Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
I don’t even think. I slap him across the face. The force of my hit turns his head sideways. He brings his hand up to his face and looks at me with contempt. Had my relationship with Paul not already been deteriorating, that look would have destroyed me. “Fuck you,” I growl.
“Who knew sleeping with a felon would give you spunk,” Paul says, his voice deadly. He brings his hand up to rub where I hit him. “Maybe once you’re done playing Roman’s whore, I’ll give you a go so you can compare.”
His words make me want to hurl. They literally make me gag. The man I looked up to and thought I owed so much to says these vile things. I thought of him as a father. My stomach cramps with the need to vomit. I breathe through it, instinctively determined not to show weakness to him.
“I want a new handler. If you don’t make it happen, I will. The choice is yours,” I tell him, my voice quiet. I turn to leave and he grabs my hand, pulling me around to face him.
“You think you’re getting off that easy? You signed up for this fucking job and you’ll toe the line or you’ll pay. I’ve had Anthes in my sight for over a fucking year and I’m not letting some wet-behind-the-ears, wanna-be-detective ruin it for me. You have until tomorrow afternoon to plant that shit, or I’ll have someone else do it.”
“You can’t—”
“Watch me. Do your fucking job, Ana. That’s why you’re here. That’s the only reason you’re here. Don’t forget for even a minute that if Anthes knew you were a cop, he’d kill you. Without a second thought. You’re nothing to him. Nothing but an easy piece of ass who keeps her legs spread.”
I start to slap him again but he grabs my hand, preventing me.
“What happened to you?” I ask confused.
“Not a fucking thing. Except a woman I used to admire has become the fuck-toy to one of the vilest men in Miami. Get your head out of your ass and back in the game, Ana. Do your job, or I’ll do it for you.”
“I’m no one’s fuck-toy. You’re overstepping your bounds. I could have you—”
“What the fuck is going on here?” Roman snarls. My face goes pale as I turn away from Paul to see Roman standing at the door.
Fuck.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Roman
The last thing I expected to see was Ana standing there yelling at the one man I’m dying to kill. Paul Banks. If there’s a man more deserving to be on the wrong end of a pistol, I haven’t met him. Which is saying something, in my line of work. My eyes narrow on the hold he has on Ana and the strange look on her face. I walk to them, anger fueling every step. There will be no saving the motherfucker now.
“I suggest you let go of my woman, Banks. Now, while you still have a hand.”
Paul turns her loose with a look of disgust. “Anthes. I didn’t realize they let scum out on the streets this early.”
“What the fuck is going on here? Ana, how do you know this weasel?” I ask, and her face blanches and goes even whiter.
“Ana and I go way back. I never figured you were one to take my leftovers, Roman. I guess you’re growing bored of sampling the women who work for you.”
I hear Ana’s gasp, but my attention has turned to the fucker in front of me. All of my attention is on Banks.
“Ana, go to the car,” I order.
“Roman, he’s lying. I never slept with him.”
“To the car, Ana,” I tell her again, showing no emotion, but I’d be a fucking liar if I didn’t admit to the fact that knowing she hadn’t been with Banks doesn’t soothe something inside of me. “Robert, escort Ana to the car,” I tell my driver. I don’t turn to make sure my order is followed. I know it will be, and I don’t trust Banks enough to take my eyes off of him. “You come near Ana again, and you’ll regret it.”
“Has the mighty Roman Anthes fallen for a pussy?”
“You heard me, Banks. You can push your weight around all you want, but you and I both know what a bottom dweller you are. Be careful you don’t end up at the bottom of an ocean.”
“Is that a threat, Anthes? Threatening cops can get you in deep shit these days,” he responds arrogantly.
“Not a threat. I don’t waste my time with threats. I’m saying you so much as sniff the wind in Ana’s direction and I’ll end you. Take that any way you want.”
“Maybe she’s the one sniffing in my direction. Trying to find a real man who—”
I strike out before he can finish, my knuckles crunching against his teeth. He goes down with a thud. Blood pours from his lip and I hope I’ve at least knocked his teeth loose.