He stands and moves around the counter. “Excellent,” is all he says, but there is an excitement dancing in his eyes that makes me instantly worry.
I finish sipping my water, waiting for him to enlighten me. He clearly has something to tell me, or he wouldn’t be pestering me the way he is.
He drums his fingers on the countertop like a drum roll. “Be prepared to fall instantly in love with me…I got you a job.”
My brow knits together, annoyance crawling under my skin. “I already have a job, Cruz,” I snap back, not sure what he is going onabout but already knowing I don’t want to hear anything more on the topic.
“I got you a better one. One where you don’t have to take your clothes off and be manhandled to earn a buck.” His eyes land on my tits in just my sweaty tank top and sports bra, and it’s like he’s imagining it.
I clear my throat, getting more irritated with him by the second.
“It’s with my brother’s girl, she needs an assistant to help her now that her workload is out of hand, and I told her you would be the perfect fit.” He smiles, all proud of himself. He really thinks he’s done me a good deed.
What the hell? Does he want a pat on the back like a good boy? “Cruz, I don’t know anything about being someone’s assistant. I can hardly use a computer and definitely can’t type for shit. I can’t even organize my life, what on earth would have made you think I would be a good assistant?” I spit back, my voice now more irritated. How dare he.
His lips form a thin line, and I can see his messed-up brain working overtime. “Because you need a job. Dani is nice. She will help you learn anything you don’t know on the job. She said as much herself.”
I glare at him, feeling the heat coming off me in waves. What the hell is his game? “I like the job I have,” I seethe under my breath as I sidestep him, barely keeping my composure, needing to get around him before I completely lose control. I need a long, hot shower and some space to think, away from his overpowering intensity.
Quickly he steps in my way, crowding me as my back presses sharply into the cold kitchen counter, and I’m forced to glare up at him.
“Get out of my way, Cruz,” I seethe through clenched teeth.
He glares back, matching my concentration. “Not until you agree to take the job I got for you.”
I huff a laugh. He thinks he’s going to bully me into doing as he says. He really is unbelievable. “I don’t know why you care so much, but just so we are completely transparent, I live in the same apartment as you. It doesn’t give you any say in my life or what I do for work.”
His lips twist up at the sides cruelly, and his eyes flash with something that makes him look deranged. “My dear sister asked me to take care of you while you stay here. What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t do as she wished?”
“What?” I snap, frustrated. Are we really still on this?
“My sister Sloane. Don’t you remember? She said I have to take care of you,” he explains, like it makes his entire story make more sense. It doesn’t.
I stare back at him, trying to formulate a sentence that makes sense and also spells it out for him clearly, because somehow in his deluded mind, he thinks he’s in the right here. “It was a figure of speech, she didn’t expect you to watch my every move and turn into some controlling asshole who also thinks he has some say in my life.”
His brow rises, and he stares back at me for what feels like forever, a darkness coming over him. “You’re not dancing at her club, and that is final!” His voice booms through the kitchen, his crazy switch clearly triggered by me not doing as he said.
“What the actual hell, Cruz. You’re being ridiculous,” I yell back, just as angry and every bit as loud as he was. I have known this man for two days, he has no say in my life, and he never will.
“No, I’m not. I know what happens down there at her club. The men think they own you because they throw some cash your way. Is that what you want, little darlin’, some new man to own you? I thought you wanted your freedom.”
My heart kicks up a beat, and I don’t know if it’s from the way he’s looking at me like he wants to be the only one to own me or if it’s just because I’m ready to punch him in the face for having such little faith in me. But either way, he’s just pushed a button he’s going to majorly regret touching. “No one owns me. And no one will ever again.” Anger vibrates off me in a way that makes my hands tremble. He doesn’t know what I have been through, the reality of being married into the family I was forced into. Owned by the mafia. I will never be that girl again; it’s why I ran when I had the chance. “I’m going to be dancing, nothing else.” My finger digs into his bare chest. “They don’t get to touch me unless I say so.” I jab at him again. “You know that place is safe, your sister has made sure of it.”
“Safe.” He huffs as he captures my hand so I can’t keep digging my long nail into his chest. “Safe until one of the rich bastards asks for a lap dance in a secluded corner, then the next thing you know, he gets all handsy, offering you some extra cash to keep your mouth closed. One thing leads to another and you’re on your knees with his dick in your mouth, all for a little extra cash.” The way he says it makes me feel small and pathetic. But I know it’s not what it’s like there. I have watched the lunch time girls the last couple of days. They have bouncers around everywhere to protect them, they are happy and bringing in more money than I ever could working as some assistant. He’s wrong. And I know this is about more than him thinking the job isn’t safe.
I blink back at him, so damn confused. Why does he care, and why is he making such a big deal out of this? “You’re being dramatic, and you know it. I won’t do anything I’m not comfortable with. Besides, I have Asher there, and the bouncers if I need them.” I place the hand he is gripping onto on his chest, trying to get some space. “Thanks for your concern, as unnecessary as it is. I don’t need you or anyone elsedictating what I do with my life. I have lived an eternity of that shit already.”
Something flashes in his eyes, something that makes him look even more dangerous than I already know he is, and I feel his whole body tense. “This isn’t up for negotiation.” He pushes back so I can’t escape him, his body crowding mine, pressing me into the counter.
My heart races, not sure what he’s going to do. “No, it’s not,” I snap back, having no clue what else to do. He won’t listen to me, but I’m not backing down. I’m almost certain he won’t hurt me, that’s not what he’s about, but he is intense, and this seems way more important to him than it should when we hardly know each other. Over the years, he must have known countless women who worked at that club. “It’s my life. I will do what I want with it.”
“Let her go, Cruz,” Jagger’s voice booms through the apartment from someplace behind me. I can’t see him, I just know it’s him.
“Tell her, Jagger, she is making a big mistake working for Sloane,” he growls out, sounding desperate.
Jagger comes around behind his brother so I can see him. His eyes dance with delight in the strangest way. It’s like him finding his brother’s hands on me gets him excited. That was not the look I was expecting. “Flower is a big girl. I’m sure she can work out how she wants to live her life. Dangerous or not.”
“What?” Cruz looks over his shoulder, glaring daggers at his brother. “She is not.”
