I never got the chance to answer.
The storage room door busted open and revealed one pissed-off diner owner. Nipsy took one look at us with our blotchy cheeks, bloodshot eyes, runny mascara, and clasped hands before he proceeded to lose his shit.
“The fuck is this?” he shouted. “You tryin’ to get me killed, girl?” he addressed Maribel.
I knew from experience that if Marcus found out she’d been crying, or was the slightest bit sad, all hell would break loose. I almost felt bad for the old bastard.
“Nipsy…I…” Maribel tried to interject.
“OUT! Both of you, get the fuck outta my place and don’t come back till I call you. Never seen two women cry so much in my goddamn life. Sick of it! I’ll pay your daily wage. Just haul your asses outta here before I change my mind.”
Maribel and I shared a knowing look before climbing to our feet and running past the grumpy old man blocking the door. We kissed him on his wrinkled cheeks, screeching our goodbyes as we headed towards the parking lot, giddy with newfound freedom. We spent the entire day together, and it was just what the doctor ordered.
CHAPTER 29
MacCabe
WE WEREN’T ANY closer to figuring out how to counter O’Brien’s acquisition than we’d been before scoping out his new place. I still thought killing him was the easiest and most efficient route to take until Ferdi reminded me again why that wasn’t the brightest idea. He and I were finally back on the same page after his lapse in judgment suggesting I bring in my father. We’d settled our dispute the old way, by going to blows in the penthouse gym without any interruptions. We’d been partners for years, so it wasn’t the first time we had this type of conversation, Irish tempers and all that, so there were rules. Three shots each, none to the face, drop the shit when it was over. Since I’d pulled my weapon first, I allowed him to have four; it’s the least I could do. He might have been bigger and stronger, but I was surgical with my shit. Only took me two to bring him to his knees. We hadn’t talked about it since.
Bella had been calling non-stop since their opening night, each time sounding more desperate than the last. I finally stopped answering after she admitted to playing with her pussy to the sound of my voice. Shit was getting out of hand. Hard to believe she was once my world, that I would’ve given my left nut to be with her a few short years ago. It crossed my mind to mention her mental deterioration to someone, but what would I say? “I think your woman has gone off the rails after I gave her a piece of my dick. Might want to check that out.” Not exactly a ledge I wanted to hang my neck on. Till a better idea came along, I just had to deal.
The one person I couldn’t keep my mind off was that stubbornly sexy waitress who wasn’t shy about mixing things up in a den of vipers. Taking her along to the fight opening was the last thing I’d intended to do. I’d tried making it difficult for her to stand her ground by implementing certain particulars designed to scare her into staying put. None of them worked. Otelia took everything I dished out and asked for a second helping. I’d be lying if I said her willfulness hadn’t filled me with a sense of admiration, that and a perverse sense of pleasure. I was in charge of her mind, body, and soul. Wicked ponderings kept me hard most of the night when I should’ve been focused on other things.
Turned out, Otelia was just what I needed to keep a cool head. I’d recognized several of my high rollers as they’d walked around Kellan’s place dropping fuckloads of cash that by all accounts should’ve been mine. The longer I’d thought about her naked pussy under that dress, the less I wanted to choke the life out of Kellan O’Brien and his deceitful-ass wife. Memories of her delicate clit when her taste exploded against my tongue were enough to keep my murderous thoughts at bay. I was unaware at the time that O’Brien had snitched to Otelia about my previous relationship with Bella. Had I known, I might’ve been better prepared for what happened at the end of the evening.
Exercising particular number three hadn’t been intentional, but in my defense, I’d warned her ahead of time what would happen if she pissed me off. Her attitude was the start, but her spitting of the truth was the finish. It made me ravenous with a hunger I’d never felt before. I ached to push her limits to the edge. Whatever it took to get her to shut the hell up. All that back talk, and she still never got around to telling me what went down with O’Brien during their little walk. Granted, I’d just finished filling her cunt with my hard cock, but there’d been time enough after we both came down from our high to spill the tea. Instead, she demanded I take her home without any room for argument. I was fairly certain I temporarily blacked out when her pussy walls hugged my cock like a second skin. That was the only logical explanation as to why I allowed her to fuck off without answering my questions. I needed that closure.
It was why I’d been sitting outside her place in my car, waiting like a stalker. I told myself I was there to check on her safety and tie up loose ends. That lie felt better on the palate, easier to digest than the actual truth. I wanted to see her again. When that didn’t work after hour one, I justified my watchman lookout by making it about the fight circuit. She could be holding on to valuable information about O’Brien’s plans. She was with him long enough; maybe he fucked up and let something slip. Yeah, that’s right, business. By hour three, I was still there and flush out of bullshit. I released the growl I’d been holding and tugged on a handful of hair to relieve some tension. I heard my cellphone ring inside my pocket. I answered with an annoyed huff.
“Yeah?”
“Um…” Ferdi stammered. “I take it you’re busy, so I’ll call back later. Tomorrow. Never.” Click.
Fucking hell.
What was I doing?
I should’ve been at the warehouse seeing to tonight’s fights instead of here waiting on a woman who no doubt was about to give me hell as always. I didn’t remember the last time I wasn’t ringside or atop the mezzanine observing. I smiled to myself, knowing full well why I felt like an anxious teenager about to get laid for the first time. My dick was already hard at the prospect of having her again, beneath me, screaming my name. Twice, I’d sampled her sweet cunt, and neither time had been in an actual bed. Please have one of those and not a cheap-ass futon. I wanted to look into her eyes, daring her to talk that same shit as the other night, while I pounded her sweet pussy to dust. The anticipation was killing me.
It was late by the time her car pulled into the driveway. I studied her as she folded her tired limbs from behind the driver’s seat, grabbed her purse, and made her way to the front door with keys already in hand.
Smart girl.
I jumped out and stealthily made my way towards her. She heard me approach from behind. Quick as a whip, she produced an aerosol can of something and flashed it in my face.
“Back the fuck up unless you want an eye full of this shit, asshole!” she ordered.
“Whoa, there, kitty cat.” I held up my hands in surrender.
She looked good enough to eat, albeit frumpy as hell in that outdated puke-brown uniform.
“Mac?” She sighed in relief. “I could’ve blinded you, you idiot! What are you doing sneaking up on me like that? I could’ve aerated the fuck out of your shifty ass.”