“I really don’t give a shit. I’m not looking for approval. Just an end to this and for Enrico to leave here so I can move along in my life.”
“A life filled with traitors. I thought I taught you better than that. To know the men around you. They don’t fear or respect you, Carlos.”
“You think what you like. No amount of spying on me will have me back under your control, Father. I only respect our agreement, not you.”
“I look forward to seeing you, Carlos.”
Ending the call, I want to slam my fist into the wall. Hopefully taking Lucas and Simon with me will provide the barrier needed between me and my father. He is less likely to start a conflict with Simon present, a member of a cartel in another country. He won’t want another battle. That's what I hope.
A couple of hours pass quickly, trying to get everything in place for my departure next week, when there is a knock on my office door. I’m expecting Jules and Simon for their next collection, but I’m disappointed to see Jules walk in with Ivan.
“Ivan, I wasn’t expecting you,” I say, and Ivan looks a little offended.
“I feel so loved. Simon is out on a job if that's what you’re asking,” he says as he crosses his arms. Interesting he has picked up on the Simon issue, does he know?
“I wasn’t,” I say, trying to come off indifferent.
“Yeah, well, I think he’d rather be here than picking up a college girl,” Ivan says and it's like I’ve been injected with hot rage. He’s on a fucking date? My hands clench on the desk, picturing them wrapped around Simon's throat when I see him next. You wanna play, Simon? Lets fucking play.
“I’m sure he’ll succeed in his task.”
“No shit, the guy has a revolving door of women,” Ivan says, and now I’m picturing smashing Ivan's smug face in. He’s doing this on purpose. Jules nudges him, trying to move him along.
“Are we going to do business, gentlemen?” I say with the fakest smile, aiming all my hate at Ivan. I want them out of here before I explode.
“Lets do it,” Jules says as he takes a seat and we get to business while Ivan is distracted on his phone. Luckily they’re not here for long, as something has happened, causing Ivan to race out of here like his ass is on fire.
Simon is lucky I’m too busy tonight to stalk him down, because with the way I’m feeling right now, it would be in his best interests to avoid me until I’ve calmed down. He knew my rules and broke them without any shame.
You were warned, little lion.
14
SIMON
A t times like this I question if I really do love my job. Last night, Dima and Lev sent me on a mission to flirt and befriend
Callie, the daughter of that dodgy cop, Tim, who Ivan and Tyler are having issues with, at her university. It was fucking hell being surrounded by those dumb ass students. It's exhausting pretending to be happy and social. To pretend I was interested in her, just so I could get some footage of us together. Enough to blackmail Tim with. And if that wasn’t enough to keep me in a bad mood, I then had to do fucking clean up of the cop’s informant who the guys went to town on in the holding pen. Add in the fact that Tyler’s brother's husband, Noah, got involved. The king of creepy psychopaths, I was down there a long time. Noah is another level but I can’t be too mad about it. He doesn’t like to talk and that's perfect for me. However, Ivan didn’t get the hint and is following the guy around like he’s a celebrity.
All of that drama is enough to put the chillest guy into therapy, but the universe made other plans for me when Carlos decided to throw a bomb on me, telling me I will be accompanying him to Brazil. There are so many layers to that request, I don’t know where to start first. The first question is why are we going there? What is expected from me? And will I make it home? I don’t know how I’ll survive Carlos for how ever many days and nights we are staying there. I can hardly complain to Dima and Lev, as their patience with me is running out, plus I’m at risk of outting myself with how much I moan about the guy to everyone. If I’m honest with myself, the secret looks from all the guys and comments makes me nervous that they already know. But I’m doing what I do best on that topic, ignore the problem so it doesn’t exist. Simple. It's just so hard to control myself and my mouth when Carlos is in the vicinity.
Anyway, my obsessing is now pissing me off. It's two days later after speaking to Carlos, and like a teenager I keep checking my phone, waiting for him to text. Why hasn’t he reached out again? Why do I fucking care?
“A watched phone never rings,” Tyler says to me across the table at Desire. He has accompanied Ivan today because he’s jealous. Jealous of the possibility that his gay lover, Ivan, will suddenly run off with one of the stripper girls. It's laughable, but I’ll never admit it's cute, either. The panic on his face watching every girl here, waiting for them to steal his man, while all the time, Ivan is just watching him. He really is clueless when it comes to Ivan. I’m sure Ivan would have him on a leash if he could. He’s that besotted with the guy.
I walk away to the bar to chat with Bonnie as I need to get away from the two love birds, when I see the entrance doors open. The designer clothes, sexy walk and smug face make an appearance. Carlos. He doesn’t see me as he walks over to Ivan and Tyler. What the hell is he doing here? My feet are moving before I think, which is becoming a common theme in my reactions to the dickface. Zero control.
“What the hell are you doing here again? Are there no other strip joints for you to visit?” I say before thinking. Ignoring the looks from Ivan and Tyler.
“I like it here. The women are very beautiful,” Carlos says nonchalantly as I have to bite the inside of my mouth with jealousy.
“That’s news to me, I thought you liked men. You’ve fucked nearly all of them within a ten mile radius,” I say in the bitchiest tone that I didn’t know I possessed. What the fuck am I saying? Why am I acting like this in front of the guys? Can someone shut my damn mouth?
Carlos sits back and folds his arms, assessing me.
“Why does it bother you who I fuck or how many?”
I swear I growl like a dog. Calm the fuck down, Si.
