Stuffed

“Sir, we’ve got her bag for you.” The driver hands it to me and Ember looks surprised.

“How’d you get that?” She looks at the driver leaving, and I wait for the door to close before I answer her.

“I had someone retrieve it from the club as we were leaving.” I toss it on the chair in the living room and turn around to face her. “Go upstairs and take a shower. I’ve got to make some phone calls.”

“What?” She’s standing there with her ripped fishnets and smudged eyeliner and all I want to do is throw her on the ground and rut on top of her.

“If I touch you right now I’ll lose control. And clearly you’ve had enough men putting their hands on you lately.” I clench my fists at my side. “I let myself hold you in the limo, but I can’t take any more. Not right this second and not without being too rough.”

“I feel like I should have some say in how I’m treated.” She doesn’t make a move to do what I say, and I storm close until we’re almost touching.

“Not like this, Ember. I won’t have our first time be when I’m so close to the edge.” I feel my heart racing and sweat down my back. If I touch her I’ll hurt her.

She opens her mouth to argue, and I shake my head. “Go. Now.”

With a final huff, she backs up, and I watch as she takes her ass upstairs. When I have a little distance from her, I sigh because I fucking hate it. All I want is to be near her, but I have to handle this. I have to make sure she’s safe.

Fucking Theo. I could kill him, but if he hadn’t sent me to that club, I wouldn’t have gotten to Ember in time. That thought is too dark to visit, and I push it away. I grab my phone and walk down the long hall to my office. Once I’m inside, I close the door and go over to my desk. I take a seat in the oversized chair behind it and dial his number.

“I heard you made an entrance,” Theo says when he answers.

“Your envelope was delivered, and I’m going to take thirty grand from you so we can file this under attorney-client privilege.” I clench my jaw so hard it pops.

“I’ll have my girl wire you the money.” I hear him chuckle and take a drag of a cigarette. “I figured you’d stay for the entertainment.”

“A strip club isn’t my scene.”

“Sounds like you found something you liked.”

“That’s none of your business. I owed you a favor and I did what you needed me to do. I don’t want to know what was in that envelope, but it’s been delivered. Just make sure you pay me for the service so I can’t be asked questions in court.”

“Already done, big man. My girl just sent the confirmation.”

“So we’re all done here, right?” I need to know the debt is paid because nobody likes owing Theo in this town.

“We’re square. Tell your brother good luck.” He laughs again as he exhales. “Y’all sure do know how to start gossip.”

“Believe me it’s new for the both of us.” I loosen my tie as I lean back in my chair.

“I’ll be here if you need me.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Hopefully I won’t.” I hang up and let out a long sigh.

I dial the next number, needing to get all of this shit situated before I can join Ember upstairs. Having things in order is the only way I’m going to calm down.

“Why are you calling me?” Bull says as a greeting.

“I need your services.”

“I don’t work anymore. My work is Teeny.” I hear him grunt, but it could just be because he’s standing up.

Bull is someone I hired on occasion a few years ago to do some online research for me. I also hired some of his guys for my clients. Too many of my clients were women running from abusive ex-husbands and they needed protection. Bull could dig up dirt on anyone, and his men were the best. He’s mostly retired since getting married, but there’s no one else I trust with my Ember.

“It’s personal this time.”

“You have an ex-wife you need protection from?” He grunts again, but this time it kind of sounds like a laugh.

“It’s for my woman.” There’s silence on the other end so I take it he’s at least listening. “I can’t let anything happen to her. She’s gotten in two really bad situations—” I stop talking when my throat gets tight thinking about what could have happened. “I can’t let anything happen to her.” There’s another long pause, and I bury my face in my hands. “Please, there’s no one I trust more.”