His eyebrows lifted at me this time. “What happened now?”
Bracing my hands on the metal storage rack and leaning against it, I dropped my head to my chest. “Joel’s daughter.”
He knelt over by the dispensers, rolling one of the canisters over, but turned toward me, brow furrowed. “Elin? What about her?”
“I met up with her this morning at the attorney’s office, and it was infuriating.”
“Infuriating?” he repeated in a way that made it clear he didn’t think I was describing it right. “What about it exactly?”
“She’s a disrespectful, arrogant bitch.”
Harley chuckled. “She’s Joel’s kid. Of course she is. Besides, the family is responsible for his death. Did you really think she was going to be like Sonia out there?Oh, let me take a ride on that dick?”
I glared at him, fucking irritated by how he’d pitched up his voice to sound feminine. Anyone else would have gotten their ass kicked. “No, but now she’s my business partner.”
“What?” Shock lined every inch of his face. “Joel gave her the club?”
“He did.”
My loyal second ran his hand through his hair. “Well, fuck. What about the family aspect? Joel, at least, was family.”
Pushing off the shelves, I sighed. “I don’t know, man. She’ll be here on Thursday.”
“Buy her out?”
“If she’ll take it. I’m not so sure she will. That woman is maddening. So stubborn.”
He studied me for a moment. “I haven’t seen you like this before. What really has you messed up?”
“What?”
“What is it about this that really has you messed up? The fact that Joel didn’t give you the business or that a woman is now your partner?”
“I don’t care that my partner is a woman. It’s the fact that it'sthiswoman.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh fuck, youareintrigued by her. She’s already getting under your skin.”
Harley was provoking me, and fuck if it didn’t work. I whirled on him, my fist flying through the air and connecting with his jaw. “Asshole!”
Spitting out a bloody loogie on the floor, he continued to laugh. “Oh yeah. I hit too close to home for ya.” Wiping his mouth, he reached over and clasped my shoulder. “Come on, let’s get drinks. She’s got her claws so deep into you, and I’m going to fucking love this.”
“Fuck you.” She was under my skin alright. Just like I wanted my knife under hers.
“Let’s go. No more hate fucks for the night. I know it’s how you usually get out your frustrations, but Sonia didn’t help at all.”
I shuttered. “Her high-pitched wailing almost killed my boner. What about the club, though? We open in an hour.”
“We have staff. We don't have to be here. Don’t use it as an excuse. Let’s go.”
Afterstumblingintomypenthouse a few hours later, Harley half-carried my ass to the bedroom. “Strip and get in bed.”
“Who made you my fucking caretaker?”
“I’ve always been your caretaker. Joel’s too. Both of you were usually just as fucked up, so yeah. Harley rolled his eyes dramatically. “Besides, you can’t even stay on your feet. I’ve seen you drink, but shit! Don’t think I’ve seen you clean out two fifths of straight vodka before. I’m getting your ass to bed, and then I’m going to call your father and tell him that his talon is out of commission for the night.”
I did as I was told. When I tried to step out of my pants, my toes kept catching on the fabric, but I finally got them off and was stripped to my boxers, falling onto the bed. Harley watched as I settled in and then, without another word, walked out. After the door clicked shut, I lay there. The entire time at the bar tonight, I had been unable to get Elin from my mind. Her fierceness called to me. Not to mention that she wasn’t scared of me. When we’d been at Joel’s place that day, she’d had no problem throwing me to the wall and gripping me by the neck.
Fuck!
