CASH
“Tell me about the visit from Marty,” I prompted later that night. She’d just finished putting Riley to bed and we’d settled on the couch, her on one side, me on the other. I sensed she needed the space and I’d give her that—for now. I’d already pushed her limits by installing a state-of-the-art security system and forcing her to show me she knew how to use it, multiple times.
She stiffened, only for a moment but long enough to tell me everything I needed to know. Something about his visit hadn’t sat well.
Not that I was surprised. Martin Greenstein was a bottom feeder. The kind of man who preyed on those weaker than himself. The club had been keeping an eye on him for years, and I wanted nothing more than an excuse to take him down. If he so much as glanced sideways at Layla, that’d be enough for me.
“I pretty much told you everything already,” she replied. “He came to the door saying something about wanting me to produce some paperwork. Your guy had him by the collar before he could get much more out.”
I resolved to buy X a goddamned beer next time I saw him.
“It was just weird, you know? I mean, I’m no lawyer but everything with the house seemed taken care of. I don’t know Gunner well, but it seemed like he knows what he’s doing.”
“He does,” I interjected firmly.
She nodded in agreement. “So then, I just don’t get what he wanted. I wouldn’t need a lawyer for anything other than the deed to the house. I don’t understand what he wanted.”
“I’ll be sure to ask him myself,” I replied darkly. I couldn’t wait to get my hands around his scrawny neck.
She looked at me warily. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt on account of me.”
“How would it be on account of you, chief? What did you do?” I demanded, already knowing my answer.
“Well, nothing,” she stammered.
“All right then.” I nodded, taking a sip of my beer.
“Why do you call me that? Chief?” she asked quietly.
I smiled around the rim of my beer before pulling it back to answer her. “Because you’re strong as hell and in charge of yourself in a way I haven’t seen in a long damn time.”
She flushed and wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“Aren’t you?” I pressed. Something instinctively told me I should.
“Christ, I hope so.” She shot a glance at me, her eyes shining with emotion, before looking back at her beer gripped in her hands like it was a lifeline. “It’s all been such a whirlwind. I was just beginning my career, and one minute, my biggest concern was my next adventure, and the next I had an almost three-year-old to raise. I feel like I’ve floundered my way through the last two years trying to make a life for us. My nan was really my only support system. She encouraged me, believed in me, and loved both of us when we needed it most. But she’s gone, and she was really all I had aside from Ri. And I’ve tried so hard to hide from Riley how hard it’s been. Financially, emotionally. All of it,” she admitted in a rush as though I’d broken a dam inside her. “Shit, I don’t know why I said all that.” She groaned in embarrassment.
“Because I wanted to hear it,” I replied evenly. “Were you able to continue with the career you’d started?”
She shook her head. “Not quite. I’d started in outdoor photography, focused on sports mostly. Climbers, runners. Stuff like that. It required a lot of travel and for me to be in excellent shape. Both things I really enjoyed. But once I adopted Riley, it just wasn’t feasible. I switched to commercial photography. There were a lot of jobs in San Francisco, so it was a steady gig and I didn’t have to travel.”
“And now?” I prompted.
“Vegas is a strong market. I’m still processing some shoots from San Francisco, but I already have some leads. So I may not have the adventure part any more, but I’m determined to get the fitness piece back,” she stated firmly.
“You look amazing. In and out of the gym,” I told her, meaning every word. Her lithe form moved so gracefully when she was running, as though it was effortless.
She snorted. “Yeah well, that was the first time I’d tried it in years. But it did feel good. I’m thinking about getting a trainer.”
Every protective instinct in me roared to life as I fought to control my response. “I’ll train you.”
She looked at me in surprise. “You’re a trainer?”
“Not officially. But I’ll train you.” The truth was, another man getting that close to her made my blood boil. And more importantly, there wasn’t anyone better experienced to train her. A fact I hadn’t truly relished until now.
“You sound pretty confident,” she hedged.
“I know what I’m doing as far as the gym goes.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I own the place and practically live there.” I leaned closer. “Well, before I had a better way to spend my time.”