Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
I could see movement from the corner of my eye, staff were gathering, waiting for backup. I should be getting out of there. I needed to get the hell out of there.
“I will never forget about her,” he snarled, and his eyes were vicious, like a rabid fucking dog’s. “I know all about you, Andrew Morgan. I know all about your little business dealings, and I know all about Club Explicit. And my pretty bird will know it, too, believe me. She’ll be back into my arms before you know it, you cannot stop destiny and you cannot stop true love.”
His words fucking chilled me, prickled the back of my neck with a dread I’d been trying to ignore.
“Shut your stupid cunting mouth,” I snapped. “You know nothing about me.”
“Oh, but I do,” he laughed. “I know so much.”
Two men came down the stairs and my time was definitely up. “Go back to Italy,” I snarled. “I fucking mean it.”
I was out of there and on the fucking tube before they could stop me, and it was only then that I realised how hard I’d fucking hit the asshole. My knuckles were fucking killing me.
***
Faye followed me through to the office with angry steps. She slammed the door behind us and faced me off.
“Where did you go?” she snapped. “Topaz says the reps come to us, always, she says they aren’t due for another month.”
“Topaz can watch her loose fucking mouth,” I hissed. “And you can stop digging around my business. I went where I went, end fucking of.”
She closed the distance, and I winced as she yanked my bruised hand into view. Her colour drained, eyes wide.
“You saw him, didn’t you? Oh my God, you went to him.” She covered her mouth with her hands, thoroughly fucking mortified.
“So what if I did? The cunt had it coming, he won’t be bothering you now, Faye, not if the wanker’s got any sense.”
“You think that will stop him? Punching him in the face isn’t going to stop him, Andy. You don’t know him.”
“I’m not sure about that,” I said. “I hit him pretty fucking hard.” I shook my hand out, and the knuckles were puffed up nicely. “He’s a stupid old prick. I was expecting more.”
“It’s not about how he looks. It’s about how he is.”
“How he is, is a stupid cunt with a sore fucking jaw. How he is, if he’s got any pissing sense, is on priority flight number get the fuck lost back to Venice.”
I saw something flash in her eyes, something slightly less hostile. “I’ve never seen you like this,” she said.
“Like what? Angry? You’ve seen me angry plenty of times, Faye.”
“Not so… caveman. Did you thump your chest like King Kong?”
“So you think it’s funny now, do you? Make up your fucking mind.”
“I’m just surprised.”
“Yes, well, maybe you shouldn’t be.”
“Maybe.” She smiled. “Thank you, it’s sweet, but I think you’ll be disappointed. He won’t be going anywhere, not just because you thumped him in the face.”
“Sweet? Is that what you think this is?” I scoffed. “It wasn’t pissing sweet, Faye, I would have torn his spleen out if the place hadn’t been packed out with wannabe slave girls.”
“Well, let’s be thankful they were there, then,” she smirked. “I could do without bailing you out of prison on assault charges.”
“Murder charges, Faye. I hope you’ve got some cash stashed,” I said. “Would’ve solved our little power crisis, at least. Vincent without a spleen, me locked up behind bars.” I managed a laugh. “You probably still wouldn’t have managed to get the banking done on fucking time.” I gestured to the pile on her desk.
“Alright, smart arse.” She slapped my back and pulled my chair out from my desk. “Let’s get you a bloody ice pack, and I’ll go and do the bloody banking.”
***
I left my bedroom door open, and she dithered in the corridor. We still hadn’t spoken, not really, and it was getting too tense for comfort. Too fucking tense for peace. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my reflection, I looked exhausted and felt it, too.
“Yes,” I said. “It’s left open for you. You can come in.”
“And this is how it is now?” she quizzed. “We kiss and cuddle, you thump Vincent, and now I sleep in your bedroom?”
“Is that so fucking bad?”
“Is that still the let me be in charge tone I hear in your voice? I think it is.”
“Why fight it?”
“Because I want more.” She folded her arms and sighed, and I used the moment to beckon her closer. She walked over, and fell onto my lap without protest, but her expression was still petulant.
I rested my chin on her shoulder, eyes hard on hers in the mirror. “We’re good like this, Faye.”
“Yes, we are.”
“So, what’s wrong with this picture? Why is this not enough?”