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ChapterThirty-Seven
When the text I've been waiting for all day comes, I hesitate. Part of me wants to stay right here, on my uncomfortable chair at Morgan's bedside.
It's not just that she's hurt and alone. She's alsovulnerable, malleable in a way I haven't experienced since the night I shoved my cock in her mouth. Her submissive side has come to play, and I am drinking in every second of it.
She's let me touch her arms, her legs, even her sore torso without a single word of protest, and allowed herself to enjoy it.Morgan wants my protection so much she's stopped fighting herself—fighting me.
As her safety is at stake, I tear my hand off her soft bare thigh and reluctantly get to my feet. "Visiting hours are over," I say, like they haven't been over for the last two hours. "And I should let you rest."
"Of course. You didn't have to stay. I'm sure you have a lot to do."
That's certainly true now. I delegated what I could, but there's one specific task I wouldn't give to anyone else.
"I'll pick you up in the morning." They're keeping her for observation tonight because of the bump on her head from when she was thrown on the asphalt.
She shows no signs of a concussion, but they're fucking careful now that they know who she is.
Mine.
Morgan tries to sit up, winces, and gives up.
"Don't move on my account." I readjust the pillow under her.
"Thank you," she says sweetly, closing her eyes.
The painkillers are kicking her ass. Part of me wishes I could keep her on meds permanently, to ensure she's always this docile. The other part likes the fight.
"Rest," I demand, bending down to kiss the top of her head lightly.I linger, smelling her hair, her skin. I never noticed her scent before. I force myself to pull back, and crook that smile she pretends to dislike. "You can thank me Friday."
* * *
The main purpose of the Heritage isn't to defile each other behind closed doors, though that's certainly a plus.
Initially, the gentleman's club started as a place to conduct business—the kind of business one doesn't discuss in the board room. We apply pressure to cut through red tape, take shortcuts, bribe when we have to, in order to get things done in a world where the slightest decision has to be reviewed in thirty business days. Instead of years, our projects can be completed in months or weeks, thanks to our high and low connections.
When I enter the club on the west side of Thorn Falls, the crew assembled there parts to let me reach their leader in the VIP booth with confused whispers.
They don't know how I, a nineteen-year-old kid from the riverside, could have even known who their pathetic gang answers to, let alone exerted some influence on him.
The club's closed for business tonight, no doubt on my account, but all three dozen members are here, as I demanded.
Roman and Rhys insisted on accompanying me, though they know I'm in no danger here. The Scorpions might dabble in drugs, prostitution, and arms dealing, but they're a tiny little speck compared to the man who arranged this meeting.
"Hunt, Greene, Voss.” The only man seated in the booth greets us with an imperious nod. "Always a pleasure. Why don't you join me?"
"Join you?" I scoff. "This isn't a courtesy call."
I don't miss the way his smile twitches. He hates that I went over his head. He hates that Icould.
"I'm sorry, my friend. The Browns have a long history with the Scorpions. I was taking care of club business. I wasn't aware she was spoken for, or I would have proceeded differently."
I lean forward, placing my hand flat on his table. "My woman is in the hospital and your men put her there. Do you think I care about your intentions, Alexei?"
We don't know each other well, but what I am to the riverside, he is to the west side. Back when he was in his shitty public school, he ran the place. For the last three years, he’s held court in this club. Half of the riverside comes to party here, simply because Venom is the best spot in town. Alexei even spotted me some coke I snorted off one of his whores' skin. None of that matters after today.
He's lying. He'd never make a move without conducting thorough research, and any level of research on Morgan would have shown that I'm an interested party. Besides, he moved in on her fast—much faster than he would have if his goal had been to give her a chance to pay back her debt. He wanted a victory overme. The king of the west taking something from the prince of the river.
Now he's getting a taste of reality. We might have lived in the same town, but Alexei wields very little power compared to us—to me.
