Perfect Grump (Bad Chicago Bosses)

Where are the goddamned police? They need to get here before I drag Carmen Seraphina outside and hurl her off the balcony.

Undaunted, the demoness grins at Reese, fluttering her cocaine-dusted hell-red dress.

“Sweetie, would you like a drink? I’d be happy to get you one. You look shaken.” She gives a slow shake of her head. “Don’t take this too hard. It’s a lesson. When billionaires play with girls like you, they’re just playing. I’m sure he told you all sorts of wonderful things that melted your heart and turned your legs to mush. He even claimed he loved you—”

“Shut. Your. Mouth,” I grind out each syllable, my throat on fire, before turning to the only one in this room who truly matters. “Reese, you have to believe me. She means nothing. She kept her key from when we were together and got in. She’s a lunatic, but she’s been dealt with. I need you to leave. Get away from her. I love you.”

Reese doesn’t answer, but she’s growing paler by the moment, a worried Millie tugging at her fingers.

“Auntie Reese?”

Carmen’s horrible smile stays on Reese. “You don’t have to answer. He may have even meant some of his pretty words. But his grandmother would never allow this—”

“Grandma loved Reese before I did,” I bite off. “Leave her out of this.”

Carmen looks at me. “For an hourly employee, sure. I don’t think she ever counted on having her for a daughter-in-law.” Her eyes scan from me to Reese and back. “I still can’t believe you ruined our lives for this nothing of a girl.”

I glare hot death at the bitch.

“She’s beautiful, kind, and strong. You’re not fit to give her a pedicure.”

“Well, it isn’t like she could pay for a pedicure.”

Millie looks up at me, thankfully oblivious to the throat-cutting sarcasm and cruelty flying back and forth.

“Quick Nick, wanna burger?” she asks.

Carmen’s eyes fall on Millie. Oh, fuck no.

“You have a kid? Well, that makes a little more sense why you’re dallying with the help...”

“She’s our niece,” I say. When did I start thinking of Millie as our niece? “Keep your damn mouth shut. She’s just a kid.”

Millie puts her hands on her hips and looks up with a scowl. “Who are you? Why’s your dress all dirty? And your hair...doesn’t anybody help you brush it?” She tilts her head back and grins at me.

It could hammer the coldest heart apart, but somehow I keep it together, kneeling to look at her.

“You’re a good girl, Millie. And listen, right now, I need you to be brave. Take your Auntie Reese and go get me a double cheeseburger with a basket of fries—”

“And a milkshake?”

I nod. “A big milkshake. Can you do that for me?”

She nods like I’ve sent her on a quest for Tolkien’s ring.

I pick her up and hand her to her aunt.

“Take Millie and go. Use my credit card and get a nice hotel. You’ve got to get out of here, Reese. I can’t explain now. I’m in a lot of trouble and I don’t want you in it with me. If you’re here when the police get here—”

“Police? Oh, God.” Her words are barely audible as she hugs the kid closer.

I nod. “Call Ward. Tell him I’ll need my attorney. But get out of here first. Now!”

She clutches Millie and starts running toward the elevator. I’m holding my breath the whole time, peering out the door, until the elevator door closes.

Seconds later, it pings softly.

The glass door opens and four cops step out.

Fuck.

I hope to God they weren’t stopped in the lobby, and that nothing from my shirt brushed off. There are no dogs yet, at least.

I’m so shitting stupid, but there’s no time to dwell on it.

A second later, I’ve got three cops in my face. The large guy in front puts his hand on his weapon but doesn’t draw it.

I raise my hands in surrender. “There’s another person here. She’s inside.”

“Okay. We need to come in. Hands behind your back,” he growls.

I nod and step aside, dropping my hands.

Carmen steps up behind me, speaking frantically. “The woman who just left needs to be arrested! It’s her drugs.”

I shake my head.

“They’re mine. All mine. I’m willing to tell you everything,” I mutter.

“He’s been holding me against my will,” she lies, her voice breaking with a harsh sob. I can’t tell if she’s even faking it anymore. “He...he asked me to come over, Officer. I caught him high, snorting coke like a maniac. When I got here, he called the police and said if he was going down, he’d take me with him.”

I say nothing. It’s pointless until we’re in a formal interrogation, but Carmen and her ugly mouth are too dumb to realize it. She’s not as great an actress as the world thinks she is, either.

A young blond cop points at her. “Are you Carmen Seraphina? Holy shit.”