“Because I secured a new construction deal for Dmitri right out from under Andrei’s nose. He wanted that deal, twenty million plus, maybe more by the time all is done. It was just business. Don’t act like you don’t know everything about it.”
She kept a straight face and didn’t turn to look at him. He was silent, and she felt uneasy about it. She didn’t like feeling exposed, readable by Storm. There was just something about him that affected her so. She knew his reputation and she knew to never lie to him. When Storm or Winter asked a question, the person better answer and be truthful or there would be hell to pay. She respected them.
“Revenge has its side effects, Aspen.”
She swung her head to look at him. She hadn’t expected that response. Like he had a clue as to why she wanted revenge and that revenge was indeed her motivation in screwing Andrei out of the job that should have been his. Nothing would ever be enough. No amount of money made would take away her nightmares, her experience as a seventeen-year-old woman who was beaten, nearly raped, and sold to be some foreign asshole’s sex slave. Andrei owned and operated that business. There were others involved. Others she screwed over, ruined their businesses, their future, and made them suffer. But Storm, Zin, York, Weston, Winter, and her brother Porter didn’t know what she was capable of or how she sought revenge on those unpunished. So Storm hadn’t a clue either. He probably only knew about her abduction because of Porter and his need to keep her out of Chicago and away from Andrei.
“You’re playing with fire, little girl. You don’t know what men like Andrei are capable of.”
She snorted in annoyance. He hadn’t a fucking clue. She could tell him right now. She could tear into him and let the almighty Storm know exactly how she knew firsthand what a prick bastard Andrei really was. But that would mean showing a vulnerability she had given up a long time ago. A weakness that only flashbacks brought on that she shared with no one ever. Not even the fact that s
he could have sworn she recognized the voice of one of the men who took her from the facility where women were being held before being shipped out. When she heard that voice, that was when she would truly be tested.
Storm didn’t know what she went through. At least not all of it. Maybe Porter told him about her so they could watch over her when Porter and his team weren’t nearby? If that were the case, then that explained why they kept their distance. They didn’t want her because of what happened to her and because they saw her as their sister. Well, except maybe Zin. He was the one to kiss her, but even that could have been pure lust.
“Your brother is going to find out about this.”
She looked at him. “That’s your job isn’t it? Try to keep an eye on me. Keep me in Texas where it’s safe from mobsters and cruel business dealings? I had that under control. I don’t need babysitters. You can drop me off at my home and go back to the party or whatever. I’ve got this.”
Storm slammed his hand down on the leather seat between them as he faced her.
“Are you delusional? Were you not present mentally during that confrontation? He had you by the throat. His hands were all over you, cupping your breasts, showing through actions that he wants you and can take whatever he wants. He was going to make you leave with him.”
She shook her head. “No man can make me do anything I don’t want to do, Storm. It’s over. Drop me off at my place.”
“It’s not over. You’ve got yourself a situation, baby girl, and you’re going to need some help.” She shot a look at him and was annoyed at the way he called her baby girl. She wasn’t some kid. He always saw her as the teenage girl who was Porter’s baby sister. They all did. Except maybe for Zin who actually had the balls to act on his apparent attraction to her. Kudos to Zin. So why was she feeling disappointed that Storm wasn’t pulling her across the leather seat and onto his lap so he could kiss her the way Zin had? Because he didn’t have the same feelings for her that she had for him. For all of them.
Maybe she did have a death wish. Maybe she really needed to walk away and get out of the city completely? Away from Andrei, away from the painful memories of Chicago, the constant cutthroat business politics she needed to handle on a regular basis. Perhaps it was time for a change.
* * * *
“Now what?” You think he’s going to just drop this?” York Reiss asked Aspen as he sat in the chair across from her. It wasn’t so difficult to be angry right now. Seeing her in the sexy evening gown, hair all done up, makeup, cleavage exposed like a goddess and his temper flared. York longed to touch her, taste her, hell, just hold her in his arms and inhale her perfume. She filled his every dream and fantasy and yet he couldn’t have her.
“This is not your problem. Any of yours. He’ll get over it.”
She replied as she recrossed her legs, showing off a bit more thigh than the last time she shifted positions on the couch.
“You think so? You think Andrei will get over the fact that you pulled a multimillion-dollar deal right out from underneath his feet?” Weston asked her. She looked at him and then glared at Storm and Zin.
“Maybe not so easily now, since Storm and Zin decided to go all crazy on him and toss him out of the venue like some loser. He has a reputation to maintain. Besides, if he should be bent at anyone, it should be Dmitri. He’s the one who made out in all of this. Listen, I have no regrets about this business deal. You guys are the ones blowing this out of proportion. It was just business, an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Besides, your company made out from this deal big-time,” she said and stood up.
York stood up, too, and blocked her from walking away. He held her gaze, looking down into her sage green eyes. He towered over her. They all did. He wanted to protect her and possess her and it was getting ridiculous to fight the attraction he felt. Before he could say a word, Storm spoke.
“Sit your ass down. This is not over.”
“I don’t take orders from you, Storm. I’m not part of your team,” she scolded.
York wanted to say she already was, but that would be a lie, a fantasy never to become reality. They tried to go legit with the business. It just wasn’t feasible without coming off as weak and losing just about everything. Aspen would need a man, men to take good care of her in every aspect.
“Do you know what it means to have a mob boss on your ass? Do you have any fucking clue what revenge he’ll seek knowing you ripped him off from that kind of huge payoff? No! Apparently fucking not. How damn stupid are you?” Storm yelled and York was shocked. He was being pretty hard on her.
Aspen stepped forward and looked about ready to press her finger into Storm’s chest then thought better of touching him.
“What? What do you think you’re capable of doing?” Storm challenged her.
She shoved at his chest and he stepped toward her. Looking down at her.
“Go to hell. I did what I had to.