Sliding a possessive hand to palm her ass, I meet Leo’s stare with a hard one of my own. “Perhaps we can agree on a sum to make you un-fixate.”
His dark eyes narrow. “That will take some thought and consideration. I’ll need to evaluate the worth of such a deal. Until then, you have my word my lips are sealed until we come to agreement.” He steps closer, cocking his head to the side. “Should I contact your lovely assistant to arrange the meeting later?”
“You may call my secretary Deborah and set it up,” I growl. “Don’t fuck with me, Morelli. It won’t end well.”
“Don’t worry,” Leo says with a wolfish grin. “I don’t want to steal your girl. I like ‘em older. How’s your mother anyway?”
Perry decides to show up. Fucking momma’s boy.
“What’s it to you, asshole?” Perry demands, bowing up like he could actually kick Leo Morelli’s ass. Unbelievable.
Luckily, Leo is amused. If it were Lucian, I’d be picking pieces of Perry’s skull out of my hair.
“My father says hi is all,” Leo states with a laugh. “Caroline must be so lonely these days since your father is gone.” He scratches his chin as if he’s trying to remember something. “How did he die again?”
Nate, who approached at some point, grabs Perry before he tries to tackle Leo. Morelli and his gang of thugs turn, ending our conversation and dispersing like the fucking shadows they are.
“Time to go home.” I give Ash’s ass a pat. “I’m tired.”
She tilts her head up to meet my stare. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
As frustrating as it is that I’m going to have to pay Leo an ungodly amount of money to keep him off Ash because she doesn’t know the politics of this town, I don’t take it out on her. Her naivety of our family name, and consequently the Morellis, is one of the things that has me so enamored with her.
“I know,” I grumble. “Don’t worry about Leo Morelli.” I smirk at her. “You have bigger worries like how to exit this club without falling and showing everyone your naked pussy.”
Her worry transforms into irritation. “I hate you, Win.”
“Trust me, that’s better than love, Cinderelliott.”
Loving a Constantine will get you killed.
12
Ash
I screwed up tonight, and it’s all Winston’s fault. I’d been so mad at him for being a dick at the table, but I actually enjoyed dancing. Perry is nice and funny. He’s the exact opposite of Winston. Not that I’d ever date someone like Perry. I prefer the fucked-up ones, it would seem. Because when Winston helped take my panties off, I wanted to beg him to touch me. I’d been so turned on that we were putting on a show that I nearly let him have his way with me.
A freebie.
Everything went to hell, though, the minute the hot Italian-looking guy started dancing with me. He gave off the same superior vibes as Winston. In a way, dancing with him felt like being with Winston. The alcohol had me flushing when I’d felt Leo’s dick hard and rubbing into me from behind. At first, when I saw Winston flying at us with murderous rage in his gaze, I thought it was intended for me. But the second he addressed Leo, I realized I was caught in the middle of a war I knew nothing about, only that I had unknowingly danced my way to the other side.
Money.
It’s the weapon Winston wields.
Sharp and powerful.
I’d watched him sling it through the air, saving me from an unknown monster. The promise was in his hard stare. A shit ton of money was going to be tossed at Leo Morelli. Because of me. I’m smart enough to realize now that Leo sees me as something Winston cares about. Something Leo could use against him. And Winston was ready to negotiate a big-ass deal to protect me.
It’s so fucked up, but I’m grateful.
Winston may be a total dick most days, but he showed no weakness when it counted.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come home with you?” I murmur, hating how needy I sound.
He pulls up in front of our brownstone and puts his vehicle in park before glancing my way. “Positive.”
Ouch.
His words sting, but I can tell he’s stressed out. I feel guilty for bringing this new headache into his world.
“Okay,” I choke out. “I’ll see you in the morning. Shrimp has food and water in his cage. If you cover it with the blanket when you go to bed, he’ll be quiet.”
“Good night, Ash.”
Tears burn at my eyes, which pisses me off. I grab my phone out of the cupholder and fling open the door. I’ve barely managed to make it to the front door before my phone buzzes, money being sent.
Normally, seeing my account grow is gratifying.
Tonight, it just makes me sick to my stomach.