Carson winks again and turns to walk away.
“Thank you,” I whisper up to Mateo. “For everything.”
Twenty-Five
VIOLET
We spent a good portion of the evening on the bike, just riding through the mountains surrounding Vegas, enjoying being together. We stopped back at the penthouse to change clothes and freshen up before going to Mateo’s club.
“Please don’t fight tonight,” I say as I squeeze Mateo’s hand. We’re walking into the building, and he stops short, turns to me, and nudges my chin up so he can see my eyes.
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Okay.” I swallow hard and try to look down, but he keeps my chin up and then slides his hand around my throat and leans in close.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um, nothing.”
“No way, Savage, you’re never afraid to speak your mind, don’t start now. What’s up?”
I lick my lips and take a deep breath. “I just ... it’s dangerous, and I know you can handle yourself, but?—”
“You’re worried about me.”
He says it like it surprises him.
“Of course I am. You’ve grown on me.”
“No need to worry.” He kisses my lips and then pulls back. “No fights for me tonight. Let’s go see what we see.”
I nod, and with my hand firmly in his, we walk in, and the first person I see is Snake.
“Does he only work here?”
“Yes, he’s my head of security here. If I need him in other places, I can pull him out to help, but this is his full-time gig.”
I nod and nibble my lip as we approach the brawny man.
“Report,” Mateo snaps out, his Mafia voice firmly in place.
“No sign of her,” Snake says. “We have men spread out through the entire arena, in plain clothes. She hasn’t been here.”
Mateo nods, and I sigh in disappointment.
“Thanks for looking,” I say to Snake, who nods at me but won’t look me in the eyes.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Your guys don’t make eye contact,” I say after we’ve walked away.
“It’s out of respect. If they did, I’d have to remove the organs from their bodies.”
I pull up short and scowl up at him. “That’s a bit extreme.”
“You’re mine. Because you’re mine, that makes you a queen, Violet. And they’ll treat you that way, or there will be consequences.”
You’re a queen.
