“No, I can’t say that I have.”
He picked up a remote off the desk and the lights in the tank switched from something that was close to natural sunlight to a radiant blue, and I gasped as the jellyfish glowed in the tank, vibrant ghosts. Their long tentacles were everywhere. I slapped a hand to my face, then forced it away so I wouldn’t ruin my makeup.
“You like it, Lolly?” Legend called over, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was talking about the way he was personally ending the life of someone who had hurt my feelings—or his pets.
“Yes,” I whispered, then cleared my throat. “Yes, I do.”
A thrill raced through me. My heart twisted. Why would Legend do something like this for me? I knew he was a mob boss, but maybe I’d sort of forgotten that fact because all I’d seen today was the caring, sweet side of him that wanted to spoil me. Maybe I should be horrified, but a sick pleasure slid through me as the driver slapped his hands on the water and tried to shove himself away. Legend dragged him back up, letting him gasp in a few lungfuls of air, then shoved his face in the water again.
“Come here, Lolly. I didn’t mean for you to see this. Are you all right to come up here?”
Nodding, I walked around the tank to the stairs and went up to his side, being careful to stay away from the splash zone.
Legend glanced at me over his shoulder. “I won’t always be able to hide what I am from you,” he said, tone dark. My stomach went warm and my cock plumped in my panties.
“I didn’t ask you to.”
His heated stare got to me, and I stepped closer. He leaned toward me and ate my lips, probably smearing my lipstick, but I didn’t care. Legend pulled the man up out of the water.
“Boss, I’m sorry,” he sobbed, shaking his head. He coughed again. I gasped at welts that ran from one side of his face to the other.
“You have one chance at life, mate. Maybe, if the venom doesn’t do you in. If my Lolly says you can live, I’ll let you go.”
The man immediately started babbling apologies. A pure high, along with some fury, rushed through me. If Legend hadn’t done this, if he hadn’t dragged the driver in here and threatened his life, the man never would’ve apologized to me. He never would’ve said he was sorry for giving me a shitty look or making me feel bad.
“He works for you, right? He should respect the people with you. He’s not some guy off the street,” I said sweetly, then glanced at Legend.
“I’m sorry,” the man sobbed.
Crossing my arms, I tilted my head. “I don’t think you’re sorry. You’re scared and that isn’t the same thing.”
Legend waggled his eyebrows at me. “Are you feeling generous, darling?”
A war waged inside me, but a sweet pleasure I’d never felt before burst in my chest like a rainbow when he smiled at me.
“No, I don’t think I am.”
“Go stand near the desk,” Legend said to me, and I nodded fast, rushing down the stairs for another view of the driver’s face as it plunged into the water. Legend was cruel and his bared teeth gleamed in the odd blue light as he held the driver still while he struggled and tried to get away from the water and jellyfish. I couldn’t imagine how much power Legend had to have in his body to manage to do that, and I was shocked that I was harder than fuck watching him murder someone.
Legend swore and shook his hand, backing away from the tank. I was confused as he rushed down the stairs. On his way out of the room he glanced over his shoulder. “Hero, Danger, get that arsehole out of the fucking tank. Lolly, come with me. I need your help.”
Surprised, I ran after him, but by the time I caught up with him he was already upstairs in the kitchen. He cradled his right hand close to his chest and held out a glass bottle of vinegar to me.
“Get the top off. That’s right,” he said as I opened the container. He walked over to the sink, and I stared at a small red splotch boiling up on his hand.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Pour the vinegar on it,” he said, tone steady, but my heart thundered in my ears as I followed orders.
“Keep going. Shit, that’s an eye opener,” he said with a laugh.
“Did the jellyfish bite you?” I kept pouring until the bottle was empty, and he nodded. When I was done, he pulled his hand up to his face.
“Don’t see any stingers left in. My poor sweetheart, she just brushed me with a tentacle.” He shook his head. “I’m glad I didn’t pull a piece of her off with me.”
“You’re worried about the jellyfish?” I asked, hiding a smile. “How worried should we be foryou?”
He shrugged. “This is barely even a sting. Hurts like hell, but it happens occasionally. I’ve never had a bad reaction to it, and I’ve had it worse.” He let out a long breath, though, as if maybe it hurt more than he was letting on.
