I poured another helping of scotch and moved to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park.
“How much do you want to keep my contract, Vaughn?”
I hadn’t responded when he’d asked the question. Then he’d added, “What would you do to keep all of your contracts with my peers?”
I knew I was up shit creek at that statement. Whitaker had clout and I’d fucked with him on a personal level. It was almost like he was a mob boss, and with one word from him, companies would be shut down.
What would he have done if I hadn’t agreed to meet him? He’d had me by the balls either way and knew I’d do anything to keep my family’s business going.
Despite what Riya believed, I’d never forgotten where I’d come from. I just never wanted to go back.
Now I was beholden to Whitaker for contracts worth over one hundred million.
For the next two years, I was locked into helping Whitaker with various pet projects, forking out money, and spearheading fundraising campaigns. It didn’t matter that most of them were charity related or would be beneficial for public image; I liked to pick any and all philanthropy opportunities Vaughn Transportation had its name on.
I should probably stop complaining. I knew I’d gotten off pretty easy. Most men would want to destroy anyone who had an affair with their wife, or close to it, in my case. Then again, this could be the first of many ways for him to fuck with me.
I’d just have to wait and see.
I glanced at my watch.
One a.m.
I wondered if Miss Prim, Proper, and Bossy was sleeping or up. I had to give her an update or she’d never let me hear the end of it.
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. Yeah I could have waited until morning, but annoying the shit out of her would be the one highlight of my evening.
The voicemail kicked on, making me frown. The woman was attached to her phone, ready to go into action at any moment.
I redialed her with the same results. This was seriously odd.
I shot off a text.
Me: Where are you?
I wanted to see the three dots flash but nothing.
I was going to have a conversation with Riya about being accessible when I needed her. After all, if she could be at the beck and call of her other clients, she sure as hell could for me.
Throwing my phone on the table, I decided to get changed and then dial up Neil to see if he had any idea where his big sister was.
A little after two a.m., my driver, Allen, dropped me off in front of Carmela, a new up-and-coming club in SoHo. After telling Allen to take the rest of the night off, I walked toward the entrance of the club. The chance of getting in without a reservation was almost nonexistent, but the owner happened to be a poker buddy of mine and put my name on the VIP list.
The atmosphere was more cigar-lounge style with wood-paneled walls and oversized chairs. From my vantage, all available seating was occupied by well-dressed Manhattanites. And the dance floor was packed with gyrating bodies, moving to the mix compiled by a celebrity guest DJ.
Was this really where I wanted to be? At a nightclub instead of a bar? I’d long grown out of my need to go clubbing. But then again, going to a bar was the reason I was in so much shit right now.
A waitress passed by, giving me a head-to-toe scan and then lifting a brow in invitation. She was exactly my typical go-to type. Tall, blond, stacked everywhere. In the past I’d have taken her up on her offer. Mindless sex and no commitment. It was everything I could want.
Now I was here in a fucking club for a woman who couldn’t stand to look at me. It didn’t matter we were sexually attracted to each other, she was off-limits.
If you really believed that, then why the fuck are you here, asshole?
Riya was pushing me to lose my mind.
It was at that moment I saw her. She was laughing and shimmying her perfect ass against Mira’s.
The two sisters were gorgeous on an unreal level. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Men watched them with lust and something that made me want to punch them in the face. Mira was for all intents and purposes my baby sister. And Riya—no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see her as anything but a woman.
A light sheen of sweat dampened Riya’s skin, and the carefree expression on her face was a sharp contrast to her always-in-control public image. This was not the fixer, but a sexy-as-sin twenty-something out for a night on the town.
Had I ever seen her like this?
That was when I noticed what she was wearing. That dress barely covered her ass, and Mira’s was no better. Hell, it was worse—Mira was inches taller and the hem rode up higher.
If they were any other women, I would have enjoyed the show.
God, I was a hypocritical asshole.
A large man moved in front of Riya, blocking my view. I clenched my fists as the dick tried to grind himself against her.
She pushed him back, revealing an annoyed expression. She said something, shaking her head. But he wouldn’t take the hint and slid his hand around her waist and pulled her to him.
Riya jerked out of his hold, her face in a pissed-off scowl that looked murderous.
The guy said something that caused Mira to step between him and Riya. That was when the man got in Mira’s face, waving his hand and looking ready to hit her.
Oh, fuck no.
Without a second thought, I strode into the crowd, pushing past the masses of bodies. The moment I got near the girls, I shoved the guy back.
“What the fuck, man?” the asshole roared, ready to take me on.
I was ready for the dick.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I ignored Riya’s question. “When a woman says to get lost, you get lost.”
“Stay out of this. My girl and I don’t need you interfering.” The shithead reached for Riya.
I grabbed his arm and decked him. The fucker fell to the floor. “Don’t ever touch a woman who says no.”
“Leo,” Riya screamed, gripping my shoulder. “He’s not worth it. We have to get out of here.”
I glared at her. “This piece of shit needs to be taught a lesson.”
She tugged at me. “Please, Leo, cameras.”
The urgency in her words and the fact she used my name instead of saying Vaughn had me snapping my attention to the people around us. Multiple cell phones were pointed in our direction.
Oh, fuck.
“We have to go now.” Mira nodded to someone. That was when I noticed a giant of a man shove his way through the crowd around us. He had to be her protection.
“Where the fuck were you?”
He wasn’t fazed by my tone. “I was about to intervene when you came to the rescue. It may have been better to let me handle it. Your way garners a lot of attention.”
I clenched my jaw.
Before I could respond, security rushed the floor, grabbing me and pulling the idiot from the floor.
“He was protecting us. This guy wouldn’t get the hint we weren’t interested.” Riya glared at the shithead who’d touched her.
“No matter. It’s policy that all parties involved must leave the premises.”
“This fucker needs to keep his hands to himself.” I would have punched the bastard a few more times if security wasn’t holding me so tight.
The bouncer nodded. “We’ll handle it.”
“I’m going to press charges,” the asshole shouted.