“Why?”
“Why?” She glances back at her guards and then to where more guards walk ahead of us. “It looks like we’re heads of state or something.”
“I don’t really give a rat’s ass what it looks like.” I lift her hand to my lips. “As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.”
We round the corner to her studio, and I’m pleased to see that the neon lights have been installed and the floor is going in.
“Holy shit.” Violet does a little hop and then skips into the room. “Cliff! It looksamazing.”
The contractor props his hands on his hips and nods, looking around. “Give me four more days, and you’ll be open for business.”
Violet blinks rapidly. “I’m sorry,what?”
“Maybe three, but I want to underpromise and overdeliver.”
“Cliff, I can’t start before next Monday. I have shit happening this weekend.”
“Well, then it’ll be waiting for you.”
He nods at me. “Boss.”
“Cliff. Good work.”
“I’d better get back to it.”
He walks away and Violet turns to me.
“I can’t do everything that needs to be done by Monday.”
“Breathe, Savage.” I take her shoulders in my hands and make her look in my eyes. “Like he said, it’ll be waiting for you. Let it sit for a month, I don’t care, but I wanted it to be ready for you as soon as possible.”
“I have to lease out to other artists,” she murmurs. “I have a few ideas on who to call. And I need to get my station set up and put out the word that I’m open for business pro bono. There’s so much to do, and we have the gala on Saturday, and if we get Rose back that night?—”
“Okay, take a breath.” She pulls in some air, and I push a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “There isno rush. None. Start making your calls, but don’t let this be the thing that stresses you out. And wewillget Rose.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“I know. Now, we need to get downstairs to see the others.”
I lead her to the private elevator that we use, and when we get to the basement, I see that Rome, Lulu, Julian, and Natasha are already here, along with Scarlett, who’s beating the shit out of the hanging bag.
Carson walks around a corner, carrying a rifle.
“It’s so cool down here,” Violet says, rubbing her hands together.
“You’re a violent little thing,” Carson says with a chuckle. “I like it.”
“Of course you do. Wanna spar?” Violet counters, and Carson immediately takes a step back.
Smart man.
“No, ma’am. I will not hurt my brother’s woman.”
“Are you also in the camp of ‘I don’t hit women’?”
Carson’s eyes narrow on her. “No. I’ll kill a woman who deserves it. I’m an equal opportunity assassin, and I won’t apologize for that. Butyou? I’m not touching you, little fighter. Because I love your man and I respect you. Now, if you were to do something to make Mateo bleed? You wouldn’t survive it.”
Violet nods, not at all afraid, and anyone else would be running for the hills right now.
