They’re both quiet for a long minute. For once I keep my mouth shut too. This time they have to work out the issue themselves or the problem will never be fully resolved.
“It’s okay. I understand. You should follow your dream. It’s what mom would’ve wanted.”
Juniper’s stupid head jerks up, shock morphing to relief as he studies his sister’s expression for duplicity. Of course there isn’t any. She’s too virtuous to lie or not want her brother to be happy. My only regret is that I can’t see her myself.
“Thank you. You should too.”
My request is answered when she twists around in my embrace, and I can finally see her precious face glowing with love for both of us. “I already have.”
“Me too.” I take a quick glance over her head at Juniper. His impudence has softened with our obvious devotion to each other. His support is irrelevant to me because I don’t give a damn about his approval. I do this for her because I know she does. “I’ll hire a manager to run things day-to-day at the shop, and Tulip can be involved as little or as much as she wants. I’m taking care of her now and will provide everything and anything she ever needs so you don’t have to worry over her anymore.”
Not that he was doing a good job of that anyway but the point is made and clear. You’re welcome moron.
“You’d do that for me?”
Finished talking to his stupid ass, I look down at my petal. “I don’t know anything about parenting but I remember you said your mom wanted you to have amazing life experiences. I think this...” I point between us. “…is pretty fucking amazing.”
She radiates from my sentiment and nods without any hesitation. “Me too. I know it’s crazy and irrational and foolish but I really do love you.”
I sweep her up, making her squeal and leaving Juniper to let himself out. I’m done with him but only just starting with her. “I really do love you too.”
She’s back on my lap again where she belongs even though we don’t really belong in my office. But shit happens that I have to take care of. At least for a few hours. Then I’m going to take her home and fuck her for the third time today.
A call I don’t want to take in front of her pops up on my screen at the same time Wolf strides in. Everything always explodes all at once. To keep her safe, I can’t let myself be distracted. I press my lips to her temple, even though I want to do so much more, but restrain the urge with my best friend watching and smirking, smug fucker. “Go tell Donna at the bar we need a bottle of champagne. I want to celebrate our engagement.”
“Okay!”
That idea excites her and she hops up. Giving me a gentle kiss on my cheek before she races to the hallway, while I watch her cute ass bounce under her dress. Wolf keeps his eyes averted only looking at her face. He gives her a friendly nod as she passes by, closing the door behind her. Proof he doesn’t want her exposed to the update he has for me.
“We found Beyers hiding out at his girlfriend’s. He’s been there the entire time.”
Two weeks. Two fucking weeks Harvey’s supposedly been looking for him and he’s been in the most obvious of all places. “Fucking Harvey.”
No argument from Wolf. “He only had half the money so the guys only broke one leg. He’s got one more week to come up with the rest.”
Surprised he even had that much, I nod in approval. More concerned with Harvey than I am with Beyers. He’s worthless to me now but I can’t seem to bring myself to pull the trigger, literally. “Where’s the idiot now?”
“In the dressing room. You know how much he likes to inspect the girls before they go on stage.”
Nasty, dirty bastard. Absolutely zero part of his job involves supervising the dancers or approving their outfits, and I know they’re all as disgusted with him as I am. I blow out a resigned sigh. Better to lose him than them since they actually make me money. Fuck. The time has come to end my sentimental hesitation and retire his old ass.
With the decision made, I hop up and stride out of my office. Might as well get rid of him now and then I can get to my woman. My steps falter in the hallway, pausing from Harvey’s slurred voice bitching behind the storage room door.
“I knew you were trouble the first minute I laid eyes on you. You’re just another stupid cunt trying to ruin everything.”
Confused as to who the fuck he could be talking to, I clutch the knob. I don’t give a fuck what he does in his down time but if he’s hassling one of the girls while they’re both supposed to be working, I’m ending that shit real quick. Especially if he’s demeaning her. I don’t put up with name calling or any other abuse toward the girls who work for me.
“You’re a distraction just like Clara. She fucked up Shaun, and I’m sure as hell not going to let you do the same thing to Ares. But unlike her you’re going to have to actually die.”
Fury like I’ve never dreamed possible erupts in my mind while my body amps up with electricity burning through me from that bastard uttering my mother’s name and threatening my fiancée. Yanking open the door interrupts his tirade but doesn’t prevent my eyes from scorching and my ears from bleeding with the sound of his fist connecting with her soft flesh. My petal’s gorgeous face pounded by a man I know I hate but didn’t know I couldn’t trust.
Tulip slams into the metal shelves and tumbles to the floor in a puddle of broken beauty. The world fucking stops with the rage shattering my mind. No time or color or sound. Just his palms flying up trying to stem my charge. Not happening motherfucker. His gnarled head crashes against the concrete and the crack of his skull ignites the monster within. Gleefully punching his eyes, his nose, his mouth, his chest, his throat. Relishing his body falling limp, his blood squishing between my fingers, his bones snapping under my knuckles. Until I’m jerked off of him from Wolf’s herculean strength and twisted around to face my girl reaching for me. Brought back to reality by my best friend and the woman who needs my comfort more than that bastard needs to pay right now.
“It’s H-harvey…he’s the one…he t-took…your m-mother.”
Still trying to help me despite her agony. “Shhh…I know. I’ve got you now. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Wolf takes over where I left off. His foot rams again and again into the cocksucker’s torso sprinkling both of us with more red drops from his ripped skin while I lift Tulip as gently as I can from the motherfucking floor. He’ll hurt him enough so he suffers but not enough that he dies. Only I will enjoy that honor. Once I know she’s all right.
“She’s resting comfortably right now. At this point, it doesn’t appear she’ll need surgery since the bone displacement is minimal. However, we’ll check again tomorrow after some of the swelling reduces and then make the determination if further treatment is warranted.”
Dr. Miller is supposed to be the best. Flown here without any opposition although gunpoint would’ve been justifiable if he resisted. Because the first physician was full of bullshit I didn’t trust. Yet now this man seems dubious too. I question if he’s good enough, knowledgeable enough, dedicated enough for my petal. “So wait and see?”