Chapter One

Delany

Across town at Calloway's Bar to hurt me, maybe?"

"That makes no sense," Bella muttered.

"You know you can fix this shit really fast, right? I say dump the parasite and move the fuck on," Finley said angrily. "You're too good for him and you know it. Cast off the dead weight and forget about him."

Ares slowly looked at me as I lightly shrugged my shoulders. My friend already knew how I felt, and while I understood why she was in a relationship with Preston, I believed there was a better way to get the information she was seeking.

"Hello, ladies."

Turning to the man standing next to our table, Finley preened, leaning closer to the handsome young man. "Well hello, handsome."

The young man blushed. "Can I get you ladies something to drink?"

"I'll order one of you." Finley winked.

"God, Fin, leave the man alone." Ares groaned.

"What? He's yummy."

"And he's Robin's cousin," Ares said. "So, shelve your claws and just order a damn drink."

"Fine. I'd like a dry martini, two olives."

As the rest of my friends placed their orders, I looked at my phone for any message from Harlow's babysitter. When I didn't see anything, I wondered if I should call. I really didn't enjoy being away from her and wanted to go home.

Minutes later, Stacy Calloway, Robin's mother, placed our drinks before us. "Hey, girls. Brenden told me you were giving him a hard time."

All of us pointed at Finley, who smiled innocently. "Sorry, Mrs. Calloway. I was just teasing him."

Stacy Calloway owned and operated Calloway's Bar & Grill. A family-run bar that catered to New York's finest firefighters. The Calloway Clan, as they called themselves, believed in serving the community and worked hard to protect those around them, especially after the family suffered a devastating loss on September 11 th . Almost half of the Calloway family died in one of the towers. Mrs. Calloway not only lost two of her brothers and several cousins that day but also her husband, who was an investment broker on the 82 nd floor of tower one.

"No worries. Robin joining you later?"

"No, ma'am," Bella spoke up. "She got called for another case."

"Alright, girls. You have fun and, Finley... behave," Mrs. Calloway firmly said, giving Finley that distinct motherly glare.

It was close to midnight when I gathered my coat and bag.

"Anyone want to share a cab?" I asked, looking at my phone again.

"Can't," Ares said, wrapping her arm around Finley's waist, who was too drunk to drive. "I'm driving the lush home, then crashing on her couch. Bitch better have coffee waiting on me when I get up."

"I need to get back to the studio," Bella added as she helped Ares with Finley and they headed for the door.

Making sure I didn't forget anything, I quickly texted my babysitter to let her know I was on my way home before pocketing my phone and heading for the front door myself.

Pushing the door open, I walked smack dab into someone, and I would have fallen if powerful arms hadn't steadied me.

"I'm so sorry."

"Are you alright?" a deep, husky voice asked.

Back on my feet, I smiled at the man who saved me.

He was handsome, that was for sure. Tall, muscular, and somewhat intimidating. Dressed in an expensive suit, the man looked like he had just come from a boardroom. And when he smirked at me, I could see a playful glimmer in his eyes while he took in the sight of me. I didn't want to know what he was seeing. I probably looked horrible, but when the handsome man grinned, something inside me unfurled and my body tingled at his proximity.

This man was a player and very sure of himself.

"What do you have there, Jason?" asked another extremely attractive man.

What the hell?

Was there a damn club I wasn't aware of?

Gulping, I took a tentative step back when the man who saved me narrowed his eyes. "Do I know you? You look familiar."

Shaking my head, I quickly sidestepped around both men, muttering as I scurried away, "No. We've never met. I need to go. Thank you for saving me."

"It was my pleasure, precious."

The second his words registered, a memory slipped forward of a man, seducing and worshiping my body. I couldn't stop him because he had my hands handcuffed to a bed.

I wasn't scared. In fact, I was enjoying the moment so much.

I'd never felt freer.

Stumbling out of my memory, I slowly turned around and watched through the bar's glass window as the man walked right over to Mrs. Calloway, giving her a hug.

It was impossible.

My one-night stand was a biker. Not a businessman.

No biker would be caught dead in a suit.

Well, none that I knew of, at least.