“They’ve taken an active, dangerous role in it, and now you’re going out with them.” Jameson looked toward the ceiling and started pacing the study.
“And what? You’d rather me stay home and twiddle my thumbs like Valerie, listening to your every demand?” I wrinkledmy nose and scoffed, realizing that was who my parents wanted me to be, my old town wanted me to be, and who I definitely wasn’t. “No thanks. I don’t think I’m that type of girl. I tried that for the first few weeks I was here, Jameson. It’s not who I am … not who your daughter is either.”
He seemed to breathe out a sigh like he was expressing his demons. “You have no understanding of how dangerous Chicago can be.”
“So is that what you wanted to discuss with me when you so rudely commanded me in here? You’re upset that I’m going out because it’s dangerous?”
“Of course.”
“That’sit?” I asked, wanting him to care more about me, about what I was doing, about who I’d be doing it with.
His jaw went up and down for almost a minute, and then his voice rumbled out, “What else would I be pissed off at, huh? Enlighten me.”
“Nothing.” I ground my teeth together, because if he didn’t want to admit I was more than a distraction, so be it. “You have a great security team, Jameson. We’ll be just fine.Adamantem infractum manet, right?” I blurted out, and evenmyeyes widened at my boldness.
“Adamantem infractum manet,” he reiterated quietly, like the words tasted bitter in his mouth. “Be careful, and have a good night.”
“Great.” I started to walk past him, but he caught my arm at the last second.
His voice was dangerously low as he said, “Don’t do anything stupid in that pretty little dress of yours.”
Some sort of understanding passed between us then. He looked remorseful and concerned, whereas I felt uneasy that we were bickering like much more than boss and employee.
I looked down at the dress and rolled my lips between myteeth before realizing that even if we were bickering, I wanted his real opinion. “Be honest, is it too much?”
“Mia Darling”—he groaned my name, his guard finally down for a moment—“you’re killing me, baby. It’s murder waiting to happen.”
“What do you mean?” My eyes flew up to him.
“The dress you have on would make me murder men who look at you wrong. And they will. So, do me a favor and listen to what I told Franny.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t let any princes dance with you, my darling princess.”
“Jameson …” My heart beat faster, my mind falling victim to his words. I took a step closer to him, like I wanted to be by his side. Yet, he stepped back right away and dropped his hand from my elbow.
“Go. Now. Because in about one second, I won’t let you. And if you’re not home by midnight, I’m coming to find you.”
Jameson
NEVER WAS SHE ACTUALLYdarling Mia when I wanted her to be. Instead, the devil darling came out and the sweet, vulnerable side of her fucked with my head when I didn’t want it to.
Was her dress too much? Of course that shit was. She looked flawless in it though, and her little pout made me want to drag her over to the desk and spank her ass so she really had something to pout about.
And she was a menace to me in front of my guys, who all gave me shit after they left.
“She always talk to you like that?” Bane asked once we all settled in my office after I sent my mother, Franny, and Valerie off. I could barely look at her, let alone fuck her, tonight anyway. Sitting with my men instead was probably for the best.
“Pink always talk toyoulike that?” I retorted.
“Mywifecan say anything she wants to me. I’m surprised you allow your nanny the same leniency.”
Maybe it wasn’t for the best. “She doesn’t understand the dynamics,” I explained, pouring myself a finger of whiskey. Truth was, I didn’t care if Mia spit in my face while she talked to me as long as she kept on talking.
“Well, there was a woman in the next room who does,” Calreminded me with a damn twinkle in his eye. “Valerie is always ready to get on her knees for you right when Ma leaves with Franny. How’s that going by the way?”
“Fuck off,” I grumbled, because I didn’t want to talk about it. The woman had been around for as long as my ex hadn’t been, and she’d made it known that she’d happily take the place of a Diamond wife in my household if given the chance. Not that I’d ever give it to her after her display tonight. I told her to go home and we’d talk later. Tonight wasn’t the time with my mother there or the guys. “You were all used as my excuse for her to leave, by the way, in case she asks.”
