“O-OK. Let’s go.” Her words came out in a soft tremor that the monster in me just ate up.
I stood without hesitation and took her hand, bringing her with me.
“Mr. Seeley,” Jeremy rushed forward, nearly tripping on himself again. “Is there anything wrong? We can offer more alcohol. Perhaps a room in the back for you and your lady?—”
I didn’t think. I reacted.
I shot my hand out and wrapped it around Jeremy’s throat and squeezed. His eyes widened as his face turned bright red, his words a choked rasp as he tried to speak. Or breathe. Didn’t matter.
“Doesmy ladylook like the type who fucks in a backroom at a mediocre establishment?” I snarled, squeezing harder.
“S-Sorry,” Jeremy rasped, clawing at my wrist as I allowed him a small amount of air so he could answer me.
I knew what he was insinuating. That Rosalie was some kind of easy run-of-the-mill whore I could fuck and walk away from.I’d fucked one of the waitresses here in a backroom only months before, so I guess that meant he thought it was a regular routine for me.
That was on me for doing it.
“This place is now mine,” I continued, deciding I’d take it and save Matteo the bother of spending the money. Or hell, maybe I’d just keep it. I’d hire a new manager, that was for sure.
“Klaus?” Rosalie’s hands landed on my chest as she got between us. Immediately, all my focus was on her as she stared up at me. I swallowed hard, my breath catching.
Fuck, what was she doing to me?
“Can we maybe not kill people tonight? I-I want to go to your place. We could play Monopoly since you like taking establishments. I-I’ll let you have Park Place.”
Monopoly. My place. With her.
I released the little pissant, who stumbled away from us, clutching his throat, and let my hands fall to Rosalie’s waist. I stared down at her, so much yearning in my damn soul I thought I might actually die from it.
“You’re trouble,” I said softly, trying to shake the feelings and thoughts from my head.
“I’m not the one choking people,” she replied.
“You were slashing tires and threatening to stab a mafia don earlier.” I couldn’t look away from her if I tried.
“Guess we’re both trouble, then, aren’t we?” Her fingers brushed against my chest through the open slit I’d left from not buttoning my shirt completely.
I laughed softly at her words. “Come. Let’s play Monopoly and drink fruity drinks.”
And that was it. I led her out of the club and into the waiting car.
“Woo! You owe me…”Rosalie counted her hotels as we sat at my table playing Monopoly. “Fourteen hundred. Pay up, money bags.”
I scrubbed my hand down my face before I fumbled around with the tiny Monopoly bills. This wasn’t going to plan. She really did want to play Monopoly. I had to get Frank to stop and get us the game on the way home.
I could say without hesitation that this was the strangest way I’d ever spent my time with a woman inside these walls.
“I don’t have that much,” I grumbled, looking at her.
She shrugged. “Mortgage.”
Fuck. Mortgage. I blew out a breath. She was too good at this game.
“I don’t like this game,” I muttered, shaking my head in irritation.
“What was your major in college when you were at Mayfair?” she asked, twirling a lock of her red hair around her finger.
“Finance,” I said with a sigh as I pushed my cash over to her.
