And who the fuck hurt you because only those recent bruises were from a mugging.
Why am I so enamored with her? Why do I have this deep-seated desire to claim her?
I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. I took one look and knew in my soul that she belonged to me. Then I heard her voice, smooth like whiskey, and it became an ache in my chest.
She touched me and cemented her fate.
“She keeps looking over her shoulder,” Bruno continues.
“Are you staying out of sight?”
“Of course, but she’s paranoid about something.”
I tighten my jaw. I want to know everything there is to know about Lulu Monroe.
“Keep me informed,” I tell him. “She’s going to walk to the club tonight. Let her. Follow her.”
“That’s a hike, boss.”
“I know.”
I check the time. Lulu’s shift starts in three hours. Just three more hours until I get to see her. I’d have my men put cameras in her shitty motel room, but she won’t be living there after tonight, so it’s a waste of time.
“Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll see you when you get here.”
I end the call just as Loveland walks intomy office and closes the door behind her. She strides to the chair across from me, sits, and crosses her long legs.
“You fucked up last night,” I inform her.
She swallows hard, but her gaze stays on mine.
“You didn’t even tell her how much she’d earn?”
“I’m not her manager.”
“No, but Rita was swamped, and you knew it. I told you to hire her. That includes getting her paperwork, informing her of her benefits and salary, and all the other shit that goes with it. You’ve been here for almost ten years. What the fuck?”
“You’re right, and in those ten years, you’ve neveroncethreatened to kill me over the way I do my job.”
My eyes narrow, but she doesn’t shrink away. “I’ve never heard you speak to someone the way you did to her. Ever. We hire people of all shapes and sizes, and you know it.”
“Not true.” She shakes her head adamantly. “I’ve never hired someone who looks like her.”
I go still, and now she won’t look me in the eyes.
She’s jealous.
I’ve known this woman for a long fucking time. Once, in the beginning, we thought we could be in a relationship, but it failed spectacularly. I caught her fucking a member and killed him on the spot.
I’ve never touched her since.
Or any other employee. I learned that lesson the hard way.
“I’m going to make myself clear, in case you weren’t listening last night. You willneverspeak to anyone theway you did to Lulu in your office. I don’t care if we wouldn’t employ them if the world was falling apart, you will be respectful.”
“I was simply honest.”
“If you choose to defy me in this, you’re done.”
