Sir's Redemption (Doms of Decadence 8)

“Yes, that other job I took cleaning? It’s at March industries.”

Sloan let out a low growl. Maybe reminding him of that hadn’t been a good idea. His hands clenched into fists. “She quits,” he told James.

“I do not,” she protested, even though she’d intended to do just that. But Sloan didn’t get to quit for her.

Sloan shot her a look. “You don’t know him. Not like I do. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

She looked from one to the other. “Look, obviously you two know each other, and there’s something going on I don’t understand. Maybe it would be best if you go work it out somewhere else.” Because all she wanted was to crawl into bed and try to work out where everything had gone so miserably wrong in her life. She could blame Eddie or Sloan or even James, if she really wanted to, but it had to be her. She was the common denominator.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Sloan growled.

James raised an eyebrow and simply leaned back against the kitchen counter, a statement in itself.

She sighed. Wonderful. She didn’t have the patience to deal with all the testosterone-driven fury in the room. She looked longingly over towards her bed. It was partially hidden by a Japanese-themed screen she’d picked up, which didn’t go with the rest of the décor. That was kind of her style. Maybe it would become a new design trend. Just shabby, no chic.

If she let on how crappy she was feeling and that she wanted to go to bed, she’d probably have even more trouble getting rid of them. She needed to defuse this situation and get them out of here before she collapsed.

“I don’t know what your game here is, James. But we want no part of it. Kinley is mine. She has nothing to do with you, and I don’t appreciate you pulling her into whatever scheme you have going on.”

James narrowed his gaze but didn’t say anything. Kinley stared at him, waiting for him to defend himself then, with a frown, turned to Sloan. She didn’t know why James had gone all passive, but she figured it was up to her to explain

things.

“Sloan, James isn’t here for some sort of game.”

Sloan snorted. “James always has some sort of ulterior motive.” He turned to her. “I don’t blame you, Kinley. He’s good at fooling people. There’s always a motive behind everything he does. This time he’s gone too far, though. Using you to get to me.”

She made an exasperated noise. “He isn’t using me to get to you. He didn’t even realize we were seeing each other. He’s my boss. I applied for a job at his building. That’s all.” She purposely didn’t look at James. There was no point in telling Sloan about James’s earlier proposal. Or that she’d spent the last two nights at his place.

“Yeah? Then what’s he doing here if he’s just your boss?” Sloan didn’t look like he believed a word she was saying.

“He gave me a ride home.”

“From where?” Sloan asked sharply.

She had to push her temper down. Nothing would help by snapping back. “Work.”

“You work on Sundays?”

Crap. She snuck a look at James, but he didn’t seem inclined to help her out. “No.”

“You weren’t here last night. I came around to see you. You haven’t been answering your phone. Where have you been, Kinley?”

“Didn’t you lose the right to question her when you threw her away?” James asked.

“Threw her away?” Sloan’s voice was cold and dark .

“Great. So now you decide to jump in?” She gave him an exasperated look. “Where were you five minutes ago?”

“He can snap and snarl at me all he likes—”

“Why, thank you,” Sloan said sarcastically.

“But I won’t have him attacking you.”

Sloan stilled, his face filled with shock. “I am not attacking her.”

“You are acting like she’s done something wrong, when you were the one who dropped out of her life. Who left her unprotected and alone.”