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)
When she’s fully dressed, I open the door to find one of her men standing there while the other walks up behind him.
“If either of you so much as touch her inappropriately, I’ll have you both killed.” They eye me and then look back at Anya.
“My men don’t take orders from you,” she says as she crosses her arms over her chest.
“Well, they better learn really quick. Or I’ll send pieces of them back to you.” I push past them and hear them speak, but I make no move to stop.
Now, I have to somehow come up with a work date—a date that won’t scare her.
I have a feeling normalcy is something she would be very scared of.
And I’m willing to go to extraordinary lengths for this woman.
CHAPTER 13
Anya
How dare he? Who does he think he is?
I spend the next two days wanting to be fucked, and my nerves are shot because I need a release. And he teased me. I am not a woman who takes to teasing, yet I let him do just that.
It makes me so fucking mad.
How did I not know he was the supplier, and why did he not tell me when he first arrived?
I crack my neck from side to side, looking over the final documentation in one of my offices; this one is in central Manhattan, and it’s a particular favorite of mine. Consider it a front, if you will, for our many businesses. Usually, Alek would be standing behind me, but instead, I have Clay and Vance. The powerful man sitting across from me remains quiet as I sign off on the last piece of paperwork while we wait for the second man to arrive.
When I look up, Dawson is first to speak. “It’s been a while,” he says, looking around at the new painting I’ve hung. The room is simplistic, with dark wooden tones. He’s seated on a black leather chair on the other side of my desk, and I’m sitting on what one might describe as a gold throne. Call me dramatic, but I like a power play.
And after the run-in I had with River, I intend to gain every bit of my power and dignity back. I didn’t take him seriously before, but now I have no choice.
I take a casual tone with Dawson. We aren’t friends. I tolerate him and Crue at best, as they do me, but we respect one another’s businesses and how we co-run within the city. Dawson with his virgin auctions, and Crue, being head of the Italian Mafia, for keeping the riffraff out of the territory. We all have our role to play. But River being in town changes that.
“Yes, how is your plaything? All loved up, I guess?” I ask him. Dawson is a beautiful man, a stunning fucking devil. Though, what I’ve always appreciated about him the most is his business ethics. His auctions are known worldwide, and while mine are as well, his hold a different type of power.
“Yes, very. Honey is doing amazing.”
“Why are we talking about my sister-in-law?” Crue asks as he enters the room. Crue is Dawson’s best friend, and their wives are sisters. So sweet. I really don’t care; I’m just attempting to be pleasant.
“And the lovely Rya, how is she?” I ask Crue, thinking of the fireball criminal lawyer he took for a wife. She’s one of the best lawyers there is. I’m hoping one day I can get her on my team as well. And if my intel is correct, she’s due to deliver their firstborn any day now.
“Stunning as usual,” Crue says, taking a seat next to Dawson.
“That she is,” I agree.
“Considering my lack of free time, I’m assuming you haven’t called us both for no reason,” Crue says, adjusting his black dress shirt.
I’m reminded why I tolerate their companionship, because they don’t fuck around and get straight down to business.
“River Bently, aka the current pain in my ass, who for reasons unsaid I can’t immediately kill, is inserting himself into the city and dealings for his guns on the East Coast.”
“You called us in to discuss River?” Dawson asks, but he doesn’t seem entirely surprised.
“You don’t seem surprised. Is that because, by chance, you gave him entry into my auctions?” I drop my chin onto the back of my hand as I stare at him. But Dawson is one of the few men who don’t become uncomfortable under my cutting glare.
He casually shrugs with a charismatic smile. One I’m sure that melted his sweetheart. She and I are opposites.
“Some of us have friends, Anya, and I owed him a favor. Regarding business, he’s good at what he does. And being in business with him has provided a long-running profit for you and your brother, if my information is correct.”
Motherfucker. How did Dawson know about the supplier before I did? But I’m not surprised. I’m not even mad, really, that Dawson gave him access to my auction, considering it’s in the contract. And Dawson’s right; I’m also certain River would’ve found another way in no matter what.