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“I suggest you change your attitude before you step foot on my rig. And make no mistake, boys. It is my rig. My rules. Period. Break them and I’ll break you. We meet at the docks in three days at six a.m. sharp. Anyone who is late will not be going. Got it?”
Her words were said with no hesitation and absolute authority and for once, the entire group was quiet. She took a full twenty seconds to glance around the hulking mass of men and I found it fascinating almost no one was able to look her in the eyes, all wearing sheepish looks as if she’d castrated them.
Well, not this guy.
I gave her the kind of onceover that could burn her into the ground. And what did the little filly do in return?
She fucking smiled as if she was on top of the world.
“Take a chill pill, woman,” I told her.
“Drop dead, asshole,” she said in reply.
“I thought you were an intelligent woman, not a short-sighted wench.”
“You’re calling me a wench? You’re an ignoramus.”
“That would make you a pretentious ninny.”
“Spineless cockhead.”
“That’s not what you said last night. In fact, you were screaming out my name.”
“Ha. In your dreams, lover boy. You’re not that good. In fact, you’re a worthless stud muffin wannabe.”
“That makes you a pious schoolteacher.”
“Jesus,” Hudson huffed.
It was funny how the men had crowded around us in a circle. It didn’t seem to bother her in the least. She was in her element issuing one insult after another. Why not push her buttons as far as I could go? What did I have to lose?
“You’re an insufferable prick.”
“Why don’t you get that stick unstuck from that rounded bottom of yours? Speaking of which,” I continued although I lowered my voice so none of the others could hear me. It was none of their goddamn business. “Is that lush bottom of yours still aching, as rosy red as when you left last night?”
Rylee immediately lifted her arm, ready to strike me again. I grabbed her hand, clasping our fingers together.
“Tsk. Tsk. Bad girl. If you continue with the bad behavior, I guess I’ll need to provide a repeat performance.”
“Try it and I’ll cut your nuts off.” It was apparent she’d had enough of our fun little game, jerking her hand away. Maybe she didn’t realize that if I hadn’t wanted to let her go, she wouldn’t be able to escape. Not. At. All.
When she backed away, heading with long strides toward a ratty ass truck, I immediately started to follow. I did so enjoy sparring with the sultry woman.
“Whoa,” Jack hissed from behind me. “Stop right there.”
“Let her alone, Foxx,” Hudson advised, still trying to be the bigger man. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
I was only a few yards away when I was stopped by Mr. O’Rourke. He was someone I couldn’t push off.
“Can I have a word with you, Foxx?” he asked. While his voice held a slight amused tone, I had a feeling whatever he wanted to tell me was in my best interest of hearing. We stood eye to eye, but there was something about the way he was looking at me that was more troubling than before. I could see strain, but it wasn’t just about the business itself.
My father had once told me you could tell when a man was close to death by the graying of his skin. He’d watched more than a few men die while in the service. So had I. I knew what he was talking about. There was also a distinct stench of death that occurred when it was imminent.
Sean O’Rourke was dying.
“Sure,” I told him. What else was I supposed to say? I threw her another longing look, which continued to shock me. I’d never been so aroused by a woman, and this one took the cake for being the most irritating person I’d ever met. Ever.
I touched the side of my face, turning to follow Sean. Both Jack and Hudson stood staring at me as if I’d torched their yacht. “What?” I snarked.
