Enhanced her beauty? What the fuck am I thinking?
“I know that you and my father had a CPA to cook the books, and I don’t really give a fuck about that. I just want to make sure I receive my fair cut each month and have realistic expectations. Now, I’ve read the reports and seen the lists, but tell me about the party.”
“We’re hoping to bring new blood into the club. Increase membership.”
“Membership is at an all-time high, unless you’ve cooked those numbers as well. Is it about increasing revenue? We could look at upping the monthly fee.”
I shook my head. “I’m open to that, but it’s not specifically about short-term revenue. The average age of the membership is rising. We need to bring in the next generation to keep from phasing out. Guests keep coming in, but memberships are holding steady.”
“Alright. I don’t see any notes about increased security.” She was studying the screen, clicking on what I assumed to be a few different tabs just to verify her statements. “With so many non-vetted persons coming in, we will need to make sure there are more people on hand to ensure things don’t become out of control.”
I ground my teeth. “The family has it covered.” Elin raised her eyebrows, making me let out an irritated sigh. “Or should I say, a private contractor will be in attendance.”
“It will need to be on paper for the tax write-off.” She sat back in the chair and was readjusting her hair into a messy knot as she stared at me.
“You know that can’t happen. These guys are on the Azzaros’ payroll. They have to stay off the club books. You would know that if you knew anything about the way the family works.”
Her eyebrow lifted in defiance, and for some reason it was enduring on her. Did she really have no fear of me? “I know that you bully people into doing what you want. You do what you want, when you want, not giving two shits about how that can affect anyone else. The family has no loyalty, even to its own.”
Elin knew nothing. Obviously, she was talking about how we’d killed Joel, but she—
Interrupting my thoughts, she continued, “You should learn quickly that I’m a dominant woman in my own right and won’t take your intimidation. Now, testing is still required for the event, right? I won’t have STDs running rampant because we let someone slip through.”
Pulling my feet down, I leaned forward on my knees. Now she was just being insulting. “Of course.”
Closing the laptop, she leaned forward on the desk, matching my body posture, and stared at me. I narrowed my eyes at her before saying, “Do you thinkIwant them spreading here? Even I’m tested monthly, same as any other member.”
I must have given her the answer she wanted. Elin’s shoulders relaxed some as she let out a low breath, picking up her phone and typing away on it. “Good. I’ll make sure I am too, even if I don’t partake in the club’s benefits. I ask because while I would hope you wouldn’t want STDs to spread here, it isn’t like all your morals are pure white.”
Once again, I saw pieces of her father in her thought process. While we did kill and hurt people on a regular basis, on the legit side of things, we didn’t want the legal trouble that would be associated with disease and death within the establishment. “I’d never kill a business partner—”
“Except that you did.”
I felt the punch to the gut as she hissed the words. I swallowed, and in an effort not to go down that road, I continued, “—even if she does piss me off and makes me want to throttle her.” What I didn’t say was that there was a part of me that also wanted to push her against the wall and show her that having me as a partner hadotherbenefits. Ones that would contain multiple orgasms and her screaming my name.
I shook my head, once again trying to banish those thoughts. What was it with this woman? She was arrogant, pushy, and was wedging herself under my skin. My father expected me to keep a cool and even head. That was usually the situation no matter what, but with her, my fingers twitched to toss her over my knee and spank the defiance and arrogance out of her. Now, though, my voice came out in a low growl. “It’s out of the respect I have for your father. He was devoted to the family.”
“Respect? Do tell, Mr. Azzaro, how murdering my father and the love of your sister’s life showed any fucking respect.” Shaking her head, she glared at me. “Despite your efforts, pitiful as they are, I’m not one of your little minions.”
The way this bitch didn’t back down was insulting—and fucking hot. I hated how hard it made me. “You know who I am, right?”
She waved her hand in dismissal. “I do. I just don’t really give a shit.”
I tried to tap down my agitation and took a breath, trying to push down the urge to give in to the previous fantasy of painting the room with her blood. Yet, every time she pushed, the needto pin her to the wall and fuck it all out of her became stronger. “Who do you think you are, coming in here, talking to me like this?”
“An equal, fifty-percent owner of Paradise Pleasure, LLC.” Her hands folded together as she leaned on the top of the desk. “And you are going to treat me like one, instead of using your family name to compensate for your micro, pencil dick.”
“Get over yourself. What is it with women assuming that because a man tells her to stop being bossy, it’s because he's compensating for things? So, unless you want me to show you exactly how much I’m not compensating —”
“I’ll do what I want, when I fucking want.” She stood up and strode around the desk, her hands on her hips. I had to admit the fire in her eyes, the way her fingers gripped her hips, and the way her shirt pulled across her chest was fucking sexy as fuck, but she was going to have to learn her place. “Youwilltreat me as an equal partner. I recognize that in your world, women are to be locked in some mansion, popping out heirs for you, and being there for you when you get home all bloody and need to fuck out your emotions. It’s too fucking bad for you that I’m a woman unwilling to play by your ancient, misogynistic fucking rules.”
Thrusting myself to my feet, I stood inches from her, glaring down at her defiant face. Those deep blue eyes glowered at me, pulling me into her. The only sound in the room was my heartbeat in my ears. Gritting my teeth in frustration, I felt more blood flood my cock the longer I stared into the depths of her eyes. I took a step toward her, our chests a mere inch from each other, but of course Elin didn’t back up. She held her ground as I said through my teeth, “I’m going to destroy you.”
Chapter 9
Asmirkplayedonmy lips. “You can try. I’m not going to be an easy target. I have no kids, no husband, and no boyfriend. Not a single friend to keep me company, except maybe your sister. Mom abandoned Dad and me when I was an infant. Not to mention,yourfamily is the reason my dad is dead. I have no one you can hold over my head for leverage. So, torture me, string me from the rafters, skin me alive. It doesn’t fucking matter. I’ll still be here, doing my fucking job. The only thing I will demand from you is that you treat me with respect as your fucking partner.”
His eyes were burning into my soul, but I could see him warring with himself. The question was, how much would he fight me? Hewouldrespect me. I would make sure of it. It looked like he was grinding his jaw, but when his gaze dropped to my lips and back, I expected him try to assert dominance. He wouldn’t win, though. He would do asIcommanded in this relationship.
