Page 85 of Mastered By Desire
“I’m…not entirely sure. But I appreciated the story.”
She frowns, but she doesn’t press me for more information. I appreciate that about her.
I straighten up. “I guess I’ll head back to my office, look over Margot’s proposal for a new club.”
“Do you have early thoughts on her proposal?”
I lift one shoulder in a shrug. “It could be a good development, and the potential for profit is high based on Vice’s success. Location will be everything.”
“It always is.”
As I step away, one of the four Doms approaches Betty to request use of a play room for five people. Looks like that little sub is going to get more than she bargained for. I would be worried, but I know two of these men. They’ll make sure she’s treated properly.
I continue to my office. My phone vibrates with a text from Claudia. I frown as I look at the message. She knows I prefer phone calls.
But this message is three letters:WTF, followed by a link. I notice Javi’s name in the link’s text.
If she has sent me more drama about Nic and Javi, I don’t know what I’ll do.
No, Claudia knows better. I tap the link and it brings me to a news article.
Javier Nori Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident.
I pause, one hand on the doorknob of my office, the other clenching my phone.
Javi…dead?
Leah
When Danica’s house comes into view, I’m tempted to slam my foot on the accelerator and drive straight on past.
Dmitri’s Mustang is parked at the curb.
Yeah, no, that’s not what I signed up for tonight.
He showed up yesterday. With Gage, and the bodyguard guys. They saved me. I’m grateful, no denying it. And a little turned on when I think about how easily Dmitri tossed Randy Wentz’s guys aside.
But things aren’t good between us. If we want any hope of things being good, we need to have a long conversation.
That conversation cannot happen in front of Danica, because she’d lose her mind if she learned I slept with her brother.
She would also lose her mind if I were to flake out on movie night.
I guess I’ll have to put on a polite smile and spend the evening pretending everything’s great.
Sighing, I pull up to the curb and park behind Dmitri’s car. I gather the snacks I bought on the way from my last tutoring session and head to the front door. Each of my steps is more reluctant than the last.
Danica opens the door and throws her arms around me. “Finally! Are you ready to party?”
“Um…yes?”
“One hundred points for your enthusiasm and an extra hundred for your certainty.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Everything okay? Why all the make-up?”
“Everything’s great. I was just messing around with some new kits. Hey, check it out.” I open the bag of snacks. The bright array should distract her from asking about my overly made-up face. I have on a shit-ton of concealer to hide the bruises from yesterday. “What’s Dmitri doing here?”
“It’s been a while since I saw him, and since you were watching AoG together, I thought he should come as well. Is that a problem? Did living together for two weeks make you hate him? God knows I hated him when we were kids.”
“No, it’s cool,” I say. “I was expecting girls night, that’s all.”