Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

THERON

My work is finished for the day, meaning I’ve adjusted the contract for Merrick’s new family, a thought and concept that still bothers me much more than it probably should. I feel really fucking bad for him.

Being forced into anything isn’t the way that any of us want to live our lives, especially since we’ve already had years of that feeling. I don’t blame him for being upset about that part, but I know Merrick, and I have a feeling it is all going to work out for the best.

Gathering the contract in hand, I close down my office and head toward his. Nadine isn’t at her desk, but when I glance at my watch, I cringe at the time. It’s well past seven in the evening. I hadn’t realized it was so late. She’s, without a doubt, already at home for the night.

When I walk past Merrick’s office, I notice that his lights are off and it appears to be closed down for the night. That leaves only one place where he could be. I know he hasn’t left for the evening because he wanted this contract before the end of the day.

Merrick wants the new father-in-law to sign it so the work can be done and he can have the girl.

His wife.

A woman who the father-in-law has essentially been holding hostage until this whole thing is done. I already don’t like the asshole, and I can’t imagine it has been a pleasant experience to be his daughter. Maybe Merrick is saving her, and it will be a wonderful match.

That’s my hope, anyway.

We’ve been through enough shit in our lives. We should never have to go through it as adults. Easier said than done, I know. Especially since I’m here going through my own goddamn drama with Emmie.

I don’t love her. In fact, I don’t feel much for her, really. She’s fun in bed. She does what I want the way I want it. And up until now, she didn’t try to manipulate me too much. It was a good time had by all without any real commitment.

I’m wondering how much longer this is going to last between us because I can’t imagine having to constantly teach a woman lessons on how things work between us. Also, I don’t want to teach lessons to the woman I’m fucking like she’s some little kid.

Walking into the surveillance room, I slip inside and find Merrick sitting at the desk. He turns his head, his eyes meet mine, and he jerks his chin.

“I thought you weren’t on tonight,” I point out.

He shrugs a shoulder. “Not sleeping much these days. Figured I’d rather be here. Thanks for that contract, by the way. You talk to everyone about it yet?”

Shaking my head, I clear my throat. “No, not yet. You’re going to be there, and we’ll all talk about it together. But I already know they will be cool with the contract part, so I’ve done it ahead of time. That way, it won’t fuck you over.”

He snorts, his gaze focused on mine, not wavering and never leaving. “I’m already fucked over. It doesn’t matter.”

“Don’t say that,” I say. “You would not have married her had you not wanted to at least a little bit.”

Merrick rolls his eyes to the ceiling, then brings them back to meet my own. “I was worried he would have me killed,” he mumbles.

It’s my turn to let out a snort of laughter. “You are full of shit,” I state. “If he was going to kill you, he would have. He finds you useful, and giving you his daughter that way keeps you useful. If you think some Mafia boss doesn’t do things strategically, you live in a fucking dreamworld.”

“I’m still trying to figure it out. It’s not because of money. I know that. He’s got more than enough.”

“You checked?” I ask.

His lips twitch into a smirk. “I checked before I flew to the fucking city. I wasn’t going to bid a job the likes he wanted with no fucking knowledge of his background—financially at least.”

“Okay then,” I say. “This is something else, and I don’t want you to attempt to navigate it on your own. There are five brothers here to help you—use us.”

Merrick swallows, then dips his chin in a single nod before he lets out a long exhale. “Yeah,” he says.

“I’m dead fucking serious,” I state. “Do not try to do this shit, whatever it ends up being, alone. Because I don’t think that asshole is finished.”

Merrick looks down at his lap, then lifts his gaze to meet mine again. “I won’t, Theron. I fucking panicked.”

I wrap my fingers around his shoulder and jerk it slightly. “No reason to panic again. You got a whole fucking group of men with clear heads when yours is cloudy. And it’s the same for all of us.”

He doesn’t say anything else, not that I give him the chance. It was a moment, but if he’s gonna cry, I don’t want to see it. Before I leave him alone, I tell him to call me if he gets tired then leave him to his surveillance.

One fire has been put out, and now I have to deal with Emmie.

LUCILLE

Spending the afternoon with that bitch was exhausting. I’m not good at pretending to be something I’m not, and she tested me wholly. But as I leave the salon, I realize my hair looks amazing. So, I might have to keep the stylist because she seemed down to earth.

I wait for Emmie across the street from the salon, watching for her. My hair appointment didn’t take very long. A cut, wash, and style is nothing compared to the dying, frosting, balayage, or whatever treatments she had done.

After about forty-five minutes of standing around watching the salon like a damn weirdo, I finally see the door open, and she exits. She looks down at her phone and then smirks. I don’t know what the hell she’s so happy about, but I’m going to find out.

As she begins to walk toward her car, I move down the street behind her. Luckily, I’m across the street, and she doesn’t realize I’m following her. I’ve already parked my car across from hers as well, so when she opens her door and sinks down inside the driver’s seat, I mimic her actions in my own vehicle.

Then I watch her back out of her spot and do the same out of mine. Staying a few car lengths behind her, I follow her until she pulls up to her apartment building. She parks in her designated space, and I continue driving until I make it around the building. Her window is on this side of the building, so it’s a better place to watch her anyway, considering she never closes her bedroom blinds… as in, not ever .

A few moments later, I see her walk into the bedroom. Another body moves behind her, and my breath hitches at the sight of Theron in her room. Instantly, the green-eyed jealousy monster fills me at the sight of him in her space.

I know I don’t have a right to be jealous. He isn’t with me. He hasn’t been for years, but it doesn’t change the fact that he should be with me, and I’m jealous as hell that he’s with someone else. I hate it because I don’t hate him at all. I want to so damn bad, but I don’t.

Sitting in my car, I stare straight up at Emmie’s bedroom window. She has her back to me, but I can tell her chin is dipped slightly as Theron speaks to her. My gaze focuses on his body language, and I can tell he isn’t happy.

In fact, he looks pissed off. Like pissed the fuck off. My lips twitch into a smirk at that. Maybe he’s going to break up with her, and I won’t have to do anything else. I can just forget she ever existed and then devise my plan to slide right into his life again.

But when my phone buzzes with a new email, I dig it out of my pocket and flick my gaze down to see who is emailing me. I assume it’s an ad from a store, but I’m surprised to see that my background search on Asher Grant is now ready.

I debate between running home so I can see all the results on my laptop screen and watching Theron and Emmie through the window until I can stomach no more. Chewing on the corner of my bottom lip, I debate on leaving or not.

When I flick my gaze back to the window, I wince at the sight of Emmie’s body pressed tightly against Theron’s. His arms are wrapped around her, and he’s holding her closely. Seems as if a breakup is not on the menu tonight.

Damn.

But as Emmie slowly sinks to her knees, I realize something else is very much on the menu, and that makes my stomach clench.

Theron’s gaze lifts and meets mine.

Well, my windshield.

I don’t think he can see me from that distance. Thankfully. Because he’s looking right at me. I hold my breath again, thinking he can see me. When he closes his eyes and tilts his head backward, I know he doesn’t. He’s enjoying what she’s doing, and I hate myself for being turned on, not because of her, but just watching him.

He’s so beautiful, so sexy. And I remember that look on his face when I was on my knees for him. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I clench my thighs together and shake my head.

I need to get home.

Now.