“That’s sad.” A sickness washes over me for him. I couldn’t even imagine how terrible that guilt must feel like.
“Jagger and I know better. It wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment attack. It was ordered by a powerful family, and we both know there is no escaping them.” The way he looks at me makes my stomach churn because I know who he’s talking about. The Morettis.
I point to my chest as if to sayme. “My husband’s family had something to do with it?”
“The family you married into had a lot to do with the destruction of our town. But so did our father. He was a fucking piece of shit and should have protected her, but he was too busy trying to line his pockets.”
“Forcedto marry,” I correct him. “I know what that’s like. Money wins over everything in this world. Love doesn’t exist. Your poor mother.”
He smiles sympathetically. “Maybe that’s why Cruz is taking this so personally and wants to protect you from this life; you’ve been through enough.”
“I’m not his problem to worry about,” I whisper almost to myself, not wanting to get into how bad it was with Valentine. But maybe I had more in common with his mother than I originally thought.
The rest of the car ride is kind of quiet, and I get the impression I’m missing something. Both Asher and Jagger are protective of Cruz and like to downplay how psycho he is, but I’m not going to. We need aserious chat after tonight. We pull up in the underground parking, and I hurry to get out of the car before Asher can get the door. It’s sweet how he likes to be all chivalrous, but it’s totally unnecessary. “Thanks for the lift. I guess I’ll catch you at work tomorrow.” I throw him a quick smile, ready to rush off to the elevator.
“Nah, it’s your lucky night. I’m coming up. Cruz and Jagger have…” He stops talking and looks me over. “I’m going to hang with you until the boys get home.”
My eyebrow pops up. “Unnecessary, you got me home safe. I’ve got it from here. I’m not one of those girls who are scared to be alone at night, you know.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and moves me through the garage toward the elevator. “I know you love your independence, but I’m sorry, little princess, you’re stuck with me. Boss’s orders. And we both know how much of a grump he can be when we don’t follow his demands.”
“Jagger?” I grumble, my cheeks heating at the thought of me falling apart when I wasn’t supposed to tonight. And his punishment after.
He nods as the two of us get into the elevator, a brow raised. “What put that look on your face and made your cheeks so pink?” He smirks.
“Nothing,” I mutter, casting my gaze at the floor of the elevator. That is not a conversation I want to have with Asher.
“Yeah, okay.” His light laughter vibrates through the small space, and I know he doesn’t believe me.
Why would Jagger put him on babysitting duties tonight? I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the message he got while I was sucking his cock. That’s if it even was him. It’s messing with my brain not knowing.
I let us in, and Asher locks the door behind us. “You hungry? Or want a drink?” he asks.
“I could eat,” I agree, moving through to the kitchen, popping open the fridge to find some milk, then I go to the cupboard and pull out a box of cereal. When I got back from work yesterday, the pantry was full, and so was the fridge. I don’t know if it was Cruz or Jagger who stocked it, but I was surprised to say the least.
Asher looks at me, disgusted. “Cereal?”
“What’s wrong with cereal?” I take a seat at the breakfast bar and pour the milk over my bowl full of cereal.
Asher takes a bowl from the cupboard and comes to sit beside me. “Nothing, I guess.”
“So, you’re just going to hang around this place until the boys get home?” I ask, things now awkward between us, and I’m not sure why.
“I’m sure we could think of a few things to kill the time.” He raises a suggestive eyebrow, his eyes lighting up.
I glare at him, deadpan. “Not going to happen, Ash.” As much as I wish it would, Sloane’s warning to him still rings way too clearly in my ears.
He holds up his spoon in defense. “Okay, thought it was worth a try.” He smirks cheekily, unaffected by my rejection. Something in it makes him look sexy as all hell, maybe the way his hair hangs over his eye right now or maybe it’s the shirt unbuttoned at the top that has ink peeping out. I have no idea what it is, all I know is my lady parts are sitting up and taking notice. I’m sure Asher could finish the job my mystery man started.
I can’t help but laugh at him, partly to try to ease the electricity now zapping through the air. “Are you like this with all the girls from the club?”
“Like what?”
“All flirty? Is that why Sloane told you to stay away from me?” I know I shouldn’t ask it, but I can’t stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth either.
He raises his brow, I think surprised I knew that little fact. “I like women, so sue me.” He shrugs, munching loudly on a spoonful of cereal.
“You like screwing women? A lot of them, from what I can gather?”
