Her puffy lips lift into a satisfied smile. “You never gave me the chance to show you what I could do for you, lover.” She runs a sharp nail from my shoulder and down my arm, her eyes following its path. “I’d do things to you that would make you forget that dirty skank’s name.” She swings a leg over my knee, rubbing against me like some pathetic animal.
I stand and she stumbles back, my sudden movement throwing her off balance. She looks up at me and her eyes grow wide. I would never hit a girl, but this bitch is pushing my buttons. I’m already walking the fine line of my temper. She picked the wrong night to fuck with me.
“One night, Candy. That’s all we had and that’s all we’ll ever have. You need to squash these deluded fantasies you have about us. It ain’t gonna happen. Ever. Understand?”
She opens her mouth to speak, but I’m not finished.
“And if you ever speak about my girl like that again, I will ruin you. You won’t be able to move far enough away to escape the reputation I’ll give you. Only job you’ll be able to get is shit-pumping port-a-potties. We clear?”
Her eyes narrow and her mouth moves, but for the first time the bitch is speechless.
“Now, leave me the fuck alone.”
Face flushed, she spins and storms off.
I lean against the bar and go back to scanning the room. If that speech doesn’t get Candy off my back, nothing will. It’s then I notice a new group of men standing around a table. One of them has blond hair, but his back is to me, so I can’t see his face.
Blake grabs my arm and grins his cocky smile. “It’s go time.”
He jerks his head in the direction of the light-haired man. A slight shift in the man’s position and I see his face. Dominick Morretti.
A low hum of energy coils in the back of my head. My legs move me forward while my mind visualizes taking this prick-ass down. Pressing in through the crowd, I force back my protective instinct and wrestle with reason. I focus on my breathing and remind myself to stay calm. For Raven.
Don’t kick his ass. Not here. Not yet.
An aggressive presence prickles from behind me. I look over my shoulder to see Blake, his jaw clenched and his fists tight at his sides. He’s ready to throw down, and I’m grateful that he has my back.
I approach Dominick while he’s chatting with a group of businessmen. I catch a second of the conversation that clearly involves selling a few of his women for the night. Imagining for a moment that it’s Raven he’s selling, the buzz in my head explodes. Fuck that. My arms burn to reach out and break this fucker’s neck right here and now.
“Lock it down, man. For her.”
Blake’s words push me forward.
I take the last step, placing me a foot away. “Dominick Morretti. I need a word.”
He swivels around and meets my eyes. I’m taken aback by how much his look like Raven’s. There’s no doubt this is her father. My stomach roils. I don’t smile, and I can only imagine that my face looks about as friendly as a rabid pit bull.
“Why if it isn’t ‘The Assassin.’” He sneers. “Gentlemen, what a treat we have tonight.” A slow clap of his hands has the men at the table’s attention. “The undefeated contender.”
The men at the table acknowledge me, but my eyes burn into Dominick.
He must sense I’m not here for a meet and greet, and he leans in so no one can hear him but me. “I have a feeling I know what, or should I say whom, you want to have a word about.”
Blake steps close, placing his shoulder between me and Dominick and making him lean back.
“You want to go somewhere private or would you rather have it out right here? I’m cool either way,” I spit through my teeth.
His face turns to stone, his previous bravado gone. He nods to a man who takes his place and excuses himself from the group of patrons. I follow him toward the back of the club.
We’re in a dark hallway with doors running along its sides. I follow Dominick to the very last door and into an office. He doesn’t move to the desk chair, but instead stays in front of it, leaning against it. There’s shuffling behind me and I hear the door close. Two men stand on either side of Dominick against the wall. My senses go on high alert. They’re here to protect him against us. Smart.
“Have a seat Mr. Slade and . . .” he looks to Blake with raised eyebrows. “Mr. Daniels.”
“How the fuck do you know me?” Blake says from my side.
“I know everything, Mr. Daniels. Now, sit.”
“We’d rather stand,” I snap.
“Suit yourself.” He grins and I don’t miss his eyes darting to our fisted hands. “What can I help you with, boys? Looking to set up a date? I’ve got some beautiful girls who would love to spend some time with you, for the right price.” Locking eyes with me, his lips curl back from his teeth. “If you’d be willing to wait a few weeks, I can arrange for you to have a new girl. She’s never been used before. She’ll cost a little extra, the virgins always do—”
“Shut the fuck up,” I roar.