t like you.” I felt bad for saying it, but he’d forced me to share it.
He didn’t say a word. All he did was stare at me.
“I told you I didn’t want to make this complicated—”
“You think I give a shit your father doesn’t like me?” he asked with a headshake. “It’s not going to stop me from making millions with him. The feeling is mutual, sweetheart. Life goes on. But I appreciate your explaining the context of our situation, that the reason we can never be more is because your father doesn’t approve of me.”
“That’s not the only reason.” I kept my eyes down, not wanting to continue this conversation.
“Because you don’t shit where you eat,” he said coldly. “Yes, I know.”
We sat there together in silence, the pizza cold because we’d spent our time locked in a heated conversation rather than eating. Our evening at the apartment had been passionate and searing, and now it turned to charred ash. “I’m sorry.”
He didn’t respond for a while. “You have nothing to be sorry for, baby.”
“I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”
His eyes found mine, slightly incredulous. “You didn’t hurt my feelings.”
He did a good job deflecting insults and giving out I-don’t-give-a-fuck vibes, but I saw the way his eyes changed when something troubled him. It had only happened once before, but I could read it. And I could read it now. “Yes, I did…and just know I feel terrible about it.”
7
AXEL
They closed down the bar and kicked everyone out.
It was just me, sitting at the table alone with a stiff drink in my hand. It was the middle of the night, so everyone had ended their day. But mine had just begun. My men blended in with the shadows in the corners, hardly noticeable because they didn’t make a peep.
Headlights filled the bar momentarily as the SUV pulled up right in front.
I relaxed in my chair and watched.
Guys emerged out of another car, all armed unnecessarily, and then the back door to the SUV opened and revealed him.
Theo.
But most people referred to him as The Skull King.
In dark jeans and a dark brown leather jacket, he stepped out and slipped his phone into his pocket. One of the guys opened the front door for him, and he entered, his presence filling every corner of the room.
I held up my glass to him. “Long time, no see.”
His eyes were like barrels that housed bullets. He dropped into the chair across from me. One of his guys helped himself to the bar and made Theo a drink. He set it on the table then dropped into an empty chair at one of the distant tables, watching us.
Theo took a drink then relaxed into the chair. “How’s business?”
“Don’t be coy, man. You know it’s good.”
He took another drink then licked his lips. “How’s the partnership with Dante?”
I gave a shrug. “Let’s just say I’m not a fan.”
He smirked. “Seems like a prick.”
“More like an egomaniac.”
“Aren’t we all?” he asked before he took a drink, relaxed in the chair like we were two old friends.
We sat in silence for a while, just looking at each other across the table.
My arm was relaxed on the table, my fingers curled around my cool glass. “He doesn’t care for me.”
“Why? You’re making him money, aren’t you?”
“He doesn’t like me on a personal level.”
“Does anyone?” he quipped.
I gave a shallow smirk. “You got me there.”
“What happened?”
“He thinks I want to fuck his daughter.”
Now he smirked. “And you deny that?”
I never answered the question.
“You couldn’t keep that discreet?”