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“They’re beautiful. Daisies…my favorite.” She brought them to her nose and smelled them. “Thank you, Father.” She turned to me next. “Hey. Hope you didn’t fall asleep.”

  I gave her a one-armed hug. “Father is right. You really were the best on that stage.”

  “Really?” she asked in surprise. “You usually say I look like a troll in my tights.”

  “You do. Doesn’t mean you aren’t a good dancer.”

  She elbowed me in the gut. “Jerk.”

  I chuckled then let her go. “Can we take you to dinner?”

  She glanced at the flowers on the vanity discreetly. “Actually, I already have plans. What if we get together tomorrow night instead?”

  I connected the dots quickly and realized she was seeing someone. Irrational-older-brother-syndrome kicked in, and I wanted to tie him up and give him the interrogation of a lifetime. But I had to remind myself not every man was a drug dealer who visited whorehouses. “That’s fine with me.”

  We said our goodbyes then made our way out of the theater. On the way, my father needed to take a detour to the bathroom. I opened the door for him and let him inside then waited in the hallway.

  Most of the people had filed out of the building and got into their cars, so the place was mostly empty. I leaned against the wall and pulled out my phone. Instead of texting Annabella, I opened Sofia’s message box.

  I should say something.

  I knew I was in the wrong. I knew she deserved better.

  But it was late and I couldn’t think of anything to write, so I slid the phone back into my pocket. I lifted my gaze and looked across the hall.

  And made contact with bright-blue eyes.

  Tall and muscular, he leaned against the opposite wall, his suit fitting his large frame like it’d been tailored for the event. His hands rested in his pockets, and he stared at me with a slight smile, enjoying the fact that he’d caught me off guard.

  I didn’t react—but my heart did pick up in speed.

  I thought of my father, who was about to exit the bathroom and right into the line of fire.

  Heath was still, letting the eye contact last a full minute without blinking.

  I didn’t blink either.

  He finally pushed off the wall and came toward me.

  I didn’t have my gun—but I had my knife in my coat pocket.

  He stopped in front of me, his smile stretching wider. “Taking your father to the theater—that’s cute.”

  “You really want to die outside a bathroom?”

  “Whoa.” He chuckled as he raised both hands. “Are you always this aggressive?”

  I kept the same expression. “Yes.”

  “I just want my money, Damien. Then I’ll go away.”

  “I don’t owe you a damn thing—”

  He moved too quickly for me to see, and he slugged me hard in the stomach.

  I lost my breath with the gasp and felt my back slam into the wall, but I controlled the groan from escaping my throat.

  He grabbed both of my shoulders and pinned me against the wall. “I told you I wouldn’t be so civil at our next meeting. It’s just going to get worse and worse. And if I can’t get what I want…I’ll kill you.”

  12

  Annabella

  It was past ten, and I still hadn’t heard from Damien.

  I wanted to play it cool, but I lost my patience. My dick appointment hasn’t been rescheduled, right?

  Nothing.

  An hour passed, and I didn’t hear anything.

  Now, it was eleven, and there was no way he was still at the theater. And if he took his family out to dinner, they would be finished by now. Or he would have texted me back and said otherwise.

  Unless that was a lie…and he was out with another woman.

  Would Damien do something like that?

  Liam promised to be faithful to me forever…and he broke that promise the second I couldn’t give him what he wanted.

  Was Damien just putting on an act?

  We weren’t exclusive and he could see other people, so why lie?

  But then why else was he blowing me off?

  13

  Damien

  “Tell him to get his ass out here.” I stood at the gate, looking into the dark eyes of the security guard who had a gun pointed at me. “That motherfucker owes me, and he knows it. Open the doors, and let me in. Or I’ll keep showing up until that asshole shows his face.”

  “Or maybe I’ll just shoot you right now.”

  My hand moved with the speed of a viper, and I reached through the bars and pointed his gun to the ground. At the same time, I pulled the knife out of my jacket and pushed it right toward his jugular. “Maybe I’ll butcher you like a pig.”

  The guard was stuck, because if he even breathed too hard, I’d pierce his skin.

  A guard from the rear yelled to the front. “Open the gate.”

  I let him go. “That’s right, bitch.”

  The gate rolled open, and I stepped onto the property. The brown truck was parked to the left, and the high walls kept unwanted foes far away. I approached the front doors but was blocked by two men with guns.

  I sighed and waited.

  A moment later, he stepped out of the double doors and walked toward me in his black sweatpants without a shirt. His shoulders rolled with his movements, and his blue eyes were trained on me like a riflescope. He stopped in front of me, his cold expression showing his paramount annoyance.

  The skull diamond sat on his left hand.

  One of the three.

  “What’s so fucking important, Damien?” He didn’t raise his voice because he didn’t need to. He was deadlier when he was quiet.

  “Heath.”

  The mention of his twin brother softened his features slightly. “What about him?”

  “That asshole needs to be holstered. Get him under control.”

  Balto processed what I’d said. “Elaborate.”

  “He demands I pay my royalties.”

  “And?”

  “You failed to provide a service, so I don’t owe the Skull Kings shit. Explain that to him so he gets off my tail.”

  He still hadn’t blinked. “He’s the Skull King now. I’m nobody.”

  “You’re his brother. You’ll never be nobody.”

  “How he chooses to run that organization is his business, not mine. I’m retired. I have no power to influence his decisions.”

  “Bullshit.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I made a clean break when I parted from the Skull Kings. I traded in my power for peace. I won’t risk that because you refuse to pay your dues.”

  “Pay my dues?” I snapped. “When Maddox was raping Hades’s wife and monopolizing the business, where were you?”

  He was quiet.

  “Nowhere. Fucking nowhere.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “I can’t help you, Damien. Nothing I say will change Heath’s mind. If he lets you slide, then he has to let everyone else slide. That will cause a lot more problems. Want my advice?”

  No, but he would give it to me anyway.

  “Pay him. Or retire.”

  Neither one of those was an option.

  “Unless you can wipe out the Skull Kings, which I doubt, you’re starting a war you’ll never win.”

  I stared at him coldly.

  “Just pay him, Damien.” He turned around to walk back inside.

  “I saved your life, asshole.”

  He halted in place for seconds before he turned back around. He came back to me. “And I will repay that debt if you ever ask me to.”

  “That’s what I’m doing now.”

  “No. You’re asking me to coddle your pride.” He squared his shoulders and stared at me with an irritated gaze. “When your life is on the line, I will walk over fire for you. But that’s not now. Call me when it is.”

  It wasn’t until I woke up the next morning that I realized what I’d forgotten.

  Annabella.

  Once
Heath had punched me in the stomach, all thoughts of her ceased. I’d dropped off my father at his house and got to work.

  I saw her missed call and text message. My dick appointment hasn’t been rescheduled, right?

  Ah, fuck.

  I put the phone to my ear and called her as I walked into the bathroom. I listened to it ring as I stared at myself in the mirror, seeing the discoloration on my stomach where Heath had slammed his fist.

  No answer.

  I had a crazy night last night. Talk to me.

  Nothing.

  Did I just fuck this up again?

  Annabella.

  I skipped the office and went straight to her apartment. I knew she didn’t work until lunchtime or the dinner shift, so she had to be home. I knocked loudly.

  No response.

  I knocked again. “Annabella, please.”

  Nothing.

  I slammed my fist into the wood. “Want to watch me break it down?”

  Finally, the locks turned, and she opened the door.

  Looking pissed.

  “It’s annoying when Liam shows up like he owns the place.” With one hand on her hip, she stared at me in irritation. “It’s even more annoying when you do it. At least I was married to the guy. I hardly know you.”

  I pretended that didn’t hurt. “If you hardly know me, why are you upset?”

  Her eyes narrowed because she knew I had her. “I’m not upset. I’ve just lost interest.”

  “Bullshit.” I pushed myself inside, forcing her to back up, and I shut the door behind me. “Don’t ignore me.”

  “Don’t ignore me,” she snapped. “You said you were coming by, and you ghosted me.”

  “I didn’t ghost you.”

  “You sure as hell as ignored me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Then tell me what happened…this time.”

  I didn’t want to dump the intimate details of my business life on her, didn’t want to scare her off, but if I didn’t give her a reasonable explanation, she had every right to think I was a dick. “Work stuff… I had to take care of it.”

  She narrowed her eyes like she didn’t believe me at all. “We aren’t exclusive, so if you were out with someone else, you’re perfectly entitled to it. But to lie…that’s so damn hypocritical.”

  That was what she thought? “I wasn’t out with someone else. I told you I went to the ballet to see my sister.”

  “But maybe you didn’t go alone.”

  “You caught me,” I said sarcastically. “I took my father…”

  “You don’t get to be an asshole. You completely ditched me—twice now. Shit happens and I get that, but the fact that you aren’t giving me an explanation tells me you were doing something you don’t want me to know about.”

  “Exactly.” I moved closer to her. “My personal shit is personal. I don’t have to tell you a damn thing.”

  She was still as the words washed over her, not showing any anger at the stupid thing I’d just said. “That’s fair, Damien. You don’t owe me anything. But I don’t have to put up with a man who flakes without explanation. So, get out.”

  I’d lost my temper because I wasn’t getting my way, and now I’d put myself in a situation I didn’t want to be in. I could walk out that door and find another woman to warm my bed tonight, but I didn’t want that. Annabella was the only woman I wanted to be with right now. “This is what happened…”

  “Forget it.” She walked to the door. “Just go.” She held it open.

  I pushed it closed again. “Annabella.”

  “You told me you didn’t lie.” She turned around to face me. “You said my ex was an asshole because he didn’t know how to treat me. Well, you’re all talk because you’re just another fuckup.”

  Ouch.

  “Whatever you were doing, you could have texted me back and said you couldn’t make it. That’s it. I wouldn’t have cared. But you completely ignored me.”

  Because I got punched in the stomach, was threatened, and tried to take care of it through back channels.

  “And that’s fine,” she said. “But I don’t want to do this anymore. I didn’t put up with my husband cheating on me, and I sure as hell won’t put up with a guy who drops me like that, even if this is just a fling.”

  “Let me explain.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, sticking her tongue in the side of her cheek in annoyance, as if she expected me to say something stupid.

  “I’m not seeing anyone else, and I’m aware that I can. If I were, I would answer you straight. I’ve got nothing to hide. But since I met you, I haven’t had any time to hook up with anyone else. I’ve been working around the clock, and all my free time has been spent with you—minus last night.”

  She stayed silent and didn’t argue, which was a good sign.

  “I don’t talk about the details of my life because I don’t want to scare you off.”

  That snagged her interest. She stopped playing with her inner cheek. “You already told me you’re a drug dealer.”

  “And I have to deal with shit every day because of it. Like last night.”

  She stared and waited for an explanation.

  “There’s a guy who’s demanding money from me, says I owe him for city services…which is bullshit. I basically told him to fuck off, and he said there would be consequences. So he accosted me last night while my father was in the bathroom.” I lifted up my shirt and showed the bruises on my stomach.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my god…”

  “I dropped off my father and headed to a friend’s house…who is this guy’s twin. He owes me a favor, so I asked him to get the asshole off my tail. But that didn’t work. By the time I was done, it was midnight, and all I could think about was painkillers, so I went straight home and totally forgot about you.” I dropped my shirt.

  Her eyes lingered on my injury even though she couldn’t see it. “You’re talking about the Skull King, right?”

  Maybe I should give her more credit. “You know him?”

  “Not personally. But Liam has mentioned him.”

  Maybe I didn’t need to censor my life at all. With other women, I pretended the bank was my only source of income because there was no point in sharing the whole truth. But I wanted Annabella to know…for reasons I couldn’t explain.

  She moved into me and lifted my shirt again. “Maybe we should go to the ER…”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” I shoved the shirt down. “I’ve been through worse.” Like being tortured by Maddox until Hades traded for my freedom. A simple punch to the stomach wasn’t a big deal.

  “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” She righted herself again, a look of concern in her eyes.

  “A little.” Her wrath seemed to disappear, so it felt like we were back to normal. A slight smile formed on my lips. “Can we move past this now?” This fling really made no sense. I’d never continued to see the same woman for an extended period of time, but once I’d met her, the impulse to go to a bar disappeared. She was the person I wanted to call. She was the person I wanted to know more about.

  “Yeah…I guess.” She glanced at my stomach again but didn’t say anything about it.

  I wanted to take her into the bedroom so we could break the tension further, but I still had a long day ahead of me. “I need to get to work. If I call you later, will you answer?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Fifty percent of the time, you don’t.”

  “Because fifty percent of the time, you’re an asshole,” she said playfully. “But yes, I’ll answer. I’m working the dinner shift tonight, but maybe you could come over later.” Now that her rage was gone, she was the beautiful and soft woman I liked. Perfect in every way imaginable, flawless to the bone. She was really something.

  “So you’re willing to reschedule that dick appointment?”

  She laughed loudly, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment. “God, I wish I hadn’t said that now.”

  “Why? I liked it
.”

  “Kinda slutty…”

  “Why do you think I liked it?” I grinned wider.

  She hit me in the arm playfully. “Shut up.”

  “I’m kidding, Annabella.” My arms moved around her petite frame, and I pulled her close, getting that same feeling that I always had when she was near. My mouth came close to hers, and I immediately became engrossed in our potent chemistry. I wanted her, and she wanted me…and that was never more obvious than when we were close like this.

  She turned quiet as her arms rested on mine, her lips slightly parted like she expected a kiss. She looked up at me through her thick eyelashes, so spectacularly beautiful it was hard to believe she wasn’t wearing a drop of makeup.

  “I like it because it’s the sexiest thing in the world, you wanting me.” My hand slid to the area between her shoulder blades, and I brought our foreheads together. My dick was hard because I wanted to take her to bed, to get lost in that lustful dream that made me forget about everything else. But knowing me, once I stayed, I would never leave. We would lie in bed all day, order a pizza, and keep at it.

  Judging by the way she looked at me, she wanted the same thing. She was so pissed at me minutes ago, but now she was melted butter. She claimed she lost interest every time I was a jerk, but clearly, that wasn’t true. She still wanted me, which was why she was so angry.

  I didn’t even kiss her because I knew where that would go. “I’ll see you later.” My arms slid from her body, and I turned away, telling my dick to wait until tonight.

  She grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back. “You think I’m gonna let you walk away like that?” She rose on her tiptoes and planted her soft lips against my mouth. Her kiss was demanding, like she owned me with an invisible leash.

  I smiled against her lips and kissed her back. “Doesn’t seem like you’ve lost interest…”

  She pulled away for a second, trying to look angry when she only looked cute. “Shut up and kiss me.”

  Hades knew I’d stepped into the building, because he was standing in the hallway when I made it to our floor. He was in a midnight-black suit with his muscled arms by his sides, and his eyes were wide and demonic, like he might kill me if I took a step closer.