I know he’s pissed about what happened between me and Maya. He’s worried I will hurt her, and I can’t blame him. I’ve never had the best reputation with women.
“Vade’s nephew, Liam, started security detail at Cottontails yesterday. He’s already committed every detail of the place to memory and is ready to begin our operation. He and Vade also agreed to comb through the employee roster at The Lucky Rabbit and Cottontails.” Liam’s a smart kid with a bright future. He wants to join the FBI when he’s older.
“When are you going to be ready to send your victim to the slaughterhouse?” Ethan’s face is red and his whole body is shaking.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I know the answer, but it pisses me off.
“Maya, you’re so damn determined to destroy her, when are you sending her in?” he yells where anyone within earshot can hear him.
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” My anger rises, heightening the tension in this room.
“You fucked her, you son of a bitch.” He stands up and comes over the desk, punching the side of my face, the familiar taste of copper filling my mouth.
I tear him off me and slam him back into my desk and raise my fist.
“Woah, woah, woah, gentlemen! What’s going on here?” Vade rushes through the door and pulls me off of Ethan.
“The son of a bitch fucked her,” Ethan spits out through his rage.
“Who?” The realization hits Vade before I can explain. “You didn’t. Tell me you didn’t fuck her.”
“I did.” I’m not ashamed to admit it.
“Of all the damn women you could pick to get your dick wet, you had to pick the most vulnerable one? I thought I knew you better than that, man.” Vade looks surprised.
It hurts to see the disappointment coming from my lifelong best friend.
“Let me go, I’m going to fucking kill him.” Ethan struggles to get past Vade.
“She’s not just another piece of ass. I care about her.”
They both stop and stare at me.
“You’re so full of shit, you’d rather lie than admit you fucked up. You sent her away for two fucking months and now that she’s had some healing you want to stake some kind of fucking claim over her,” Ethan spits.
“I don’t admit to shit that isn’t true. Just because I wasn’t there, doesn’t mean I haven’t been heavily involved so spare me the bullshit.” I reach in my mini fridge and grab an ice pack to hold on my cheek that’s starting to swell.
Vade just looks between us, unsure who to believe. I can’t say that I blame him if it’s not me, even if I am telling the truth.
“You’re just going to kick her out on her ass as soon as this job is over and you’re done using her.” Ethan’s voice is shaky. I think he’s on the verge of tears.
“Quite the contrary actually, I was going to ask her tonight if she wanted to go ahead move her things into my room.” Ethan glares at me, still unbelieving, so I continue. “It might be time for you to find your own place, however.” I spit a wad of blood out in the trash can. Ethan got me good. I trained him well.
“I’m not going anywhere until I am one hundred percent sure you aren’t going to fuck her over.” He struggles and Vade lets him go.
“Fine. But please, feel free to leave at any time. Cause she’s not going anywhere unless it’s by my side.”
“Well, if everything is settled, can we get back to the task at hand?” Vade takes a seat and we continue going over the plan, which is to have Maya going tomorrow to apply at the strip club.
That means Liam has twenty-four hours to see who is working and where they are from. That’s short notice but he can handle it.
“You know she’s going to get fondled in that club, even if it’s against the rules, it still happens. How are you going to handle that? You can’t bust in there and blow this whole operation.” Vade has a good point, and it’s not like I haven’t considered it.
“By ensuring every asshole who dares lay a finger on her takes up a new residence in the county cemetery when it’s all said and done.”
Court goes off without a hitch. I’ve won my case—again. I slam my briefcase shut and check my watch. I have to hurry if I am going to make it back to the beach house on time and I still need to change when I get there.
“Nicholas!” Karen calls as I’m getting in my car.
