Chapter 7
Iwatch my brothers depart, knowing they can handle it, then I look back at Karma. She’s an unknown, and I don’t like not knowing. “One thing does fascinate me . . .”
“I am on the edge of my seat, waiting to hear what,” she deadpans.
I hide my smile at her sass. Something about it is strangely endearing. Nobody else speaks to me like that. They cower in terror. Even my brothers, despite their ribbing, don’t dare cross that line. Everyone fears me, and I don’t blame them.
There is a reason I have the reputation I do. There is a reason I am the head of this family.
I will do whatever it takes.
She doesn’t seem to care, however, and I don’t know if it’s bravery on her part or just plain stupidity, but I do not mind as I speak to her.
She’s . . . different from those who surround us, desiring money, power, or clout.
She doesn’t seem to care for any of it, but uses them just as well as weapons.
Karma is rough, her voice speaking of the streets, and her clothes aren’t designer, yet she wears them like they are.
She’s as comfortable in this bar as I assume she would be in a mansion.
She’s a puzzle, one I want to pick apart and put back together.
We stare at each other for a moment. “Well?” she prompts.
“I was waiting for you to ask politely. I don’t like foulmouthed people.”
Her laughter rings through the bar. “Fuck off. You’re surrounded by killers and mobsters.” She leans closer, her eyes sparkling viciously. “You say you don’t like my mouth, but are you sure about that? You’ve been staring at it a lot.”
Her meaning is clear, yet I can’t stop myself from tracing her lips with my eyes, and she smirks, thinking she’s winning.
I change the game again, running my thumb across hers.
Her lips part, soft as petals, as I murmur, “I like the look of it, but the words make me want to silence it another way. Now, ask nicely about what intrigues me.”
“You think I care enough to ask?” she retorts against my thumb.
People are watching us, but I don’t care.
We are so close, I can smell her sweet perfume.
It wraps around me, stroking my skin, speaking of nights in silk sheets with untold pleasure.
The challenge in her eyes promises I’d enjoy it, and as her wicked lips part, I watch as she sucks my thumb into her mouth.
Her hot tongue wraps around it, teasing my skin.
My eyes widen in surprise and pleasure, and then she bites down.
Hissing, I jerk away. She laughs, my blood on her lips.
Before she can move away, I wrap my hand around her throat and squeeze. “Nobody who draws even a drop of my blood lives,” I growl.
“Then try to kill me,” she dares, and I feel the hard press of a gun against my dick. “You might manage it, but I’ll also pull the trigger, then we’ll both be dead. Won’t that be fun?”
“You truly do have a death wish,” I mumble as I stare into her eyes.
Her outward beauty hides such a vicious little thing.
“Maybe, or maybe I’m just itching for you to give me an opening,” she replies. “Now, release my throat. If it’s not during sex, it just isn’t worth it.”
Surprise fills me, and laughter tumbles free as I release her and sit back. She watches me with an arched eyebrow. “You look a lot more handsome when you laugh.”
“Is that right?” I grin. “I don’t usually have a reason to, so I guess you’ll have to make it happen more often. Now, how about you remove your gun from my dick? I’m quite attached to it.”
“I bet.” She drops her arm and sits back like nothing happened.
“Boss!” someone yells.
Karma glances over, but she aims her gun at me. Smart girl. “Call,” the same person adds.
Throwing me one last look, she stands and tucks her weapon away. “Well, that ends this delightful yet strange conversation. Have a good evening, Mr. Sai.” She wanders away.
I watch her go, staring at her tight ass, and when she answers the phone, I make no move to leave. I even sit back and get comfortable.
“Sir, shall I get the car?” one of my guards asks.
“Not yet. I’m enjoying myself.” I continue to watch her, more than intrigued.
Who is this woman?
“Alright, stalker.” She places her palms on the table and leans into me two hours later. I’ve watched her the entire time and observed how others direct questions to her and respond. It’s been interesting and enlightening. “Are you planning on staying all night? You’re scaring away the customers.”
“Am I?” I murmur. “Tell me your real name and I’ll leave.”
“You want my name?” she flirts, sliding her hand across mine on the table. “Why? So you can scream it?”
“Planning on making me scream?” I flirt back.
“Not in the way you’re thinking.” She flutters her lashes innocently. “And no name. I don’t give out information for free. You should know better. Nothing in this world is free, and information is power.”
“What do you want in return?” I ask. For some reason, I need to know it—not just so I can figure out who this woman is, but so I can call her by it.
“Nothing you can offer,” she purrs.
“I have enough money to buy the entire world ten times over, more land than God, and more men than I can count. I have everything. Tell me what it costs.”
“You have everything, but not me.” She smirks. “And not my name. This is one thing your status, money, or power can’t buy. I am not for sale.”
“Everything is for sale,” I counter. “It’s just the price that differs, so tell me, what’s yours?”
Pulling out a revolver, one of many guns she’s undoubtedly carrying, she sets it on the table before me.
“Here, pull the trigger and see if you die or not. If you survive, I’ll tell you my name.
” When I don’t move, she grins. “That’s what I thought.
You’ll gamble land and money, but not your life.
From a man who looks like a bad Godfather reject and will have his hairline snatched back in two years, it isn’t surprising.
I obviously have more to fill out my pants than you. ”
I have to bite back my smile. Why are her insults so fucking endearing?
I can’t let her think of me that way though. For some reason, I want to prove her wrong.
Picking up the gun, I meet her eyes and press it to my head without hesitation.
“Sir—”
I pull the trigger, never once looking away or flinching, and then I hand it back to her. “Well?”
“That’s it.” One of my guards steps up next to her, aiming his pistol at her. “Sir, she is trying to kill you.”
“Really? Wasn’t that obvious before now?” I smirk, but he doesn’t lower his arm, and something about it makes my smile dissolve.
“Motherfucker, really?” She pulls another gun, this time a Glock 17, and presses the barrel to his head so they are in a standoff.
My other guards draw their weapons, outnumbering her.
My eyes narrow. There are so many guns aimed at her, yet she doesn’t seem concerned. It bothers me, though I’m not sure why.
“The next person to aim at her dies,” I warn, my voice ice-cold.
I don’t like them pointing guns at her.
“You heard your master. Drop them,” she teases, still smiling, but her eyes are tight and she’s scanning them like they are threats. I have no doubt she would take most of them out before they could kill her.
“Sir—”
I pull out my trusty Sig Sauer P226 and shoot the man who’s speaking. He crumples to the floor. “Last warning. Drop them now!” I roar.
The bar is silent as my men slowly obey. Karma smirks, stepping back and lowering hers as I stand and fasten my suit jacket. “Until next time,” I murmur into her ear as I pass, and I frown at the corpse. “Take care of that,” I order.
She grabs my arm, and I realize she is a woman of her word as she presses up on her tiptoes, her lips against my ear. “Bexley.”
Holding back my shiver of desire, I watch her walk away before shaking off my stupor and prowling to the door, then I leave her and the bar behind me.
I don’t know much more than when I came, but I know one thing for sure—I want Bexley carnally.
Bexley . . .
She was right. I want to scream it.