Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
She watched as he grabbed a stress ball, leaned against the desk, and stared at her.
“You’re so willing to make money however you see fit?”
“If I wasn’t doing it, someone else would.” He tossed the ball up in the air before catching it.
Staring straight ahead, she released a breath.
“You’re going to need to go shopping. Do you like to shop?”
“No.”
“You don’t like to shop?” he asked.
She looked at him. “No, I don’t.”
“That is so weird. Most women I know go batshit crazy over a credit card.” He pulled out his wallet and held out a card. “Here you go.”
“You’re just going to let me go shop?” If she was alone maybe she’d find a way out of this mess, one that included cops and a bus ticket to outer space.
“No. Rex is outside waiting for you.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Your apartment got trashed last night. Other than your purse, which my guy got, there’s nothing worth salvaging. Get some clothes, and he’ll bring you back here.”
“Why? This is only going to create more debt.”
“You’re a difficult woman, aren’t you?”
“I’m not trying to be. I’m just looking at the long-term problem here. You want me to go shopping. My sister owes you money, and I’ve already had enough of dealing with another’s debt to last me a lifetime. I don’t want to make more.”
She held out the card for him to take back.
“How about this is free of charge. Consider it an added bonus for me being the first man inside you.”
Meghan hated that her cheeks heated. “My virginity was not for sale. I just wanted you to stop hurting my sister.”
“Take the damn card, Meghan. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you sister has another broken bone. I can make shit happen with a phone call.”
“Do you even have a nice bone in your body?”
“I do. It’s called a funny bone.”
“Asshole.”
She took the card and stepped out of his office, completely aware of the stares coming her way as she walked back out of the gym.
There was Rex, the big, burly guy from last night.
“I don’t want to be in the same car as you,” she said.
“Boss wants what he does, and we’ve got to follow him.”
“You broke my sister’s arm last night.”
“Again, I’m following orders. She promised to pay. She’s been giving Damon the runaround for a long time. She had it coming.”
“She’s a woman.”
“And women are still supposed to pay their dues. You can’t be screaming for your rights and shit and then demand special treatment. A deal’s a deal. Simple as that. Now get in the car. I’m to take you shopping and get you there and back in one piece.”
She wanted to argue with him. Glancing around the street, she tried to think of any way that she could get out of this. There were alleyways, and the street was filled with people. Would any of them help her?
She’d never seen Damon before, but she knew of his reputation. There was no doubt about it; most knew him.
Seeing no other choice, she made to get into the front passenger side.
“Not happening, honey. You sit in the back.”
“Why?”
“Orders. I follow the rules.”
She rolled her eyes but climbed into the back.
The rules sucked, and if she had her way, she wouldn’t be around long enough to follow them anyway.
****
Rex called Damon several times to let him know Meghan was impossible. She just wouldn’t shop like a normal woman. No matter which place he took her to, she was always around the sale items. She didn’t listen to him about anything, and she hated shopping.
“It’s like taking a teenager around.”
Damon had laughed at that one. He didn’t for a second imagine it was a teenager. Meghan was being difficult on purpose. Most women loved to shop, but she didn’t like the implication of spending more of his money.
He honestly didn’t mind, and wanted her to be comfortable during the time of her stay. He wasn’t a monster, and he’d been right about her place. He’d sent a group of men there this morning, and it was all ransacked. They’d taken most of what they could and he’d put some into storage or at least ordered his men to do that.
Sitting back in his office, he caught up with all of his work, while he waited for the damn file he’d ordered. It never took long for his PI to get him what he wanted.
Patience wasn’t one of his virtues, but it was something he’d forced himself to work with as time went on. Acting rashly wasn’t what made a good leader. He was on top here because he knew when to keep his cool. In a city that was home to many different lords and kings, he knew when to act, and when to wait.
He’d earned his patch of the city, worked hard to keep his respect, and nothing would ever change that.