Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“I don’t like you,” I tell him, straight up.
“I have a feeling you don’t like many people, so I’m not offended,” he says with a smile.
“Miss,” Clay calls from behind me at the front door. River’s gaze darts to him, as if only noticing him for the first time, but is quick to move back to me. I wave Clay away, and I hear his footsteps retreat back to stand beside the door, and I face forward again.
“A wave of your hand and men do your bidding,” River observes. “Let me tell you something, Tanya.” He pauses, as if he is waiting for me to correct him.
I don’t.
He should know better.
And that alone is a strike against him.
“I think women are good for one thing—”
“Where is my money?” I interrupt before he can finish.
Because it’s the only thing we might be in agreement about: the opposite sex is only good for one thing.
One of his hands scrubs at his jaw. “I don’t like you, and I think you are surviving in a man’s world.”
“Luckily for you, the world doesn’t turn on a man’s opinion,” I shoot back. “Now, give me the money and then fuck off. I’m tired and I’m ready for bed.”
“Do you talk this way to all your partners?”
Taking a deep breath, I wonder if I should kill him now. I mean, then I could at least get some sleep, right?
“I’ve told you, you are not, nor ever will be, my partner. Now, drop the fucking money at my feet and leave.”
He kicks up a smile. I expect him to snark back—I almost look forward to it—but instead, he takes a few steps back, his gaze never leaving mine, and it’s somehow mocking and condescending. I want to punch him right in that immaculate jaw of his and wipe the smug expression from his features.
River reaches for a bag in the trunk of his car and casually carries it over, as if he has all day. He drops it at my feet. Clay steps forward and picks the bag up for me. I’ll be fucked if I’m kneeling in front of this man. When Clay brings it to me, I unzip the bag, reach in to check the contents, and when I see the money, I zip it up and take the bag. Then I turn straight for the door, Clay and Vance standing to cover my back in unison.
“Now we talk business,” River adds, as if I’ve missed some part of the transaction.
“Now I go to sleep.” I don’t bother looking back or waving goodbye as I walk into the mansion.
“Anya.” He says my name correctly this time, and a smile tugs at my lips, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of looking back. I know Clay and Vance won’t let him pass through. I drop the bag inside the door, purposely tearing off my clothes before my men close the door behind me.
This isn’t my main home, but at times, I’ll use the facilities here, just like now.
Naked, I walk toward the spare room without a care in the world. Except one. The only one that’s tormented me these past weeks. I press call on Alek’s number, and after a few rings, it goes straight to voicemail.
“You left me to deal with everything. Fucking left me!” I scream. “He’s annoying, and you should be here dealing with him. He thinks because I’m a woman that I am less, but I guess he doesn’t know me. Maybe I’ll blow up his pretty little car. Do you think I would prove my point then?”
I wait for a response, even though I know one will never come. Usually by now Alek would reprimand me to keep a cool head or encourage me to teach them a lesson. And although he is a man of few words, I miss his presence. I miss the calm and ease he always put over me since we were children.
But that’s not now. Something is shifting. This River guy brought a different energy with him. I’ve dealt with plenty of new blood on my own. Alek and I are a team and a unified front in most of our decisions. But it looks like I’ll be dealing with this one on my own.
I hang up, knowing he won’t talk back. It’s a voicemail after all. I sigh.
People ask for him, and I can’t keep them at bay forever. I don’t want to be alone in this business. For all its perks, we only pursued this because we had each other.
River is a nuisance. Ever demanding and arrogant.
I have to shake him.
But I know someone like him will not give up so easily.
Neither do I.
CHAPTER 4
River
She has sass, that one. More sass than any other woman I have ever fucking met.
I want to strangle it out of her and watch her gasp for air.