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Keir laughs through the phone.
“Yes. He asked.”
“How many times?” I ask Roberto.
“Four… so far.”
“Now, if only he cared this much for people like he does his business,” I sass, knowing he can hear me. “Next time, ask me, asshole.” I hang up the phone and turn in my seat to look straight ahead.
“If I may…” Roberto says.
“You may not,” I snap, not caring what he’s about to say, as we come to a stop out front of the alleyway that leads to the club. It’s also the alleyway where Dillan lost his life.
I hate that he’s no longer here.
Yes, I may not love him anymore, or possibly never truly did love him, but a part of me believed in him, even if he didn’t believe in us.
Roberto and the other two men exit the car, leaving me alone inside for a moment. I eventually slide out and walk to the door where they’re all waiting. They’ve been pretty good all morning because I haven’t gotten in the way, but I can tell Francis doesn’t seem too impressed that I’m here or that he has to wait for me.
As soon as we enter, I walk down the stairs to find someone I did not expect to.
Paige.
Her long, dark hair is slick and straight, and her dress hugs her body as she sits there talking to someone. When her eyes find mine, she offers me a smile that I know is fake. Just as she is. Two men are chatting not far away from her, not concerned that she’s here or that we are.
“What are you doing here?” Roberto asks, his eyes flicking to Paige, then her men. If I remember correctly, one is her brother.
“I had plans to meet Keir. Did he forget already?” She lifts her hand, and that’s when I see it, a large diamond on her finger. She makes sure it shines bright for all to see as she moves her hand around in the artificial light. I try to give her no reaction because that’s what she wants. But seeing that ring, looking at it with my own two eyes, I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t hurt. A lot!
“You knew he wasn’t working today.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right… he let her play boss.” She pushes her long hair over her shoulder in some sort of sexy gesture which just comes off as her being a cunt. “Didn’t, like… your husband die here or something?” she questions.
Ignore, ignore, ignore…
… brush that shit aside.
The bar owner watches us from his perch on a nearby stool.
“Can’t believe you came back. How desperate are you, even after he chose me over you?” She chuckles, and again, I say nothing.
Ignore…
… shrug that bullshit off.
“Jake.” Roberto steps forward and shakes the hand of the club owner. The owner speaks quietly to him and pulls out a large bag of money. Roberto mentioned they offer protection here, and the owner pays handsomely to have Keir’s name associated with this club.
“Do you think you and that thing of yours will come to the wedding?”
“Paige…” Francis’s voice is a warning, but she brushes him off as she steps closer to me.
“You mean his daughter?” I ask, keeping my voice steady even though she’s pushing my every single button with that comment. She knows it too. I can handle runaway comments about me, but I will not stand to hear someone badmouth my child.
She blinks a few times, then puffs her lips. “Yeah, that thing.”
“I guess you would have to ask her father that question, now wouldn’t you?” I state with a big fake grin of my own.
“No, I will decide. That thing isn’t a boy, so as soon as I give him that, the two of you will be long forgotten.”
“If you say so.” I widen my grin and send her a wink.
When Roberto steps in next to me, she can’t help herself. “It must feel real shitty being a charity case. I mean… look at you.” Her eyes rake me up and down. “What is that exactly? A suit from Target?” She cackles away at her joke.
“It is. Don’t you just love it? Look how good my body looks in it.” I do a small spin for her, and when I face her again, her cheeks are red and it’s clear she’s angry. Her hand lifts and she slaps me across the face, hard. So hard that I fall backward but manage to catch myself on the edge of the bar. My hand comes up to my face, feeling the burn, my eyes water then they find Roberto.
“I want you to remove her hand,” I tell him, but he doesn’t move or even acknowledge me. “Did you not hear me?” I ask. “She slapped me. Keir would have done worse if I were him. Now, cut that thing off.” Blood be damned, I don’t fucking care. This bitch needs to know she’s not a queen, and she cannot treat people the way she does because of who she is, or who she’s going to marry.
