AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I am shocked that he went to so much effort and is personally dropping this off to me. Flicking through, I can see that this will fill in many of the blanks we have and make my job 100% easier.
“Thank you, this is great. I mean, you didn’t have to…”
“I did. I don’t run that type of establishment, Molly. I don’t pretend to know all the patrons in my clubs, and I certainly don’t know many of them well, but I do run things legally; that is something that is very important to me. I want you to know that all my businesses are completely above board and anything you need that may help you or Jasmine with this, I am happy to support.”
I nod, taking in his statement and feeling at ease, knowing he had nothing to do with what happened. I place the file on the table and look at him. His head is still slightly bruised slightly and I wonder again what happened to him, but he looks much better than when I saw him yesterday.
“How are you feeling?” I ask him, genuinely interested.
“I am fine and happy to be out of the hospital. Although, I think my healing was accelerated by having a beautiful woman by my side for some of my stay.” He smiles at me.
Is he flirting?
I blush. I’m not sure what to say in response to that so I smile like an idiot.
Grinning, he walks closer to me, so we are mere inches apart. “How is your gran? Is she doing any better?” His eyes are now peering directly into mine, darting from my eyes to my lips and back again.
I sigh and he looks concerned as I tell him there has been no improvement and that I will be heading back to the hospital this afternoon to be with her. He takes my hand and squeezes it, a supportive gesture which I appreciate. I look up to him, my small frame totally in his shadow as he brings his other hand to cup my cheek. The move is intimate, but I like it, and my breath catches as my eyes meet his again.
“You know, I have been thinking a lot about the other day when we ran into each other with the coffee?” Stephen says with his trademark smile on his face.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, there is something that I forgot to do?”
Confused, I tilt my head a little “What?”
“This,” he says as he leans in and kisses me, his lips caressing mine so softly and tenderly - like nothing I have ever experienced.
Pulling away, I lick my lips and he smiles.
“I will let you get back to work,” Stephen says, stepping to the door.
“Okay,” I say, still in a state of dumbfounded bliss which causes him to smile, and boy, it is a great smile. Before anything else can be said, he is gone. Out of my office as quickly as he arrived. My phone starts ringing and I fumble as I grab it. It is Kelly calling me back to her office, so I pick up the file Stephen just delivered and make my way back down the hall, my body feeling lighter than before.
***
9
STEPHEN
I left the hospital quickly this morning, wanting to go home to shower and then be at Molly’s office early to drop off the file I had on Jasmine. I am glad I made the trip because seeing her gave me the energy I need, and I have a spring in my step that wasn’t there before.
But the kiss was a mistake, because now I can’t stop thinking about her. I have been craving her since she left my hospital room last night and I convinced myself that a small kiss, just one little taste would be okay. But it is not okay. Because now that I have tasted her, I want more. Like a drug, I am addicted, and I can’t wait for my next hit. I am itching for it.
I am now holed up in my apartment with Scarlett, Shaun, Marco, and Jake looking at the security footage to see who jumped me yesterday. Whoever it was knew what they were doing, sitting in the dark corner of the doorway and wearing a dark hoodie and jeans, totally unrecognizable the few times the camera actually captured footage of him. We have nothing to go on, other than whoever it was is brazen and confident.
We are going around in circles and keep coming to a dead end, so I change the topic. I fill in everyone about Molly and how we met, along with what happened with the young girl Jasmine at the club. Jake pulls up the footage from the club and we all watch. I have seen it all earlier, wanting a full overview before handing copies over to Molly. But watching it again, seeing that slimy bastard, John, walk her into my club. He knows that given his position as a Judge that he is nearly untouchable, and he smirks and acts like a king in my castle. My blood boils and I want to find him and hurt him. Not only for putting Jasmine and my club at risk but for the way he acted like it was not his fault and calling out Molly when she stood up to him. I want to end him.
“Fucker,” says Shaun
“Oh my goodness, that poor young girl,” says Scarlett
Marco is speechless, shaking his head in disbelief at seeing someone who holds such a position of power acting in this way.
“That’s not all,” Jake says as he fast forwards the footage a little until we get a view of the bar, where we see John order some drinks and then pass one to Jasmine, but not before we see him slip something into her glass.
“Fucking prick,” I grit out, my anger is palpable, rolling off me in waves. John reminds me of my father. He is in a position of power, has money and thinks he can get away with anything, without any consequences to his actions.
