“Jess,” Jag grumbles and grabs her by the elbow. “Sorry, Kill. Meet you for racquetball tomorrow before I head back?”
He gets a chin lift from me, but I also shoot him a look as I move past them to the door for the staircase. I tap the security panel with my thumb, feeling my patience slipping further as it takes a beat to read my print and grant me access.
The time it takes me to jog down the two flights of stairs to the basement and walk down the long hallway to the security booth helps me tamp down my anger. Marginally.
When I step in, I find Tony and two guards sitting and watching the surveillance monitors, and there sits Iadanza on a metal folding chair that they’ve set up so that his back is to the monitors.
The wall of monitors displays external zones as well as all internal areas; only my office is turned off because the camera for that zone is disabled while I’m in this building unless I turn it on. The two security guards sit up straighter at my arrival.
Iadanza is practically pointed at the corner looking like he’s minus one dunce cap. And he looks frazzled.
“Boys,” I greet and get a “Sir” and a “Hey, Killian.” Tony says nothing, just eyeballs Ray with an expression that can’t be mistaken for anything other than, one wrong move and I’ll kill you with my bare hands.
Something catches the attention of the guy that said hey, his nametag says Carl. Carl grabs his mic from his shoulder and calls out, “Floor team, arcade zone. Watch that guy in the blazer, green button-down, leather tie. He’s nosing around the bar shiftily.”
These men watch the room and communicate with the floor team, the door team, and the exterior team. I have extensive security. Not only do I not want to be ripped off, I also don’t want women getting drugged at one of my places or any other bullshit like that. Tonight is invite only, but that doesn’t mean people or their plus ones won’t get up to shit.
“It’s your lucky day, Raymond,” I say and jerk my chin. ”Follow me. Let’s get outta here so these guys can do their thing without further distractions. Tony, hang back until I knock. Night guys. Carl, good work.”
Carl jerks his chin while Tony nods. The other guard opens the door for me and then Raymond rises and follows me to the hallway while blowing out a long breath.
The door clicks shut behind us.
This guy is sweating bullets. His forehead is full of sweat beads, his hair is damp with it, and his skin tone looks halfway to gray.
I get right in his face and he visibly shrinks.
“I wanted a minute more to talk to you without Violet,” I stare without expression.
He eyeballs me. Wary. Freaking out. Shaking.
If he thought he was getting released without a chat after his colossal fuckup, he’s wrong. He’s lucky it’s just a chat at this stage. My guys took him downstairs to sweat it out for a little while first. Part of the punishment.
“You get a lucky break tonight, man, because that girl asked me to give you another shot.”
Hope flares in his eyes. And I wanna rip his fuckin’ face off. I hold myself calm instead.
“But you owe me for this. For this concession. You know I shouldn’t have given you the second chance, never mind a third. Don’t know where the fuck your head is at, but again she’s the reason you’re getting one last chance.”
“I,” he rasps. “I appre-“
I cut him off, “But I’m taking something extra for my kindness.”
His eyes widen as he waits. He has no fucking idea how he’s gonna come up with my money and worries I want more.
I lean in closer. “I’m gonna make a play for her tonight. And I wanted you to know about it. You go home knowing you got away with breaking the rules, but you also go home knowing there’s a chance that gorgeous woman will be crying my name into my sheets tonight.”
He’s holding his breath.
“I’m gonna make it clear I want inside that pussy. Tell me, Ray: is it tight?”
He grinds his teeth.
I smile wide. “I bet it is. Any luck, I’ll find out. Guess that’ll be between me ‘n her. But I’m tellin’ you it might happen tonight because this is the price you pay for my kindness. Do not mistake it for weakness. You’re free to go. Clock’s ticking Raymond. Better hurry and get me my money. Got five days before the vig kicks in, twelve days remaining total. Tick tock. You message me if you’re gonna be early and we’ll finesse the time and place.”
“If she turns you down tonight-”
I cut him off with a shrug. “If she does, she does. But gotta say, man... She loves my place, likes it when I hold doors for her and make her coffee just how she likes it in the mornings. Little things like that, women appreciate. You know?”