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“Not happening,” Caleb said.
Earl’s brow was raised.
“He sought me out, after all. I’d like to talk to him. I think I can ask for that.”
Ashley groaned. “You don’t need to do the best friend routine.”
“It’s fine, Ashley,” Earl said. “I understand.”
My men looked like they wanted to dispute it, but I refused to budge. Ashley was my best friend. They hadn’t looked out for her when I needed them to. Now it fell to me, and there was no way I was going to let her go to this monster without knowing firsthand what she was dealing with.
“No guards,” I said. “You know this room has no exit. We’ll come out.”
“It doesn’t stop him from killing you,” Gael said with a growl.
“I won’t kill her,” Earl said.
“And we’re supposed to believe you?” This from Gael again.
“Why don’t you just accept that I know how to handle myself?” I asked. “I don’t need any babysitters.” I’d taken care of Gael back in high school. It was time for them to realize if they wanted me as theirs, they needed to stop treating me like a child.
“Fine,” Caleb said. “We’ll be right outside the door.”
Ashley passed Earl, and he grabbed her. I watched him. It wasn’t a hard hold, but it was firm. I didn’t like it. All it made me want to do was hurt him.
She stepped out.
The door closed and we were alone. Silence rang out.
I stared at him, in no rush to end this.
He made my skin crawl. I never liked him, and looking at him now, I still couldn’t stand him.
“Is this where we have our little standoff, Emily?” he asked.
“I’m not having a standoff with you. I’m trying to get the correct words to say what I’m feeling, and if this was a standoff, I won.”
He smiled. “Touché.”
“Do you love Ashley?” I asked.
He laughed. “You’re such a woman still. To fuck someone doesn’t require emotion.”
“I know.” I glared at him. “You think I haven’t known what men are like? You have only one interest in mind and it’s popping a cherry then dumping her.” I’d surprised him with my language. Years of being my father’s punching bag, and knowing this world, I’d learned a thing or two. Women who spoke their mind, or were just plain blunt, well, it seemed to shock the men, and I’d do anything to have his focus on me than on my friend.
“You think that is all I want?”
“Ashley told me as much.”
He smiled. “First, Emily, you think whatever we discuss right here and now, I’d even agree to or listen to? I can. I can pretend all I want to, but you’ve got no power here.”
I stared at him for the longest time. In the back of my mind, I knew my men are going crazy, wondering what I was doing. What the hell I was talking with this asshole about. I watched him, waiting for the moment he’d give something away for what he’d done to Ashley. I couldn’t bear the thought of my friend being hurt by him.
“I think there is a lot more to your feelings about Ashley than you’re letting on.” I didn’t look away but gave him my full attention.
“You let your imagination run wild.”
“You’re a businessman. My father organized for you to have my virginity for a hefty price. I also know you’re a man who deals in women on a weekly basis. A virgin isn’t so hard to find, yet you wait. You’ve probably had your share of virgins, and if not, the one you’re waiting for is the person you intend to spend the rest of your life with. Women have biological clocks, but I also hear men have this need to gain an heir. To have someone to pass their legacy onto.”
“You’ve been reading one too many books.”
“And I also know that before you approach a possible target, you do your research. You’re not a fool, Earl. You’ve been watching me and Ashley. Gaining as much knowledge as possible before even approaching us. I know Ashley. She’s a different kind of woman than you’re used to in these circles. She’s strong, sweet, kind, loving. She has an innocent look on the world that you and I do not. It makes her alluring to us. Are you in love with her?”
Earl stared at me.
Time passed.
I waited.
I rarely had much patience, but it would seem when it came to my friend, I somehow found a great deal of it.
He opened his mouth, closed it, and walked to the door.
“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you,” I said.
Earl looked at me. “First, you’d have to catch me.”
He exited the room and I was okay with that. I had a feeling I knew his answer, even if he didn’t yet. Ashley, for now, was in good hands. He wouldn’t hurt her. If he intended to, she’d have already lost her virginity.
