Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
3
AXEL
After our conversation, she was a beacon of light that floated through the crowd, her gold dress sparkling in the light. The most stunning woman in that room, she had tanned skin, beautiful dark hair that reminded me of the paint job on my car, and lips so full they were made to be kissed. I watched her move about, sipping my drink like I was on the couch at home watching TV.
“Axel.”
I turned to regard Dante, who hadn’t bothered with the champagne and had gone straight for the good stuff. “Any of the pieces interest you?”
Just your daughter. “I don’t care for art.”
“Then you don’t care for life.”
“I think life is more than a piece of art on the wall. It’s about living in the moment, not staring at someone else’s moment.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “For someone who doesn’t care for art, that was an eloquent justification.”
I’d gone to private school. Did all the things that rich, snobby kids did. I was more educated than people realized, and I was a lot more intelligent than people realized too. “I think Quinten has had a good time.”
“Good.” He faced the room with me, looking at the crowd of aristocrats who had come out to the party. Wining and dining people to get what Dante wanted wasn’t his cup of tea, but he had to learn.
My eyes wanted to linger on Scarlett, but I forced myself to look elsewhere.
“Axel.”
I turned to regard him head on.
“Come with me.” He left his drink on the table beside us and took the lead, leaving the grand room and moving down the hallway.
I left my drink behind and followed him.
He turned down another hallway then entered a room that looked like a study. Two couches faced each other on a maroon rug. Paintings were on the wall. An impressive hearth stood against the other wall.
The room was full of his men, one in every corner, their hands together at their waists.
I knew a threat when I saw one.
Dante unbuttoned the front of his jacket before he took a seat. “Sit.” His tone was no longer cordial. It was short and impatient, sounding like it came from an entirely different person.
I took the seat directly across from him.
Instead of taking a relaxed position against the back of the couch, he sat forward, arms on his knees, his dark eyes hostile. He stared for several seconds, letting the room slowly fill with his unspoken rage.
I knew what he was pissed off about, but I refused to acknowledge it.
His stare continued.
“You and your men don’t scare me, Dante,” I said calmly. “Speak your mind, and don’t waste my time.”
He raised his head slightly, his eyes flashing in offense. “There’s something you should know about me. I don’t believe in second chances. Not once in my life have I offered a second chance to anyone except my daughter.”
I held his stare.
“So, don’t cross me, Axel.”
“Don’t speak in riddles, Dante.”
He rubbed his palms together, his eyes lethal in their intensity. “She’s off-limits.”
“Her boyfriend dumped her. All I did was comfort her—”
“We both know your interest predates this evening. I see more than you realize. I see the way you stare at her, even as I stand directly beside her. If you want our business to continue, then let me make this clear—stay the fuck away from my daughter.”
“She’s a grown woman—”
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” His voice immediately rose, going from a normal level to a shout. The veins in his temple popped instantly. Sweat broke out like his body was already in a physical fight when he hadn’t moved from the couch.
“Then perhaps we should conclude our business.”
His eyes narrowed, and he remained quiet, absorbing the threat with furious eyes. “You think I won’t kill you?”
“Not when I’ll kill you first.”
He was on his feet instantly, slamming his shoe into the side of the table with enough force to kick it over and shatter the glass.
I was on my feet just as quickly, ready to take a shard and stab it into his neck. “This business partnership has been beneficial to both of us. I’d like to see it continue, but I don’t appreciate being threatened. Her boyfriend just dumped her at a party and walked out of here, but you’re treating me like I’m the one who slighted her.”
He kicked the table again, forcing it aside, a table that was probably five hundred years old. He came closer to me, in my personal space, so close that he could grab my throat and I could grab his. “You think he’ll make it home unscathed?” He smiled, and it was twisted. “No one hurts my little girl and gets away with it.”
My stomach dropped—because I knew she wouldn’t want that. It would only show Ryan that he’d been right to leave the relationship before something worse happened. “I can tell you have a close relationship with your daughter. I can tell you respect her if you’ve selected her as your successor. But I don’t understand why that respect doesn’t extend to her romantic decisions.”