Mafia Rules (Mafia King #1)

16. ASH

16

ASH

I rush to the door and motion for Eve to sit still. If nothing else, Eve would not cater to Sasha—ever. I pull at my jacket as I hear Sasha's heels on the marble floor and swing open the door.

"Same space." A sly grin spreads across Sasha’s face.

Sasha and I had been engaged when my brothers and I acquired this building, and she picked many of the finishes. I had done nothing to change them, something I now regretted. I wish I'd taken the time to wipe out every one of her touches. She's reading something into the fact I didn't change anything.

"Too busy to update it," I grumble, looking behind her, expecting to see my father.

"He’s getting caught up with Stella. I thought we could chat for a moment before he joins us? Maybe make a plan together?” Her hand automatically reaches for my stomach, like she did when we were together three years ago.

I step back before she touches me. “There is no ‘we’ here.” My voice is low. From my periphery, I see Eve staring at her computer, but I can tell she’s not paying attention to the screen.

“I mean about your father. We had breakfast this morning, and he’s wanting a much bigger part in this deal. He doesn’t think you can close it.” Her attempt to charm me fails, and she pulls back, a hint of insult in her eyes.

“I’ll deal with my father.” I glance again behind her, hoping he’d arrived.

Sasha advances, encroaching on my personal space, and snatches my jacket, preventing me from moving. “You’re fucked if we don’t work together, Ash. Now, do you want me on your side? Or your father’s?”

This was the Sasha I remembered. Ruthless and vindictive with a sweet face. No one sees her coming till she slays you. “We can talk in my office.”

When her hand lets me go, I turn on my heels and walk back to my office, purposely avoiding Eve, until I hear Sasha approach her.

“Well, who do we have here?” Sasha's eyes scrutinize every inch of my Eve, leaving me feeling angry and on edge. I’d deliberately avoided Eve, fearing that Sasha might be tempted to interact with her.

“She’s a busy secretary,” I answer for her, motioning for Sasha to follow me. “Don’t bother her.”

Sasha pauses for a moment, as if trying to figure something out. Eve glances at me, her face confused but observant enough to know that something is wrong. I’m not usually this hostile to clients.

“Sorry, he’s in a bad mood because of me.” Sasha perches on the corner of Eve's desk, her face adorned with a sly, mischievous grin. “I do that to him.”

“Sasha, come,” I call to her like a dog, then realize my mistake as Eve’s eyes narrow, and she looks away. She knows my secret now.

“Yes, sir.” Sasha jumps off the desk and slaps her ass as she walks past me. “Just like old times.”

She passes me and finally enters my office. I close the door behind her and kneel next to Eve. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“Was she always the client you never wanted me to see? Was she?” With her anger rising, Eve's voice grows louder and more intense. Her gaze lingers on the office door as though she half-expects it to suddenly open.

“No. I went to my brother's last night, and she was there. I didn’t know she would be there. I swear. I don’t want to see her, but her uncle was the client, and he’s out now. She’s in, and my father is about to walk through that door and take over, but that can’t happen. You will see me act differently today, but I have to.” I let out a sigh and relief washes over me at having revealed the truth. I can’t lie to Eve. It felt wrong and unnatural.

“I’m sitting in on this meeting.” Eve stands up, grabs her pad of paper and a pen, and straightens her skirt.

“No.” I look back at the door. It's still closed. I lean in and kiss her lips, her eyes about to spill over with tears.

“I’m going to be in that meeting.” Her lips tremble as she defies me.

“I don’t want you involved with these people,” I beg her in a low voice.

“If I don’t go into that meeting, I’m quitting, and you’ll never see me again.” Her lips draw tight.

I struggle not to laugh at her independence. At any other moment, it would turn me on. But the thought of never seeing her again shatters my soul, and she’d do it too. I’m coming to realize how stubborn she is. How the fuck am I going to protect her from the lot of them?

“Are we going in?” She passes by me, walks to my office, and opens the door.

I follow behind her, quick to mask my expression, but Sasha knows me too well. I should have asked Eve to stay home today.

“This is cute.” Sasha gestures to Eve from my chair. Her jacket now hangs on my coat hook, revealing a very short and tight black dress. “I don’t think we will need you, honey.”

“You don’t need her, I do.” I sit in one of the client chairs before my desk, and Eve takes the other one. “So speak. You have my attention. How are you going to save me from my father?”

“He thinks my uncle doesn’t want to deal with you, so he gave me the deal.” Sasha sits back, crossing her legs, her skirt riding dangerously high.

“Is that true?” I ignore her trap.

“No. Carl loves you. He fucked up cleaning the deal. He missed payments to important people. Now those people think the McKenzies owe them.” Sasha rocks back and forth, waiting for a reaction from me.

““Drink?” I ask in Sasha’s direction. Eve focuses on her paper and takes notes.

“You know how I like it.” Sasha switches her crossed legs, scooting her closer to the edge of my seat.

Seeing her in my space again has unwanted memories of us together resurfacing—the things we did in this office before anything was in it. I pour myself… a stiff drink, then get a ginger ale over ice, purposely not using her usual Pepsi. I swallow mine first and pour another, taking the extra time to put my thoughts together. I needed Sasha, and she knows it.

I hand her a drink, and she puts it on the desk. “So, what’s it going to be?”

“How would you help, Sasha?” The words taste like ash in my mouth. But I’d rather deal with her than the people on that list who think I owe them money.

“I’m still working on numbers, but I think I can get everyone down a little, and everyone will be happy. I’ll take care of all of it.” Sasha looks at Eve. “You taking notes, honey?”

“It’s Eve, and you don’t get to tell her what to do.” I grip my glass. Watching Sasha watch Eve makes my skin crawl.

“Ms. Eve is off-limits.” Sasha holds her hands up and focuses her attention on me.

“What do you want in return? There’s no way you're doing this from the goodness of your black heart.” I pour another drink, the ice clinking in the glass as I brace myself for her response.

“We can discuss that later,” Sasha rumbles softly, almost like a purr. Glancing at Eve, she eagerly awaits her reaction.

Eve’s fingers have turned white as she grips her papers. She’s facing Sasha, so I can’t see her reaction. But I have seen enough.

“Eve, can I see you out here?” I gesture toward the door with a nod.

Eve is quick to her feet and follows me out. As soon as I close the door, I back her up against the wall and kiss her hard, as if my cock was on my tongue. I needed her to know she was the one I desired, and Sasha couldn’t take me away from her.

After a few seconds, she pushes me back, desperately trying to catch her breath. “Ash—”

I stick my thumb in her mouth. “I need you to go home.” I need her to obey me. I couldn’t play Sasha’s game with Eve around. She couldn’t know that side of me.

A knock on the door startles both of us; Stella enters the lobby. “Your father is in the restroom, and then he will be in. I called, but I didn’t get an answer.”

I look back to Eve. “Leave now.”