Dude loves starting shit. He’d throat punch a man just to see him retaliate. If it wasn’t for the smug-as-fuck grin he’s always wearing, chicks wouldn’t go near his crazy ass. Since they’ve got no fucking idea what he’s really like, they throw themselves at him.
Angel stops typing. “The cops know nothing, asshole. Same as you. Focus on logistics and leave the important shit to me.”
Saint stares at Temple’s tits. “Whatever you say, cuz.”
It pisses me off. “She’s off-limits.”
Prick tries not to laugh. “You sure about that, bro? Chicks can’t tell us apart. What’s another tag team?”
“She’s. Off. Limits.”
Angel, the asshole, scoffs. “You’re thinking with your dick, cuz.”
“And you’re a pain in the ass.”
He shrugs, not giving a fuck. “Facts are facts. There’s no arguing with that shit.”
Saint straightens his shirt because he’s fucking high-maintenance, then nods to Temple. “What’s with this chick? You’ve had a hard-on for her since day one. Don’t get me wrong, she’s got a hot rack and her ass isn’t bad either. But what’s she got that others don’t?”
I scan her curves. “You saw her.”
Saint smirks. “Bro, everyone except Angel can get Eve against a wall. It’s no big deal.”
Angel puts his phone away, pissed. “Screw you, fucker. I’d rather suck my own dick than let her near mine.”
“We put Temple to the test, and she didn’t back down. She’s our exit strategy.”
“She took the bait without questioning it,” Angel counters. “She’s trouble.”
“Agreed.” Saint nods, because he’s loves fucking with me. “If Temple goes from zero to a hundred because of Eve, how the fuck is she going to keep her cool against Dad?”
I look at Temple again, my cock hardening. “She won’t have a choice.”
Saint laughs. “You think a woman like that can’t think for herself? She’d fuck you over for the fun of it. Chick doesn’t care who you are or who we’re related to. She wants nothing to do with us.” He sobers. “Look, I’m fucking pissed about Mom too, but don’t kid yourself. Killing Dad isn’t enough. His whole organization needs to go down.”
“If Dad’s dead, it’s all dead.”
“Bullshit, bro. But whatever.” He goes back to eying off Temple.
Angel gives me a long look. “Temple’s a liability, not an asset.”
“Wrong.” I hold up the cash. “And ten thousand says I can prove it.” Saint goes to grab my winnings, but I yank them away.
He smirks. “Okay. You have a deal.”
Angel takes his time, considering all the fucking options like always. “It’s not about the money. We’ve been planning to take down your old man for three years. I don’t want to risk it all on a wildcard like her.”
Years of practice makes my hatred for Aaiden “The Collector” Brandt invisible. I’m going to burn the fucker to the ground for what he did to Mom, but I’ll never let it show on my face.
Emotions are weakness.
“Temple’s the pawn we need.” The fact she’s gorgeous is a side bonus.
Angel scrubs the side of his face. “It’s your loss, man.”
“And funeral,” Saint adds. “Don’t forget who we’re up against.”
“Dad won’t touch her. He needs her garage as a drug stop. And by the time I’m through with Temple, it won’t matter who we’re facing. She’ll do whatever the fuck I want, no questions.” She’ll plead with me to take control, and I’m man enough to do it.
Chapter Five
Temple
After talking amongst themselves in voices too low for me to hear, Sin glances at Saint, giving him a subtle chin lift.
Saint grins, taking Eve’s hand. “Come on, Evie.”
“Screw you, Saint. Call me by my real name.” Eve yanks herself from his hold before spinning to face me. “You’re done for, slut. Do you know who my father is?”
I pretend not to care.
She jabs a manicured nail in my direction. “You can kiss your graduation goodbye.”
The threat slowly seeps into my consciousness, and with it, the name McNamara.
The world tilts, throwing me off balance.
Oh, shit.
I blink, hoping to fucking God I haven’t done what I think I have.
Eve points to the plaque above the door of the lecture theater. It’s the same one that exalts renowned campus benefactor, Neil McNamara, CEO of Trident Industries.
If it’s not the mob, it’s the elite.
A girl can’t catch a break in this town.
Not wanting to let on how pissed I am at myself, I bite back a curse.
But I must let some of my frustration show, because Eve sneers. “That’s right, trash. You’ve messed with the wrong woman.”
Screw this, I won’t let this bitch steal my future. “You’re the one who started it. If you don’t want the fallback, make sure you finish what you begin.”
“I’m not wasting my time on trash like you. We’re done here.” She brushes past me, strutting toward the parking lot.
Sin nods for Saint to follow. Saint points to Sin. “Ticktock, motherfucker.” With his killer swagger, he quickly catches up to Eve.
Angel is quiet but tracks Eve’s movements. He shoves his hands deep into his pockets and saunters behind the pair.
Sin’s heavy gaze falls on me. “You’ve been avoiding me. That’s going to cost you.”
Not wanting to admit he’s right, I make to leave.
Only, he grabs my arm, stopping me. “I said, you owe me.”
Damn, he’s got a strong grip. “I don’t owe you anything.”
“Wrong, babe.” Deep, gravelly, but with the slightest hint of a rasp, his voice is wind and rain, pleasure and pain, a typhoon set to blow my world apart.
“Get your hand off me.”
“Not a fucking chance.” Sin shifts closer.
I’ve had enough experience with violent men to last a damn lifetime, so I know danger when I see it. Preparing myself, I clench and unclench my hands, pumping blood into them so I’m ready to throw a punch if I have to.
Which is weird, because Sin’s always so cool and composed, like nothing in the world, except for his weird fascination with me, means anything to him.
Forcing me backward until I hit the wall, he gets all up in my face. “You stood me up. I’m not the kind of man who’ll forget.”
“You and your crew have threatened me enough for one day. Back the fuck off before I make you.”
Sin’s eyes slip to my hands, pause, then meet mine. Challenge sparks in their steely depths. “You going to hit me?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve hit a man. I doubt it’d be the first time you’ve been hit, either.”
He smirks but doesn’t give me the space I want.
“I said,” I repeat, “back. The. Fuck. Off.”
He leans in close. “I want you to beg first.”