“So offer him the three hundred grand,” I said. “Who cares where he chooses to spend it. Can you imagine if he gives those people three grand and then needs to come to me for a new buildingandmore money. We’ll turn three hundred grand into seven-fifty.”
Kelly chuckled into the phone. “That wouldn’t happen to have been your plan all along, would it, sir?” She hissedsircynically and sarcastically.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied.
She just sighed. “Sure you don’t.” I heard a few papers flipping and she finally said, “Okay. I think that covers everything we needed and it only took,” she went quiet for a beat, “four hours.”
“Have we really been on the phone for that long?”
“Yep. Maybe next time you don’t neglect work for so long and we won’t have to spend damn near three weeks getting you caught up.” There was another moment of silence before, “Was there anything else you needed from me?”
“Nope. I think I’m good. Oh, except, have you and Punk considered my offer?” I asked.
“We’ve considered it at length and we have both decided no,” she replied almost instantly. “Gio. We’re fine. Neither Punk nor I are some damsel in distress that you picked up off the street.”
I blew right past the unnecessary Avion insult and said, “Neither are my parents, but they’re here, too.” I sighed. “They’ve just been quiet for a long time.”
“The Narzand brothers?”
“Yes,” I said. “They keep trying to get to the things that I have out on the street, so I lock them up tight and bring them under my protection, then they find something else to go for. I’m not a gambling man, but if I were, I’d guess that you and Punk are next on their hit list. If not for yourselves, consider coming and staying here for a few weeks for me. Just until Milli can unearth enough for us to retaliate.”
“I’m surprised you’re being so patient,” she said. “Ordinarily, you’d have dropped a handful of people to the bottom of the ocean by now.”
“Yeah, well this is a little different. If we’re going to take this shot, we can’t miss. They’re too powerful in this city, too important.”
“Plus they’re the older brothers of your new science project.”
“Enough,” I barked. “I’m dealing with the Narzands. I don’t need you leash-checking me. Do your job and consider coming and staying where it’s safe.”
“Yes, boss,” Kelly replied with an ease in her voice. “I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Still not budging, huh?”
I had my back to my office doors so I didn’t notice that Avion had made her way in until she called out and I turned around. Though she may have knocked and I just didn’t hear it, I kept telling her knocking wasn’t necessary. Was I being naive in hoping if I opened up enough of my house to her without restrictions that she’d justgetthat she wasn’t a prisoner here? Probably. But it didn’t stop me from trying.
“No,” I said. “I’ve tried and tried, but Kelly and Punk are arrogant.”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Avion said.
I tilted my head at her. “What was that?”
She tossed on a faux-innocent expression. “Nothing.” She stepped a little further into the room then shut the door behind her. “What are you up to now? More work?”
“No.” I slapped my laptop shut. “I finally got to the bottom of what piled up. I am done for today.”
Her legs looked good enough to eat in a short skirt that hugged her thighs, and she was wearing a pair of black pumps that were wholly unnecessary for being around the house. I might have thought it was just her fashion sense if she weren’t striding towards me with a switch of her hips and her gaze narrowed and focused like she was ready to do battle.
“Don’t look at me like that, Avion.”
“Come on,” she whined. “It’s been three weeks since I busted my stitches and a whole six days since I had them removed. You said we could do more when I was healed, and I’m healed.”
My lower half was already reacting to the darkened, seductive tone, but I’d had my mind settled on a month before trying anything. “Please. We really should wait just a few more days, just to be sure.”
“I’mfine,” she sang. She made it around my desk and was looking down over me with a fiery hunger. The top few buttons of her white blouse were undone, flashing her cleavage in a way that was difficult to ignore. She ran one of her hands into my hair before bending down and whispering into my air, “Please, Master? I miss you.”
It sent a chill running down my spine that I shuddered away. “A few more days.”
