“Yes, Boss!” They all shouted like the good puppets they were.
I turned to see how Ricardo was taking it all. Dante was an acquaintance of sorts. We’d crossed paths, so I knew how he ran things. It wasn’t that far off from Rel’s way.
The look on Ricardo’s face made it seem like the difference was much bigger. Or… I had to wonder if it was the possessive way Rel acted about him. I’d have to keep an eye on those two.
“Do you want to say anything, Ricardo?” Rel asked him, voice steady while giving him a chance to assert himself.
Ricardo gazed at the men for a second, then shook his head. “Not much to say yet. I’m ready to get to work. No reason to stand around when it looks like there’s money to be made.”
From there, Rel directed the men to get back to work as he pointed for Henny, Ricardo, and me to follow him to the office. While I didn’t like the idea of leaving the goons to themselves, I also knew there were times we weren’t around. If they could be left alone for that, then this would be fine too.
And if not, I’d get to fuck some folks up for fun.
Win, win.
In the office, Henny ran down the list of things that had been accomplished so far. I interrupted a few times to add details he left out or weren’t noticed. Rel took it all in with interest, as I’m sure he always did. Ricardo kept close to his side, silent.
I could tell he wanted to say something, but I guess he didn’t want to do it in front of us. When Henny wrapped up the details, Rel said we could head back out to the floor.
Henny stepped out first, leaving me to close the door. He made it a few steps down the hall before realizing I hadn’t followed. Instead, I had my ear pressed to the door to hear what they were doing.
The strangeness between the two had caught my attention. I needed to know what their first words would be when they thought they had privacy.
Joke’s on them. There was never privacy when I was around.
Ricardo’s muffled voice came through the door. “There are still some men who aren’t loyal to you on the floor.”
I frowned, then heard Rel reply, “What makes you say that?”
Ugh. They were actually talking business.
Leaving them to the boring discussion, I made my way to an impatient Henny, who was waiting on me, hands on his hips and glare in place.
My man was so fucking cute.
“Why were you spying on them? The boss wanted privacy.”
“Yes, well, not all of us follow rules, Henny. I wanted to know what was with the tension between the two. Sue me.”
He grunted, then turned to lead the way back. I followed, my grin wide at how we could still give each other shit after last night.
When we reached the room, I grabbed the knife I’d abandoned and placed it back in its sheath. Henny’s eyes trailed the movement. I’d have killed to know what he was thinking. His face was too blank for me to get a feel for it.
Guess I’d have to keep a better eye on him too. I needed to be able to speak the language that was Henny.
“What now?” I asked.
He held up his tablet. “We’re done here. I need to check on some things in my office. You’re free to do whatever you want.”
“And if I want to stay with you?”
“Then you should pick something else.”
“But Henny,” I said, stepping into his space. “I don’t want to pick anything else. I told you I was going to watch your back. Seems like Ricardo is with the boss. Now you’ve got me.”
He groaned, dropping his head back in a surprising moment of expression. Typically, he’d shake off my teasing. Or maybe throw it back my way.
The view of his throat made my mouth water. I wanted to trail my mouth over his skin. Wanted to nibble at him, leaving marks. I needed to see how he’d react to it all.
