Robert nods, and then he realizes what I said a heartbeat later. “How did you—” he starts to ask.
I tsk a bit, giving him a knowing smirk. “Did you forget what I told you about the king? He maintains his throne because he knows everything, even those things that others think are hidden from his sight. Please tell Silas hello for me.”
I pause, waiting for it to sink in that I’m acquainted with his MC President. He pales for a moment before reddening, his jaw clenching as I turn to Myra.
“Miss Cole, my condolences on the unexpected loss of your mother. It seems you’ve done her memory a great service with the way you’ve maintained her home.” I turn toward Robert. “Take good care of them.”
Confident that I’ve dropped enough information to assure his continued easy homesteading and lack of violence in my town, I make my way to the door.
I glance back once, taking in the family. The love is obvious, even through the fear of the moment. He would die to protect them. He loves them that much. The vision is oddly sentimental to me, making me wistful for happier times with my own father and mother, before I knew what the family business really was and I’d thought my father simply a businessman who would regale us with silly stories over Sunday dinners.
The door swings shut behind me, and I climb into the back of my Mercedes, letting Gavin drive us to the club as I text Pete.
Eagle Raiders secure. Zallows + one allowed safe passage. Be watchful.
I know that Zallows prostrated himself today, but if a future situation requires him to break his vow to me, he will readily do so because his allegiance lies elsewhere.
I’ll let sleeping dogs lie, but I won’t turn my back.
Chapter 9
Allie
“Hey Allie, can you come here for a minute, please?” I hear Donna ask from the front lobby. I finish wiping down the mirror and toss the rag and spray bottle of cleaner back in the cabinet in the corner.
“Coming!” I holler and fast-walk down the hallway. I can see Donna and Eileen at her desk, looking back and forth between me and something in the lobby. Confusion is written all over their faces, which makes my steps slow and my eyebrows pull together. “What’s up, guys?”
Eileen’s face breaks into a huge grin, her eyes open wide, and she points a finger to something I can’t see, licking her upper lip like a giant chocolate gummy bear’s in the lobby . . . or Chris Pine. She’s got a thing for him.
I take a few more steps and I see what has them all buzzy. Standing in the lobby of Encore is Dominick. He’s dressed as he always is, in a custom-tailored suit that emphasizes his broad shoulders, a silk tie and pocket square . . . yet somehow, he looks oddly at ease, considering there are gym bags and kids sprawled out on the floor around him and a group of three moms in the corner openly ogling him.
When he sees me, his eyes light up for a moment before going dark as he takes me in. I’m not dressed inappropriately for the studio, but the dance shorts and sports bra seem to make him . . . angry?
Or is that desire making his eyes stormy?
Maybe an equal measure of both, I decide, but whatever it is, it’s heated and fiery, making me want to twirl around a bit to give him a better view.
“Allison,” he says, his voice seeming deeper than usual in the space that usually only holds teenage girl screeches and classical music with the occasional burst of pop. As far as greetings go, it’s light on the words but feels heavy, powerful.
“Dominick,” I reply, trying to sound as casual and as normal as he does, if anything, to screw with Donna’s and Eileen’s heads. It’s a total fail, as my voice comes out breathy and fizzy. I want to shout, ‘He came to see me at work!’ and then I want to tell the moms in the corner to back the fuck up because he’s mine.
Instead, my eyes stay locked with his, which seems to amuse him for some reason, and I wonder if he can read my mind. He steps forward, placing a chaste kiss to my cheek, and I’m surrounded by his spicy, masculine scent. I fight to hold myself back from climbing him like a spider monkey and burying my nose in his neck for another hit. Instead, I step back as he turns and picks something up from the small table next to him.
I’m shocked and blushing furiously when he holds out a small bouquet. “These are for you.”
I take the wrapped flowers, burying my nose in them, but honestly, he smells better.