Possessive Boss

“Because I brought you this.” I lean toward him, anger flaring. “Without me, there’d be no deal, no gangster. Darin Ficino would keep on doing what he’s always done, or at least until Jacob caught him. Without me, you’d have nothing. Jacob would’ve kicked him out and you all would’ve been screwed.”

He smiles a little. “Interesting. He taught you backbone.”

“I always had backbone, you asshole. I came into the field, and it’s not even my job to be a field agent.”

He nods a little. “You’re right. I was impressed you agreed.”

“Give him what he wants. And get something for yourself from the deal.”

Charles laughs. He seems genuinely delighted by the whole thing. He watches us both closely before grinning huge. “Okay then. I think we have a deal.”

He shakes hands with Jacob then shakes my hand. I frown at him, angry at the way he spoke to me, but happy that this is nearly done at least.

“Documents,” he says.

Jacob produces them from under his jacket and hands them over. “That’s as much as I can give you. It’s everything I have.”

“Let’s hope it’s enough.” Charles slips out from his chair and stands. “Let’s hope you don’t ever hear from me again, Jacob Lofthouse.”

“For your sake,” Jacob says, staring Charles down.

The older man smiles down at me. “And as for you, Valerie, well, I can clearly and honestly say that you were a very good decision.”

I smile a little. “I know.”

He pats my shoulder then walks off. He’s whistling to himself as he goes.

I get up and slip around the table. I lean across it, looking at Jacob.

He grins at me. “That worked,” he says.

“Now we have to hope that was enough to get Carmine.”

“I think it will be. I’m sure they’ve been looking at those two for a while now and just needed a little extra nudge in the right direction.”

“I hope so.” I reach out and take his hands. “Otherwise, they’re going to come after us.”

“Don’t worry.” He pulls me toward him and kisses me. “I’ll take care of you.”

I nod once and kiss him again. I know it’s true.21Jacob“Darin’s father has been complaining around the club, you know.” My mother sounds bored as she leans back in her chair. She has a drink in her hand but she hasn’t taken a sip yet, and I bet she never does.

“Is he?” I shrug. “I’m not sure why.”

She laughs. The sound echoes in the porch. It’s a beautiful day at Lofthouse Manor, my family’s ancestral home.

After Charles left that coffeehouse, I took Valerie back to my hotel room, fucked her until her legs were jelly and she couldn’t come again even if she wanted to, and packed up our bags. We left town the next morning. I put Larry in charge at the office temporarily until I could find someone else, although I might just promote him. I’m not completely sure just yet.

Either way, the office is running smoothly, and we’re hiding out in Virginia. The country life seems to suit Valerie, and she’s already made friends with my brother’s new wife, Amber.

My mother sighs and turns her face toward the sunlight. “He’ll make noise, but that’s all. He knows his son is a disgrace and his whole business is pathetic.”

“What did you say to him?”

She smiles at me. “Nothing, dear. Why would I ever say something?”

“Please, Mother. I know you better than that.”

Her eyes sparkle as her smile gets bigger. “Well. Maybe I did suggest that his son learned his awful ways from his father. And of course, Mr. Ficino did not like that suggestion, but what can he do?”

I sigh and shake my head but I can’t help the smile that crosses my lips. “Poor Darin.”

“He made his decisions, dear.”

“I know. But he still treated me well.”

She frowns at me slightly. “You’re a Lofthouse. You’ll always be a Lofthouse. It doesn’t matter if someone treats you like just another man on the street, that doesn’t change what you are. You have to learn to accept it, dear.”

“I’m working on that, Mother.”

“Good. Your new girl seems to be fitting in well.”

I shift uncomfortably at the sudden change in direction. “Valerie is… she’s smart.”

“Yes, she is. Very smart.”

“I like her very much, Mother.”

“Enough to keep her around?”

I smile a little bit. “Ideally, yes.”

“Good. I’m happy your brother settled and I’ll be happy when you settle. All my children need to pair off and multiply. Otherwise, this family will die out.”

“Brent and Amber didn’t waste any time in that department.”

“No, they didn’t. And I hope you don’t, either.”

“I think I should worry about marrying her first.”

“That’s a good idea, dear.” Mother stands up. “Oh, and I’d check the news. I think there’s something interesting you might like to hear.”

She walks past me and squeezes my shoulder on the way.

“What did you do?” I say after her.