“I didn’t intend to get in your way, sir. Can you clarify?”
His gaze narrows as he plants his elbows on the surface of the large desk. “You can’t bullshit a bullshitter. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. The girl.”
If respect for this old, yet deadly man hadn’t been practically beaten into me for over thirty years, I probably would have turned around and walked out, or even said something likeshe’s too young for you and your Viagra prescription. But I’m not ready for my body to be found floating in the East River quite yet.
“Which girl?”
“The only one you made sure I couldn’t see last night after the meeting. I don’t know what the fuck you did with her, but I want her.” Dom shoves the account book aside as his nostrils flare.
Fuck, he’s pissed.Normally, I wouldn’t think of sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, especially in Dom’s personal business, but I can’t let this happen.
Drew Carson isn’t the kind of woman who could survive being Dom’s mistress. I may not know her well, but I know that much.
I don’t even acknowledge the scalding pit of jealousy that brews in my gut at the thought of him putting his hands on her. I already saw how he watched her. Knowing this was coming, I try the nonchalant tactic first.
“Do you know how hard it is to find good help? If you want the club to keep running the way it has been, and the cash to keep flowing, you’ll find someone else. She’s got potential, and I can’t afford to lose her.”
Dom steeples his fingers and spears me with those satanically black eyes. “I don’t give a fuck. You can find someone else. Someone better. Hell, raise the wages. I’ll approve it.”
“Why her?” I ask, keeping my tone as disinterested as possible.
“I like the way she laughs.”
The vat of jealousy boils over and his comment stings me.He likes the way she laughs?I’ve never fucking heard her laugh, and now it seems like a massive oversight. I may regret what I’m about to say, but I don’t know how else to handle the situation. So I lie.
“With all due respect, sir, you’re too late. Drew Carson is off-limits.”
Dom’s glare sharpens. “What the fuck did you say to me, kid?”
I stalk to the guest chair and grip the back, not allowing myself to shrink in front of the man who wants me to roll over for him. Not this time. “She’s off-limits. You’re going to have to find someone else to laugh for you.”
Shoving his elbows off the desk, Dom leans back in his chair, his dark gaze drilling into me. “No one’s off-limits to me. You know that.”
“First time for everything.”
As the statement he doesn’t want to hear comes out of my mouth, Dom’s already ruddy cheeks turn brighter red and his fingers flex tighter. “Who’s her man? I’ll take care of him. Not a fucking problem.”
Static crackles in my ears, and the thrum of my pulse slows until I’m cold and controlled. Then I drop the equivalent of the A-bomb. The only thing that’ll win this war.
“Me. I’m her man.”
14
Cannon
Dom’s head jerks back, and he stares at me in shock. “You? No fucking way. The originalall work, no playboy.”
He pauses, and laughter spills from his previously flattened lips.
“Noplayboyeither. So, tell me what the fuck you’re trying to pull here, because I don’t believe this shit. You think she’s too young for me? You think I can’t get it up for a grade A piece of ass like that anymore? Is that what you think, Cannon?”
Anyone else might get riled up to have shit like that thrown at them, but I’ve got a lifetime of practice in keeping my cool. What I’m not used to is lying to Dom about something like this. Good thing I honed all my skills on his dime at fancy boarding schools and an Ivy League college.
“I don’t give a shit how your dick’s working, Dom. It’s not going anywhere near her. I saw her first. I staked my claim. There are millions of other women in this city who would be more than happy to oblige you. But Drew Carson ismine.” I shove the heavy chair toward his desk and push off it.
Dom leans back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, and a strange light enters his eyes. Flickering. Flashing. Scheming.
“You haven’t had a permanent bitch in years, so why her? Why now? Afraid your cock’ll fall off from lack of regular use?”