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“There’s no problem with her safety. But she talked about you—and told the truth.”
I froze on the spot, shocked that she’d told her cousin the truth about me.
“She asked Vanessa not to share the information with Bones.”
I wondered if she would keep her promise. “What else was said?”
“Vanessa told Carmen she should stay away from you. They talked about it for a while, and then Carmen said she didn’t see a future with you, that she’s afraid you won’t let her go when she wants to leave…and you aren’t right for her.” Drake looked awkward telling me this, like he wished he were doing anything else besides discussing my personal life.
I felt the rage circulate in my veins, the fact that Carmen actually considered trying to get rid of me.
“Said she wants a house in Tuscany with her husband and four kids—and her husband will never be you.”
I didn’t give a shit how she pictured her fairy-tale life. Fairy tales weren’t real, and no other man would give her what she really wanted. No other man would be able to handle this woman, provide for her and protect her. She needed to forget about that happily ever after because it would never happen. “That’ll be all, Drake.”
He took the dismissal and walked out.
I sat in my leather chair, my office not having any windows because it was protected by layers of concrete on every single side. The only way inside was up a long staircase that led to an elevator that could only be accessed with a special card.
I was a bit paranoid.
No one had ever made an attempt on my life, probably because the chance of success was so small. But that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen someday. When it did, I would be prepared.
I was prepared for anything.
I considered Carmen’s gossip with her cousin and wondered when that conversation had taken place. It must have happened before she called me, pissed off that I’d ignored her all week and desperate to have me again. Maybe she knew I was bad for her, but that wouldn’t change how much she needed me.
She wasn’t strong enough to leave me.
If she were, she wouldn’t have gotten in this deep to begin with.
And if she did find the courage to walk away from me, it would be the greatest mistake she ever made.
Because she would find out what kind of monster I really was.
I refilled my glass as I sat on the couch, the TV on in the background. I was reading a book, wearing just my fitted black sweatpants without a shirt. It didn’t matter that it was freezing cold outside.
I was always warm.
I hadn’t called Carmen because I wanted her to make the first move—to remind her how far she was under my thumb.
She texted me, her words popping up on my screen. I just got home from work.
I grinned when I saw her name flash across my phone. I had seen her that morning—and put her in her place. I grabbed my phone and wrote back. How was your day?
Slow. Didn’t make a single sale.
It happens. I didn’t invite her over or head to her place. I’d been doing nothing but chasing this woman around. It was her turn to chase me.
She didn’t write back for a while, probably hating herself for messaging me at all, treating me like I was some kind of boyfriend.
I definitely wasn’t her boyfriend. Boyfriends were for pussies.
I was her man.
She finally messaged me again. My place or yours?
I liked her choice of words, keeping her dignity as much as possible. She asked for what she wanted but did it with pride. One of my men will be at your door in three minutes. He’ll bring you to my place. Pack a bag. I put the phone down and kept reading, enjoying my scotch while I waited for Carmen to be delivered right to my door.
I met her downstairs and took her up in the elevator since I was the only one who had access to the code.
She was dressed in tight jeans, boots, and a black jacket. Her hair was styled, and her makeup was fresh, like she’d redone it before coming over.
I took the bag from her hand and placed the strap over my shoulder. I wasn’t a gentleman, but I didn’t mind doing things for her, making her feel desired and taken care of. It was only a minute to the top of the building, but my hands circled her waist and I kissed her, giving her soft embraces that teased her lips more than satisfied them. My hand moved to her hair, and I felt her melt at my touch, her breathing immediately changing and her muscles tightening.
The doors opened, and I grabbed her hand and guided her into my penthouse.
