Page 4 of Chase
He leans in, his nose inches from mine. “Nasty little bitch, give us what we want and we won’t hurt you.”
“Piss off,” I snarl, then drop my hand into my coat pocket in search of the small pen knife I carry for situations such as this.
“Money,” the other bastard orders, reaching forward to grab my wrist.
The sound of a man clearing his throat causes both of them to move their focus from me, and I take the opportunity to wield my knife, swiping at the first man's arm. I catch his hand with the blade, and he snaps it away. I push past him and run.
When I get to the end of the alleyway, I turn back briefly. Russell has one man pinned against the brick wall by his throat, while the other asshole lays on the ground motionless. Russell’s arm retracts, then a balled fist hits his captive squarely in the stomach. He glances in my direction, smiles and salutes, then continues his assault. I take that as my cue to escape home.
After pushing open my bedroom door, I throw myself onto my already messed-up bed; I didn’t bother straightening the sheets this morning. As I hit the soft cotton, my phone beeps, and I pull it out of my pocket. A message from an unknown number blinks back at me on the screen.
Threats terminated. I’ll always have your back, Trouble. Fuck, you look good wielding a knife. I love a lady with claws.
Chapter three
Connor’s Apartment, The Level
Connor
My best friend stands opposite me in my kitchen as I stir the soup prepared by our shared housekeeper in the pot. His dark eyes move around my living area, taking in the details of my preparations for my date with Samantha tonight.
“Who did you say you were seeing?” Harrison asks. He walks over to the vase of red roses placed between the two settings on my glass dining room table. He touches one of the buds and glances in my direction.
“None of your business.”
“Is it serious?”
“It’s never serious,” I mutter back, not looking at him. “But the more effort I make, the better rewarded I’ll be. Women like flowers. It encourages them to spread their legs.”
“True,” he agrees, “but you never normally have to go to this extent to get laid.” I scowl at him, then refocus on not burning the French onion soup. Mrs. D would kill me. She’s busy finishing cleaning my bedroom in case I get lucky. I hope tonight is the night I do. Samantha made it clear we wouldn’t be fucking until she said so, and hell, she’s making me work for it. It’s been six weeks of torture, me romancing, and her holding out. I’ve barely touched her ass through her jeans.
Harrison continues wandering around my home. He’s been both my brother and I’s best friend since we were children. When he was eight years old, we found him dumped in a ditch. My father took him under his wing, supporting his education while he was in the care system. Now the three of us own a law firm in Canary Wharf, all of us flying high, earning thousands each day, and living as neighbors in our fortress in the sky.
Russell, the oldest, owns the penthouse and often reminds us he’s in charge—not that either of us listens. Harrison and I have apartments on the second-highest floor alongside our private boardroom. These two floors are known as The Level and are off-limits to anyone but those invited. Up here is our safe haven, away from the chaos of London and the dark world we work in.
“How’s my sister?” I ask him, trying to divert the conversation away from my love life and back to his.
“She’s fine. Full of hormones.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “This morning, she told me that I should go out on the balcony and look down because that’s where I’d be headed if I left my socks on the living room floor again. She said once she moves in full time, it won’t be happening or I’ll be looking for another roommate.”
My sister, Violet, has been the love of Harrison’s life since they were kids. After disappearing for thirteen years, she appeared back in London this summer, heartbroken and pregnant with her long-term lover’s baby, a man who she’s now discovered was married the whole time. My friend has stepped up to be both a dependable partner for her and father-to-be for the baby. Finally, both of them are with who they always should have been if outside elements hadn’t gotten in the way. I love to see them both so happy.
“Anyway, who is it you’re seeing?” he prompts again.
“It’s none of your business,” I repeat. The last thing I want Violet to know is that I’m trying to seduce her best friend. She knows we speak, but I don’t want her unsolicited advice or opinions. Or worse, Violet speaking to Samantha on my behalf. Russell knows, but I tell him everything—he’s a true brother. Hot-headed, sure, and sometimes insane, but he is the man I trust with my darkest secrets.
When I told him I was dating Samantha, he assumed it was casual sex. I never corrected him. Any sexual conquest always has been, but I know deep down this is different. However, she refuses to make it exclusive, insisting she never commits to anyone. She wants to remain independent with her options open. In the past, this would have been a dealbreaker for me, but to have her, I would agree to anything. My balls are firmly lodged in her grasp—metaphorically anyway. I wish they were physically.
“As you’re not forthcoming with any information,” Harrison says, “I’ll be going. Your sister will come looking for me if I don’t reappear soon.”
“Yeah, fuck off. Keep that explosive bomb of hormones in your apartment.” He laughs, then waves as he leaves through my front door. Harrison is like another brother, and I hope one day to be able to call him one.
My attention returns to the soup as our elderly housekeeper appears. “Everything is ready, Mr. Chase,” she tells me. Mrs. D is an absolute diamond and maintains the whole two floors of The Level. She’s like a mother to us, ensuring our homes are clean and food fresh as we go about our busy lives. “Is there anything else you need before I leave?”
“No, Mrs. D. You’re an angel, as always.”
“Well, I hope the young lady appreciates all the effort you have gone to.” She holds my gaze for a moment, her eyes dancing with mischief. “I get the feeling this one is rather special.”
“I think so,” I admit, relieved at having someone to confide in. “This is something I’ve never felt before.”