Footsteps nearby had both their heads turning quickly. Moreno stood in the doorway of the club. He didn’t look pleased.
“Good money wasted,” he muttered glaring at the two men heaped on the ground, beginning to stir. She had hoped they could get out of here before either awoke. Would they be able to get out now?
“How is it you’re able to take out two of my strongest bouncers?”
Moreno’s voice held curiosity and she was confused. He wasn’t pissed?
Chris took a step so he was partially in front of her as he answered. “Your boys may have muscles but they’re stupid.”
Moreno narrowed his eyes at the insult but she still didn’t see the intense heat that showed his anger. Why wasn’t he spitting fire right now?
“You’re Katie’s rich man, huh? How is it that you know how to fight like this? Most rich boys don’t like getting their hands dirty.”
She moved up closer to Chris, pressing herself against his back, peering around to see her boss.
Chris cocked his head. She hoped he wouldn’t get Moreno even more upset. He could make the fires of hell even hotter and she still had to work with the man.
“Had to know how to fight where I grew up. But it doesn’t go away because you make it big. I suspect you could hold your own if you had to. You just prefer to have others do your dirty work now.”
Moreno studied Chris, and she wasn’t sure if she should be nervous. Obviously Chris could hold his own but the gorillas were waking up and they’d be madder than ever.
“True,” Moreno said a tiny hint of respect in his eyes. “But why Katie? You’re rich and good looking. You could have any woman you wanted. I have many I could send your way. Several at once if you liked.”
Chris wrapped his arm around her shoulder then gazed down at her. “I don’t have to point out her attributes to you,” he scoffed. “But she’s also fairly innocent which I like. Easier to break her to my way of doing things. And she’s a quick learner.”
Meg didn’t like what he was insinuating. Her first reaction was to jab her elbow into his stomach. She had to remind herself they were undercover. Chris was supposed to be some rich guy who got his way with things. A squeaky clean character wouldn’t get him invited into Moreno’s back room games.
“What exactly is she learning?” Moreno’s eyes leered at her making her feel dirty.
The hand on her shoulder slipped to her waist. “Lots of interesting things. None of which I want to discuss with you. I’d much rather be doing them. So if you’ll excuse us…”
She couldn’t even begin to hope that Moreno would let them walk away without consequences. He was eyeing Chris with a dangerous glare. The curiosity was also still present.
“How long are you in town for?”
“About a month,” Chris answered casually. “Depends on business. I’m sure I’ll have taught Katie a few more tricks by then. Once I’m gone you can reap the benefits. For right now, she’s mine.”
Chris turned pulling her away. She held her breath waiting for Moreno to order Sonny and Gunther, who were getting up, to grab them. He didn’t. Waving them off, he nodded at Chris.
“Continue your training then,” he called out to them. “I’ll look forward to the results.”
She walked slowly beside Chris as he led them away. She let out her breath leaning into him. How had they gotten away alive?
“I can’t believe he let us go,” she whispered once they’d gone most of the way back.
“Men like Moreno are impressed by certain things. Rich man able to fight, that could do it.”
“But he just let us go. I thought he’d be steaming.” She had seen Moreno’s temper before. It wasn’t pretty.
They walked through the deserted lobby then entered the elevator. “Moreno’s big into high-class call girls. Rich business men pay good money for girls who have your innocent look but know how to please a man. I played to his wallet. If he thinks I’m teaching you all sorts of kinky sex tricks then it’s okay for him to let you stay with me.”
The elevator door opened again and soon they were inside the suite. Chris walked her straight to the bathroom where he scooped her up to sit on the counter. He grabbed a face cloth and ran some warm water over it.
“Let’s see about cleaning you up,” he said. He gently dabbed the cloth under her nose to wipe the blood off. He rinsed it then started again.
Twisting her body to see in the mirror, she nearly fell over. What a mess.
She groaned. Chris laughed.
