Brenda pushed open the door and waited until he stood to face her, clearly dismissing his partners.
“Well?” He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, then proceeded to move to the bathroom. She followed him and watched him shower, imagining him washing away the passion he’d just shared with women not worthy of his time.
Angry but too smart to show it, she gave him a quick rundown of her meeting, doing her best not to stare at his wet, naked body behind the glass wall.
“Good. He’s hooked. Not that I blame him.” His angelic smile masked a deadly weapon. He’d often used his beauty to get by, and she could see it working still. Despite knowing he’d been with those women in his bed, she wanted to please him. To make him smile ather. And she hated herself for it.
She cleared her throat. “If that’s all? I have a plane to catch.”
“You’re sure? There’s room in here for one more.” He smiled. She didn’t. He shrugged. “Suit yourself. Stop by the green room downstairs to pick up your payment.”
“Thanks.” She turned and left, wishing he might have been what she’d hoped and not the sad reality he’d turned out to be. She knew it was better this way. Brenda didn’t like what she’d suspected of him before, but now knowing about the drugs, the guns, and worst of all, the women… Best she left before he forgot they were on the same team.
Downstairs, she gave the main room a wide berth, not wanting to be anywhere near the goons he employed. She sought the green room at the end of the hall, a guest bedroom and the home of his new accountant, a man who had no place working around large sums of money.
She entered without knocking and found said accountant wearing dress trousers and an unbuttoned silk shirt, smoking a cigarette. He looked handsome yet sleazy, and knowing his reputation, she wanted to be anywhere but the green room.
“I’m here for my pay.”
“Right.” He tossed a small bag on the table. “It’s all there. But feel free to count it.”
She focused on the bag—her future—then realized her mistake. He’d moved too close too fast. She had a moment to see the hunger in his gaze and swallowed. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“No, bitch. Count it. Go on.” He blew smoke in her face, and she coughed and waved it away.
“Fuck you.” Brenda could do mean. She refused to be intimidated by the cocky bastard. He had no idea who he was dealing with. The boss would not be pleased. She told him so.
He laughed. “Honey, you’re getting paid.” His eyes gleamed as he shrugged out of his shirt and unbuttoned his trousers while stalking her, a knife suddenly in hand. “And so am I.”
