Fuck that shit! I might respect women, but I’d be damn if I just let Cass slip through my fingers without fighting for her.
When I arrived at the café, I parked my Harley in the alley and went around the front.
My feet stopped moving, frozen in place at the sight of Cass and some guy laughing. He was seated at the bar, wearing a gray suit and he had an air of confidence about him. I didn’t have to hear what they were saying because I knew… I knew he was the Russian.
My first instinct was to barge inside, threat his life and claim my woman.
That would go over like a steel turd with Cass. She’d likely force me out of her building and tell me she never wanted to see me again.
Been there done that, not looking to go there again.
Only the last time had been in her home when she forced me out after Josh’s funeral. She’d yelled, “I never want to see you again,”with tears running down her face.
Obviously, she had seen me again.
Cass had stayed in town after her family moved away. I never quite understood why she would stay in San Diablo, the place where her whole life had blown up following the death of her brother.
A huge part of me believed Cass had built her life here because of me.
Did I really want to risk pissing her off?
No, but I also needed to get an idea how close these two were becoming. With that final thought, I enteredCass’s Vibes.
She immediately looked in my direction with a gorgeous smile, but her joy quickly disappeared. I wasn’t a customer like she’d assumed when the door opened.
“Hey.” I jerked my chin, acting as if I wasn’t there for her.
“Hi,” she said, awkwardly.
The Russian peered over his shoulder as I passed the café area and made my way to the book section.
“Do you know him?” the Russian asked, not even trying to be quiet or discrete.
But then I hadn’t removed my cut, in case he was Bratva. I wanted to him to know right out the gate who he would be messing with, because nobody fucks with the Kings.
“Yes. It’s a small town.”
I found myself out of earshot and staring at Harry Potter books. The collection reminded me of when Cass was obsessed with the Potterverse and called herself a Potterhead. Those were some of the best times of my life. Things had been easy and we’d been happy. She’d told me I was Gryffindor and she was Ravenclaw. That year she’d made me dress up for Halloween, wearing a black cloak and carrying a wand. I would’ve done anything to make her happy.
I would still do anything to make her happy if she’d give me the chance.
“What are you doing here?”
I turned to face her. “Looking for a book.”
“You don’t read books.” She squared her shoulders like she was preparing for a fight. When really, she was only annoyed. “I read books, not you. Why are you in my business?”
“Thought I’d check it out.”
“You never come here.” She considered me for a long second, then understanding flashed in her hazel depths. “You saw me with Alek and your possessive side came out.”
“When it comes to you, my possessive side is always at the surface.” I moved toward her. “It never fades away, Cass.”
“Stop.” She took two steps back, her cheeks turning bright red. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I need to talk to you and didn’t want to be rude while you were with a customer.”
“Alek isn’t only a customer.”
