Filthy Desire (The Dirty Kings of Vegas)

“I must bring you around while you’re here.”

I tell him, “I’d love that.” And I mean it.

A pretty young redhead brings our drinks, and Finn tells me what I need to know about the business O’Leary has been doing. And all the problems.

Bad dope, short measures, deals broken. As I suspected. I’m still surprised, though. Jack is a scheming, scamming weasel of a man, but he’s not stupid. Something doesn’t add up.

“And there’s the other thing,” Finn tells me. “The prescription drugs.”

“The what?”

“It’s the new sideline, Liam. Different customers, different business. A lot of people work that side of the street.”

I’m fuming. “It’s a totally different world of illegal. Different laws, different enforcement agencies. Jack is insane dragging us into that.” Finn looks at me, questioning.

I explain. “It puts us in the frame for corporate, copyright and intellectual property laws.”

“There’s no jail time for corporate violations, is there?”

“No, but it opens us to investigation. One trademark case could expose us to search and seizure of all kinds. It could wreck us from here to Vegas and L.A., in a heartbeat.”

“You know your business, Liam. I thought you would take that part as the good news. It’s easy to see why you’re the head of the family and I’m the dumb grunt.”

There’s isn’t a dumb bone in Finbar’s body. But I let it go. “So. What’s the bad news?”

“You’re selling duds. They’re not even knock-offs. You’re peddling useless chemical shit with fake OxyContin labels.”

Back at Jack’s house, he catches me on my way in. His eyebrow twitches and he’s moist over his top lip. “I heard you had a dust-up with Aaron.”

“Yeah?” He can see I’m not in the best of moods.

His voice softens. “He’s my boy, Liam. I’ve got a lot of hope resting on him. You’re a father. You understand.”

I tell him, “If one of my boys spoke to a woman the way Aaron did, they’d get a lot worse from me than that punk got.”

He opens his palms. “Look, the boy doesn’t always express himself the best ways.”

“So many kids today, Jack. Bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect their elders. Terrible behavior in public.” I look him in the eye. “Know who said that?”

Jack frowns, wary.

I give him a smile. “It was Socrates. About two and a half thousand years ago.”

“No shit.” He’s puzzled.

“I think he blamed the parents.” Still holding his eye, I tell him, “So do I.”

Chapter Five

Tegan

I’ve managed to stay out of Aaron’s way all day. I won’t be able to keep it up forever, though.

When I hear Liam return, my heart jumps. Dumb, I know. Even if there was anything between us like I imagined last night, he would just have his fun, take a quick tumble, and I’d be left here with Jack. And Aaron.

God, but the tumble would be so worth it. I would give anything, if I had anything to give.

If Liam only knew the thoughts and fantasies I have burning in my mind, he would be disgusted.

I should keep away. But I can’t. I just can’t. The low rumble of his voice sets me off. I’m fizzing inside like a box of fireworks with all the fuses lit.

That kiss still burns on my lips. When he held me, I felt like I’d been lit up for the first time ever. I want him to crush me. I want him in me. Everywhere. I want to taste every part of him.

I know it’s wrong to feel the way I do. Especially for a man more than twice my age. Feeling how wrong it is, a guilty twist all the way down to my core only makes the wanting beat harder.

I hear him tell Jack that he’s going up to his room. That he’ll see him in Jack’s den.

“One hour.”

Telling Jack what to do. In his own house.

Damn. I want this man so bad, it’s making me double over.

I take the back stairs. Up to the top floor. Where Liam’s room is.

Clenching inside, I know I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t even know what I’m planning to do. I get to his room before he does. And I let myself in.

I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t be here. It’s all so wrong. I should get out of here. Quick. Before he arrives.

Get away and get a hold of myself. Fast. Before I can think.

I yank the door open.

He fills the doorway.

His eyes drill into mine.

My thighs tremble and my knees shake as I back up, and he strides into the room. I’m hanging on to my black skirt. Looking around. Searching for a way to escape. I don’t want to get away. But I know I should. I must.

He leans back against the door as he closes it behind him.

“What are you doing in my room?”

“I’m…”

“Did Jack send you to spy on me? Did he tell you to go through my things? See what you could sniff out? What have you found?”