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There I went again, my mind dragging me off in unwanted places. There was too much on my agenda to be fantasizing about some wayward girl with a bad attitude.
“You there, buddy?” Manuel huffed, yanking me away from the delicious image.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“The plate came back immediately.”
“Let me guess. Stolen.”
“Not stolen,” he answered. “Owned by Diego Santiago.”
“The fucking cartel leader?”
“The very one. This accident will be testy to handle. Even if we do a report, it’s doubtful I can do anything about it. I’ll get shut down by the bastard’s attorney in less than thirty minutes. Whoever this victim is, I’m not sure you want to put him or her through a nightmare. I won’t tell you what happened to the last guy who challenged Santiago.”
“Girl,” I said absently. “And she’s from Montana.” If I had to guess, I’d say new to the city. I hated the fucking cartels ravaging the city, acting as if they owned every square inch of Miami. It wasn’t like the old days where the bad guys were tracked down and sent to prison. Santiago had a team of lawyers, the man never serving a day behind bars or even connected to a traffic offense. He was virtually untouchable.
“Ah… Well, then.”
Exhaling, I ran my hand through my hair. “You do your job and I’ll figure out what to do with her. Have an officer take a report.”
“Will do.”
I ended the call, immediately contacting my buddy at the garage. At least he would prove more helpful than law enforcement. “Hey, Jake. I need a favor.”
* * *
Alexandra Kingston sat with her arms folded, staring out the passenger window of my car, a scowl on her face. She was shoved so far against the door that if it wasn’t locked, I’d be fearful she’d fall out. I’d only learned her name from overhearing her telling the police officer. She’d said almost nothing to me except grumbling one more time she could take care of herself.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“The Perigon.”
I almost laughed. The Perigon was one of the most expensive, luxurious residences in the city. I quickly glanced at her torn jeans and tennis shoes, the scuffed purse she was clutching against her chest. While looks could be deceiving, in a town where opulence and pretense meant everything, she was either hiding her true identity or she’d found herself embroiled in a love affair with a wealthy sugar daddy.
When I didn’t say anything, she turned her head in my direction. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’d had plenty to say up until now. Are you making fun of me?”
Her haughty attitude continued, the thick suit of armor she wore becoming impenetrable. “Expensive location.”
“So what? Are you saying I can’t afford it?”
“Can you?”
“Well, no, but that’s all I’ve seen since arriving in this lousy town. Skyscrapers for the rich and famous. I’m neither. Satisfied?”
“Why is it so lousy?” The girl had a boulder on her shoulder, not a chip.
She shrugged. “The people are holier than thou. They act like I’m some hick who couldn’t possibly offer them anything worthwhile. Bastards.”
Every word that slipped past her luscious lips was laced with acid. Her behavior was reckless. The unruly girl definitely needed control in her life, rules that she would be required to follow. The dom in me hungered to wrap her in chains to keep her from hurting herself. “What happened?”
“Why do you care?”
“Maybe because you’re sitting in my car.”
