“What do you need?” I cross my wrist in front of me and widen my stance, trying to look unbothered, but the truth is, I’m bothered as fuck.
The thought of being done with taunting Lily—making her squirm and question her morals—makes me feel angry.
Walking to one of the end tables, he pulls out a polaroid camera and tosses it in my direction. “We’ll worry about it when the time comes. For now, finish this shit.”
I catch the camera with a nod before turning around and walking back to the foyer where I left Max with the nanny.
When he sees me, his sleepy face lights up. He stands on wobbly legs, dropping the applesauce in his hand and tries to walk toward me. “Papa.”
I don’t even acknowledge his words and snap a photo before he can make it to me. The flash stuns him for all of three seconds before he shakes it away and closes the gap between us. As his chubby arms wrap around my legs, I snag the picture from the camera and wave it around a bit before looking at it.
It isn’t the clearest of pictures, but you can most definitely tell the kid is Max. The twins stand behind him, almost shadowed from the angle, but they’re visible too. Deciding it’s good enough, I hand the camera to the nanny, scoop Max into my arms, and shove the picture into the pocket of my suit jacket.
“Thanks,” is the only thing I say to her as I exit Clyde’s house.
Slipping back into the SUV, I direct Alfredo to head back to South End.
The short drive is quiet. We’ve done enough talking for the night, so I’m thankful it’s done, but in the silence, my mind screams. Staring down at Max, a thought hits me.
All this time, I’ve thought Clyde was stupid for bringing in teens from the streets to do his dirty work, but maybe it isn’t that stupid after all. Only instead of waiting for them to be grown, why not raise them yourself. It’s the perfect way to make sure all of your beliefs and morals are instilled into them without the worry of betrayal. Because what child would betray the one who gives them the world?
As we pull up to South End, I let the thought linger in the back of my mind. That’s another worry for another day. Right now, I need to get Max back into bed without Lilly noticing.
When Alfredo parks, I pick Max back up— thankful the car ride seems to lull him to sleep— then cross the street again. Since I left the door unlocked, it’s easy to slip inside and up the stairs. When I make it to Lily’s room, I crack the door and see her still peacefully sleeping— none the wiser that I took her most precious belonging.
I pat Max’s back as I cross the room then lay him back in his crib. Once I’m confident he won’t stir, I turn around and grab the picture from my pocket. Laying it on her nightstand, I give her one last look before leaving again.
5
ERIC
I guess Clyde thinks I’m too close to the job with Lily because he sent me to collect elsewhere. Normally, I don’t do any other collections until the previous one is done. It just makes things run smoother with fewer mistakes. I can’t say he’s wrong, though, but I don’t know how he would know either. It isn’t like I voiced my infatuation for Lily, but then again, if Alfredo can see it, am I really doing a good job at hiding it?
I shake the thoughts away as I wipe the blood from my knuckles. Kicking the poor fool who caught my furry below me, I turn to the goon Clyde sent to watch me. “Clean this shit up and make sure you don’t leave with any blood on you.”
“And where are you going?” He asks as I turn away.
Scoffing, I glance over my shoulder. “That’s none of your fucking business.”
He holds up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, Eric. I was just told to—”
“Told to watch me?” I finish for him.
He shakes his head. “No. Told to stay with you, Clyde thinks I can learn a thing or two from you.”
I shake my head with a smile. Clyde thinks he’s smart, but I know exactly why he wants this guy with me. Whoever he is, he’s moldable and ready to please Clyde any way he can— even if that means ratting me out for whatever Clyde thinks is going on.
“I’ll deal with Clyde. Just do what I said and then find something or someone else to occupy your time.” I turn back around and exit the warehouse before he can reply.
I don’t particularly appreciate being watched, but knowing Clyde’s trust in me is slipping makes this ten times worse. I was hoping the shit last night would curve his uneasiness. That he would see, there is nothing to worry about when it comes to me, but clearly, that isn’t the case. Now he has someone keeping tabs on me, which makes figuring out this shit with Amy while keeping Lily safe more difficult.
In this life, it’s best you don’t keep friends or make a family. They automatically turn into a liability and can be used against you. I know this, and I’ve lived by it, only ever giving women enough time to suck my dick and swallow my cum before I kick them to the curb. But with Lily, it’s different.
Women practically fall at my feet and drool from the mouth when all I do is look their way. Being the type of man I am and knowing I work for Clyde is only a bonus to them. The bad boy allure gets them going, but not Lily.
She’s scared of me but tries to hide it, all while masking the clear attraction I can see in her eyes when she stares at me, and that turns me on.
I want to break her— dirty her pure soul and have her screaming my name. I want to fucking own her. But that won’t be possible with Clyde in the way.
