Conceited (Crimson Elite 3)

“I told you to fuck off,” he says before I even enter. He doesn’t look up from his computer, he just goes about his work.

“Have you sorted it yet?”

His eyes zoom in on me as he assesses me to see if I really care before he answers. When he can see I’m serious he does. “No. I don’t want a fucking kid.” And there is the answer, but we also know Darby won’t turn his own kid away. He may be ruthless in business, but he isn’t the asshole everyone thinks he is either.

“You’ll make a great father.”

He takes a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll bite. What do you want?” He sits back waiting and watching me.

I shrug my shoulders. “Who said I want anything?”

“Did you hear about Tom?” I nod my head giving no indication I care. “So, is it all handled now?” he asks referring to Ariel.

“Yes.” My cell starts buzzing, but when I pull it out and see her name flash across the screen, I ignore and slide it back in my trouser pocket. “And don’t change the subject.”

“I don’t want to discuss my personal life with a renowned male whore.”

My hand touches my heart, and my head drops back. “You cut me deep, so very deep.” He shakes his head. “But I’m not the one who knocked some bitch up,” I say. He throws the nearest thing at me, a coffee mug, and I just manage to duck before it hits me.

“Woahhh.” Turning, I see Echo, shaking his head at the door.

“Watch your mouth, Falcon, or I’ll do something to shut it.”

I hold up my hands and back away. With a smile I leave him with two parting words, “Yes, Daddy.”

He growls loudly and I manage to get out of the room before anything lands on my head. Walking back the same way I came in, Echo stops me.

“Go and talk to Creed.” I shake my head. “Something’s eating at you, and you two have some sort of fucked-up bond. Go, before you get yourself killed.”

I flip him off. Creed and my bond is all about me pissing him off and making him see the truth, like with El. He had trouble understanding his feelings toward her when I saw it clear as day, so he just needed a little push. He maybe didn’t want my kind of push but it worked.

“Falcon.” Bethany stops me, she’s in charge of the girls along with Creed. “Creed’s been busy, I need help.”

“I’m listening.”

She looks me over then shakes her head. “Maybe I should wait for him.” She goes to walk off.

“Bethany, what do you need?”

She stops and turns back to me. “One of the girls is covered in bruises, she’s saying it isn’t from here, but if it is and she’s lying, she’s protecting him.”

“I’ll look into it.”

She tells me her name and I go straight back up the stairs. Echo’s at his computer doing whatever the fuck it is he does with those things.

“I need you to check out Lauren’s latest clients, check the footage from the last week.”

“She has four clients a week, one’s a regular,” Echo says, rolling the information off from the top of his head. He’s good at what he does.

“Tell me who’s been hurting her, or if she’s coming in with it already.”

He nods, completely understanding what I’m talking about.

“You know Creed does all this, I don’t have to do any of this shit.”

“He isn’t here, is he?”

“Go to him,” he says going back to the computer.

“Fuck you, and call me when you find out.”“Echo called,” Creed says opening the front door of his house.

“Of course, he did.”

El walks out holding Annabelle and places her in my arms.

“I just have to grab some things then we’re going to visit Ma.” She walks off and Creed watches us as Annabelle sleeps in my arms.

“He’s concerned.”

“I’m fine,” I lie.

“Okay, who was the last woman you fucked?”

I look down at Annabelle. “Should we be talking like that in front of her?”

Creed turns as El walks back in to say, “No, you shouldn’t. Thank you, Falcon.”

She takes her from my arms and gives me a wave and Creed a kiss before she walks out leaving us both alone.

“Does she have your balls in her purse?” I ask him smiling. He doesn’t smile back, instead shuts the door as he walks in.

Creed doesn’t answer as he starts pouring me a drink.

“Bethany came up to me before I left, one of the girls has bruises.”

“It’s Lauren, isn’t it?” I nod, not surprised he already knows. He pours himself a drink and shakes his head. “It’s Malcom. He’s going to have to be dealt with.” My eyes go wide in recognition of who it is who’s hurting her.

“Echo’s looking at the footage to make sure.”

Creed shakes his head. “Nope, it’s Malcom, I already know,” he says ending the conversation.