Meridea confidently walks through the throng of people to meet King Shit Head. I keep a close eye on her.
I grab another glass of champagne from a server’s tray.
“Hassle, I don’t like this. I can’t let anything happen to her,” I mutter against the rim of the glass.
“Look who cares about a woman,” Hassle chuckles.
“You mean loves a woman,” Vaughn adds in.
“That’s enough. I don’t love her,” I snap back.
Vaughn laughs through the earpiece.
But what do I really feel for her? I can’t let her go. I growl at any man who approaches her. I find myself constantly staring at her. And worst of all, I’m desperately trying to get her pregnant. Do I... no, no way. I refuse to admit it.
A man in a sleek black mask approaches Meridea, his voice low but clear as it comes through her earpiece. “Did you follow my orders and come alone?” Glenn’s tone is laced with suspicion.
“Who would I come with?” Meridea replies smoothly, her voice steady.
He chuckles darkly. “You still know people from that bougie world you used to belong to. Maybe one of them decided to play hero.”
Her tone sharpens. “What happened to the nice guy I used to know?”
“That was all an act,” Glenn sneers. “I needed a pretty, polished woman who could charm the wealthy. You had onejob—to be a good girl, sit back, and let me handle business. I would’ve paid off your student loans, you know.”
“Glenn, you were doing illegal things. I didn’t want anything to do with your shady world,” Meridea states firmly.
His patience snaps. “Let’s cut the bullshit, shall we?” His voice hardens. “I saw you with a man tonight. Who the fuck is he?”
“Just someone I met here,” Meridea lies effortlessly.
“Did you tell him you have a man?” Glenn growls, stepping closer.
“No, Glenn,” she says firmly. “Why would I? We’re over.”
He snarls, his voice dripping with menace. “No, we aren’t.”
My fists clench at my sides and I take a step forward.
“Don’t do it, Declan. Hassle specifically asked me to keep you from screwing this up,” Vaughn whispers in my ear from my right side.
I know he’s right.
So instead, I keep my eyes locked on Meridea.
“You need to come home,” Glenn says, his voice low and commanding.
Meridea’s response is quick and calculated. “I have your flash drive in the back hallway. I’ll give it to you, then you’ll walk out of my life and never contact me again.”
Glenn steps closer, invading her space.
“What are you doing?” Her voice wavers, a tremor of terror slipping through.
“You’re coming with me. That’s fucking final,” Glenn growls, his intentions clear.
What the fuck is the asshole up to? I keep my distance and follow them. The second we’re not in front of all these people; I’ll pounce on that bastard. He’s not taking my woman anywhere.
CHAPTER SEVEN
