“No,” I admit.
“No,” he echoes. “So why are you acting like I’m trying to fuck you over?”
“I just… I don’t want to get involved with anything remotely shady.” I stare at him for a long moment, practically begging him to back down. I need him to give up on this. If he keeps pushing these guys, Valerie’s going to find out, and she’s going to give this info to her bosses.
Fuck, I’ll make sure she does.
Because there’s no part of me that thinks those two guys are legit.
I need him to stop. I really, really want him to let it go.
“This isn’t shady. These men have money, brother. And we take money, turn it into more money. It’s just how the world works.”
I close my eyes for a second. “What do they do for work?” I ask.
“Sanitation,” he says. “They own trash trucks. Shit like that. They’re real guys, just a little bit rough around the edges, but they’re real.”
I open my eyes and feel like a part of me just broke off.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll meet with them.”
“Fuck, yeah, you will.” He grins and gets up. “All right, brother. This has been fun, but I’m going back to my hotel now. I’m going to drink everything in the mini bar and sleep for twelve hours. We’ll regroup tomorrow, all right?”
“All right,” I agree. “We’ll get breakfast.”
“You know a good spot?”
“I sure as hell do.”
He grins. “Fuck, yeah, brother. I’m glad I’m in town.”
“You travel too much.”
“I work too hard.”
“And you’re modest.”
He laughs and heads to the door. “See you tomorrow.” He waves and walks out. I see him say something to Valerie that makes her smile. My blood boils in my body again and I tense all over. As soon as he’s gone, I get up and go to my door.
“Val,” I say, and gesture for her to join me.
She gets up and I shut my office door.
“What did he say to you?” I ask her.
She looks surprised. “Excuse me?”
“On his way out. What did he say?”
“He said it was nice meeting me. And he hoped that you were being nice, but not too nice.”
I look away and let out a breath. “Good. Okay.”
“What’s wrong?”
I walk over to my desk and sit down. She drifts to a chair and sits on the edge, leaning toward me.
“He wants to meet with those two men again.”
“The gangsters?”
I nod once. “Them.”
“You should go.”
“I know. I’m going to. But you’re going to come with me.”
She laughs a little bit then realizes that I’m serious. “No way,” she says. “How? Why?”
“Because you’re the one that’ll actually manage their account. That’s what we’ll say, at least.”
She shakes her head. “Come on. Darin will be suspicious.”
“I’ll tell him the truth. I don’t like these guys and I want a second opinion. He’ll be pissed but he’ll get over it.”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me. I’ll lay the groundwork first. You won’t be a surprise.”
She lets out a breath. “All right. I guess this is why I’m here.”
“It’ll be okay. You’re just coming to get a sense of what they really are.”
“I thought you were already sure.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to… I don’t want to be sure.”
“I know what you mean.” She smiles and there’s a little sadness to it. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“He wants to fuck you.”
She blinks at me, surprised. “What?”
I get up and come around the desk. I sit down next to her and lean closer. “He wants to fuck you,” I say.
“I’m… uh, I’m not interested in that.”
“No?” I stare at her. “And why not?”
“Because.” She stares back at me.
“Because you’re mine,” I say.
“I’m all yours.”
“Every inch of you. From your dripping wet cunt to those pretty lips.”
She nods but doesn’t repeat me. I smile a little bit. I want to kiss her but the blinds are open and the door’s unlocked. I can’t afford another mistake like last time.
“You don’t have to worry.”
I smile a little bit. “I’m not worried. You’ve already gotten a taste.” I stand up and return to my desk.
She shifts and stands. “I should get back.”
“Good.” I tilt my head. “Don’t forget, my Valerie.”
“I don’t forget.”
I smile a little as she turns and walks away.
Darin’s right about one thing. She really is fucking hot.
I lean back in my chair with a sigh. I shut my eyes and try to pretend like things are okay for a moment, but of course things are totally fucked.13ValI’ve never met gangsters before. Sure, I’ve read stories about them and watched movies, but I’ve never actually met any.
A few days pass after Darin first comes back to town. Jacob spends a lot of time with him in the conference room, going over details and talking strategy. I know they’re still actually building a business here and this stuff with the mafia is only a small part of that, but it makes me nervous seeing them together.