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It would happen, eventually.
For now, I’d give her the space she needed. Whatever had motivated her silence still bound her. It pissed me off that she wouldn’t give me an explanation. I’d get my answers one day soon, and then I’d have her, too.
When I felt madness sinking its claws deep inside me, I tried to convince myself that pursuing her would only make my life worse. Then the darkest parts of me spoke back, arguing that the clawing insistence would subside once I’d had her. That after I’d gained her surrender, the insatiable craving would finally disappear.
Those were blatant lies, and I knew it. Something I fed myself to rationalize away my growing compulsion.
As if the darkness in me had needed a rationale.
When it came to Noemi, I was beyond reason. Infatuation had seized me like a toxin in my blood.
“If that scowl deepens any farther, it’ll mar that pretty face of yours forever.” Shae winked at me, seating herself on my desk.
After my exchange with Noemi, I’d busied myself with errands to keep from thinking. Once I’d run out of tasks, I came in early to the office but had found myself hopelessly distracted.
“Better than what I’ll do to your face if you touch my wife again,” I groused.
Shae’s eyes widened. “Did you two exchange vows I’m unaware of?”
“Semantics. You knew better than to lay a finger on her.” I’d already been in a dark mood, and Shae’s presence wasn’t helping. I’d seen her in action with women and knew she could seduce better than most men. I’d been pissed beyond measure to see them together. Hell, I hadn’t even kissed Noemi at that point. I hardly even knew her, if I was honest, but none of it mattered. Nothing seemed to dilute the feral possessiveness that overcame me where she was concerned.
Shae placed her right hand over her heart and held up the other. “I swear, I won’t touch Noemi from here on out.” Her lips quirked with a devious smirk. “Unless she asks me to.”
“Swear to God, Shae. You’re walking a fine fucking line.”
“Relax, Reid. I’m not moving in on your territory but think about it. She doesn’t know anyone in the family. Us ladies have to stick together, and I can only imagine how isolated I’d feel if I was her, especially not being able to talk.” She shoved off the desk and sauntered to the door. “I just think having a friend would be good for her.” Pausing, she shot me a patronizing look that would have had me drawing my gun if it had been anyone else.
Fucking Shae.
“Just try me, woman, and I will put you on fucking bathroom duty. For life,” I called after her, reclining back in my office chair with the weight of my frustrations.
“Bathroom duty? Damn! What’d she do to earn that?” Bishop filled my doorway, his too-large brown eyes shining with amusement.
“None of your business,” I grumbled. “I’m surprised to see you here. I was starting to think you’d quit and moved in at the gym.” Bishop could be a pain in the ass, but I’d known him all my life. He’d naturally fallen into step as my right hand and knew most everything I did about the business. I trusted him with my life. I still wasn’t interested in sharing my Noemi dilemma with him.
“When the guys called and said they had a guest waiting for me downstairs, I figured I could combine work and pleasure.” He raised the white towel I hadn’t noticed he was carrying, blood smears staining the terry cloth.
I stilled. “You holding out on me?” A prisoner was exactly what I needed to excise some of these demons.
Bishop’s answering grin was almost maniacal. “Albanian was caught sniffing around the 58thStreet club this morning. Got him all squared away downstairs.”
“Fuck, why didn’t you tell me?” I pushed to my feet and slipped off my jacket.
“Just loosening him up for ya.”
I marched from my office before I’d even finished rolling up my sleeves. It was a good thing some people never learned because I needed this today.
Our dual-purpose storage room in the basement was currently empty save for a middle-aged man tied to a chair beneath a single pendant light bulb. That, and a small metal table lined with various tools used for persuasion.
Bishop had been right. The guy was bruised and splattered with blood, but no permanent damage had been done. He’d be ready to sing soon.
All the swirling thoughts from earlier settled, and I was filled with a peaceful calm. The certainty of purpose and the joy of revenge.
“I take it our friend here hasn’t been in the mood to talk yet?” I asked Bishop, moseying closer to the table.
“Nah, thinks he’s a big shot.”
Excellent.
