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“Surprised? I think you underestimate me.”
I laughed under my breath. “I think you may be right. You shouldn’t have been able to find out my number. Let me guess. Marcio?”
“Brace. He’s a fucking genius when it comes to electronics. That’s beside the point. I told you to fucking stay put. You left.”
I stepped from the elevator, hitting the parking garage. “You said you didn’t need me and I’m not looking to be one of your hired killers or bodyguards. I want a respectable job. I thought I made that clear.”
“You have no experience in an office. What you do have is experience in is getting your hands dirty. Why the sudden change now?”
I let out a deep breath. “I found the woman I want to spend my life with. I’d like that life to last more than a few months or years. Plus, I want to be home every night, not gone for who knows how long.”
“I see. Tell me what you can do. You said something about money.”
The door opened and I unlocked my car, rushing over. “What I know is muscle when it comes to money. I took care of transactions. Deliveries. Picked up payments. That’s not what I’m interested in, though. I know numbers. Put me in accounts.”
“So you can steal my money out from under my nose?”
The groan was automatic. “Believe it or not, I don’t need your money, nor do I technically need a job. I want this because it’s the right thing to do.”
“The right thing? As in, appearances?”
What, did he want my life story? Tough shit, he couldn’t have it. “Yeah. I want to live a normal life. That consists of having a job.”
“You must love her a lot to want to settle down and walk away from a life that has provided a good living.”
The engine purred to life and I headed for the exit. Pausing, I waited for the black Town Car she rode in to exit her own garage.
“My life was nothing until she was in it. Love doesn’t even begin to describe the way I feel for her.”
“I can respect that. So, tell me, if I got you in and tested you out in a few departments, what am I supposed to do with you if you can’t handle the everyday hustle and bustle of being a normal person?”
Technically, I wasn’t going to be working for him, but a part of me almost wished this conversation was real. If he could get to know me before he found out…no. I was taking Lily tonight. There wasn’t time to try to be buddy-buddy with Slade. He’d hate me before this was over with. Lily was my main concern. She needed to love me again, become my slave, like before. Then we could settle into a routine and figure out what we were going to do. After I took care of my past, of course. What I needed to do right now was break ties with Slade.
“You’re probably right. I won’t like it. Maybe I just need to suck it up and realize what I am. Couples sometimes need time apart. It’s for the best. Thanks for the offer, though. I won’t forget it.”
I disconnected just as Lily’s guards drove past with her in the back seat. Her head was lowered, twisting my stomach into a million knots. I let a car pass before I pulled out. Just seeing her so sad made me regret putting her in that place. If only I knew exactly what it was that had her so upset. Didn’t she know I would come? I told her I would. It wasn’t like I could knock on her front door and take my place in her life where I belonged.
Ring. Ring.
Slade, you’re killing me. I picked up the phone, looking at Unknown Caller on the screen. “Didn’t I make myself clear?”
“No one hangs up on me. I wasn’t finished.”
“What more is there left to say?”
Footsteps sounded and I strained to hear.
“You know more than I’m comfortable with. Work for me, behind the scenes. Show my men what you know so they can place you accordingly. I won’t take you away from your girl more than I have to.”
How tempting his offer was.
“I…can’t. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me. I’m more understanding than you think.”
Not that understanding. I’d bank on it. But if I did fill him in a little, would it help in the future? After he found out about Lily and me? And he would find out. It was only a matter of time.
“My family is very powerful and corrupt. They’re bad people. I want out. To do that, well…you know what that entails. Right now isn’t a good time. When I came to talk to you, I meant to tell you I would need a few months before I could start. That’s probably longer than you’re comfortable with waiting.”
