“You tried to imprison me.”
Blaze went for his gun at that comment, but Clea staid his hand.
“Well, what did you expect?” Kluge smirked. “You didn’t really think you could leave me, did you? You’re an incredible asset in the social circuit, not to mention the bedroom.”
Clea threw her head back and laughed. This guy was too much.
“So, you lost all your party invites, then?” Served him right, it’s not like he gave a shit about any of those causes or people anyway. “And by the way, we never had sex, Kluge.”
Like she’d let him anywhere near her naked. She’d dosed him whenever he’d wanted to get busy and a little porn went a long way with him in that state. She’d just played along after the fact, letting him believe he’d rocked her world.
The idiot.
“It’s Kluge,” he snapped, pronouncing it ‘clue-guh’ instead of ‘clooge,’ “And we absolutely had sex. As I recall, you couldn’t get enough of me.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” She closed one of her saddlebags, giving Blaze a nod. “Well, I’d say it was good to see you again, Kluge, but I’d be lying.” And she couldn’t wait to put as much distance as possible between them. The guy was a lout.
“Kluge,” he gritted, correcting her pronunciation again.
Man, she never got tired of that one.
“And you’re not going anywhere until you give me back my diamonds.”
As Blaze’s gaze shot to her, Clea pasted a smile on her face, pretending all was well. There was no way she was giving that asshole back anything she’d taken from him. And how the hell had he spotted the fake she’d left in his showroom, anyway? That moron didn’t know cubic zirconia from moissanite and his goons were even less educated.
“I don’t have your diamonds.”
“You’re fucking wearing them right now.”
Clea took stock of the gems she was sporting and realized what he was talking about.
“These?” She motioned to her ears, grateful he hadn’t noticed the fact she’d taken his Archduke Joseph, yet. That gem was the whole reason she’d initiated contact with him at all. “As I recall, they were a gift. You reneging on more of your contributions these days? My, how your stakeholders must love that.”
He grimaced at her low blow, but she didn’t give a shit. He may be a tech billionaire, but the guy was a worm.
“Now, now.” He regained his composure, taking a step toward her with one of his fake-ass smiles. “Let’s not overreact here, Cookie.” God, she hated that stupid name. “I loaned you those while you were with me. I’d like them back now.”
“I think not.” She matched his saccharine tone. “As I recall, they were a gift, not a loan. And after everything I’ve endured with you, I think I’ll keep them. Let’s call them my asshole tax.”
“Why you little—”
Blaze intercepted with his sidearm drawn. “I believe the lady said no.”
“Oh ho.” Kluge chuckled, sneering at her on a back step. “Got yourself a new boyfriend, have you?” He focused on Blaze as his goon closed ranks. “Watch yourself. This one will screw you over the minute you turn your back.”
Blaze didn’t budge. He just held that sidearm locked and loaded, his jaw set, sternly ignoring Kluge’s bodyguard and focusing on the spot he intended to blow a hole through if Kluge moved any closer.
Sometimes it paid to be in with ex-cons.
“Come now.” Kluge turned the smarm back on, lowering his arms, clearly recognizing the stalemate. “Let’s be reasonable here. We’re all adults.” He looked over Blaze’s shoulder at Clea. “I know you drugged me, Cookie. That’s domestic abuse. I could have you arrested.”
“Hmm, then the world would find out you can’t get it up without medical intervention,” she countered.
“Fuck you, Aëtos. Seriously.”
Ah, there he was, the self-righteous prick with a temper problem who’d made her life a living hell.
“Just give me the damn earrings.”
