Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Spoiled?” she breathes, shocked.
“That’s what I said, princess.”
Her teeth click together and she stares at me. I’m inches away, my mouth yearning for hers. I haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss in Malcolm’s office, the way she moaned, the way she wriggled her hips. I thought she was acting at the time, making a show of it, but looking back now, I realize she didn’t even understand what was happening at first. From her perspective, I really was coming on to her—
And she fucking liked it.
I know she did. She can lie and pretend all she wants, but my hand cupped her pussy and I felt it dripping wet through her thin panties. She was slick and warm and wanted nothing more than to feel my fingers slide deep inside of her.
“I won’t thank you, if that’s what you’re waiting for.”
“You don’t have to say the words. Just keep looking at me like you want me to rip your clothes off like I started to back in Malcolm’s office.”
Her eyes widen, and I’m about to tease her more, but someone clears their throat nearby.
I release Jeanie and step away. Olivia’s watching from halfway down the hall, smiling sweetly. Casso’s wife is petite, dark skin, dark hair, the daughter of a Mexican drug lord and our direct line to illegal product. She’s in ripped jeans and a white blouse and her hair’s pinned up.
“Sorry, was I interrupting something?” Olivia comes forward and holds out a hand. “I heard someone new was staying in the house and I wanted to introduce myself.”
“Jeanie, this is Olivia, Casso’s wife. Liv, this is Jeanie.”
“Nice to meet you,” Olivia says, beaming sweetly. Behind that smile is an extremely smart and shrewd woman that knows exactly what she’s doing right now. I’m trying not to laugh as Jeanie gathers herself, shakes Olivia’s hand and gives her best smile in return.
“Nice to meet you too.”
“I know this family’s a little overwhelming and overbearing, what with all the kids running around and the staff and guards and Elise—have you met Elise yet? No? You will—and anyway, feel free to come chat with me anytime. I mean that.”
“Thanks,” Jeanie says, and yes, overwhelmed is a good word for the way she’s blinking rapidly at Olivia and looking at me for help. She must be feeling extremely awkward after being caught with my lips so close to hers. That gossip will spread around the house very quickly and exactly nobody will be surprised to hear it.
“I was just giving Jeanie a tour of the house,” I say but Olivia walks past me and slips an arm through Jeanie’s elbow.
“Oh, I can do that,” she says sweetly, pulling her away. “I’m sure she’s already sick of you.”
Jeanie looks back at me helplessly and I only wave. “Good luck,” I say and Olivia laughs and begins to chatter away, telling Jeanie about the staff, the various rooms they’re walking past, and soon they disappear around the corner at the end of the hall.
I glance back and notice Casso standing in his doorway. “You set that up, didn’t you?”
He shrugs, grinning. “Might’ve.”
“She’s not some moon-eyed farm girl, you know. You won’t scare her away with kindness. Olivia’s not going to intimidate her.”
“Maybe not, but I can try.”
Chapter 12
Jeanie
Gavino parks his Range Rover outside of an office building on the edge of the downtown district. It’s smaller, set in the oversized lot of a strip mall, with no sign out front except for a generic name, Cactus Commons. It’s an utterly meaningless title and only makes the place seem that much more suspicious, like it was made to host meetings between shady property developers and gangsters.
“You ready?” Gavino asks, not looking at me. Two other cars are parked in the lot, both of them high-end SUVs, both black with shining wheels, both with pitch-dark tinted windows.
“I’m not sure what to expect, if I’m honest.”
“Benedict will be here. The last time you saw him, he was cutting up your face.”
I touch the bandage on my cheek. It’s been three days since the attack and I’ve spent most of it recuperating in my suite back at the villa. A doctor came to see me, despite my protests, and said I just needed rest to get back to normal again, which I knew already. But Gavino insisted.
Which is strange. He seems to vacillate between looking at me like a bug on his windshield and treating me like a queen. He’s paying me more than I ever imagined I’d make in my entire life, and he’s letting me stay in his insane mansion house filled with his closest family, and we’re practically strangers. He’s doing it to keep me alive—and because he says I’m interesting.
I haven’t figured out what that means yet.
“I’ll be fine,” I say, which isn’t really true. I’m trembling and scared out of my mind but I can’t turn away from this meeting. It’s the first thing he’s asked of me since we began this business arrangement, and if I start quitting and acting afraid already, he won’t bother bringing me around anymore.