Malice

Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Gwendolyn

Malice—shit—Max left me in his office with a guard on the door while he went off to speak with the detectives.

Maybe I should be worried for Max if those cops were going to be an issue, but I also knew he could take care of business.

Besides, I was too busy mentally freaking out about calling him Max.

I wasn’t sure I’d heard anyone use his name like that.

But he wanted me to.

He wanted me.

I stood up from the couch and shook out my hands.

“Oh my God.” At the restaurant I’d managed to play it cool.

At least, I thought I did. Now I felt like I’d been slapped with how big of a deal this was.

North America’s biggest crime boss wanted a serious relationship with me—the nerdy computer freak.

Wow. Oh, wow.

When I’d agreed to do a one-time job for him on Blaze’s behalf, I never could have predicted this. But I wouldn’t want it any other way.

My anxiety over the whole situation finally began to ease. I’d just gone through a whirlwind of emotions. But I felt like I was finally ready to accept my fate.

Malice wanted to date me.

Seriously.

Only me.

Well, of course only me—I’d cut a bitch if anyone tried to come between us.

Pressing my cool hands to my warm face, I smiled wide.

Everything was starting to feel just right.

I hadn’t realized just how anxious and worried I’d been over the past few months—fighting my feelings for him. But now that I’d accepted what was happening between us, I was the calmest I’d felt in a while.

I paced the room, my thoughts circling around what the cops could possibly want with Max.

He dealt in illegal things, and I also knew—from working for him and seeing the files in his systems—that a number of cops were on his payroll.

He paid them good money to serve him and not ask questions.

But were these detectives different? If only I had their names, then I could check the system to see if they were under Max’s control.

I drifted to the large window overlooking the club below.

It was still relatively packed—people everywhere, dancing, drinking, singing.

I’d never really gotten to experience nights like that after taking on guardianship of my siblings, though I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Maybe now, with things finally easing and the promise of safety ahead, I could.

Moving away from the window, I let my gaze travel over the rest of the office, taking it all in.

The room was minimalistic. His desk sat in the center, shelves lined with books and scattered decor behind it.

A couch rested near the window and another along the far-left wall.

The rug beneath my feet reminded me of the one at home—the kind I liked to curl my toes into just to feel the plush softness.

I crossed the room and slipped into his chair, rotating it side to side as a quiet, breathy laugh escaped me. After a moment, I stood and trailed my fingers along the top of his computer before wandering farther across the office.

I paused in front of the paintings. They were gorgeous—detailed scenes of his city, the bars and cars he owned. Each canvas felt like a fragment of his world, pieces of himself captured in oil and color.

Turning away, I drifted back toward the other side of the room where the bar was tucked into the back corner. I lingered there, internally debating whether he’d be okay with me fixing a drink. In the end, I decided he wouldn’t mind—he cared about me.

Smiling to myself, I poured a raspberry vodka before rolling his desk chair over to the window and settling into it. I took a sip, then released a soft sigh. “I guess people-watching will have to keep me entertained.”

Okay, what the fuck was taking Max so long to get rid of these clowns? I mean, it really hadn’t been that long—about forty minutes—but that one drink may have turned into two, and my bladder was beginning to scream at me.

“What kind of work office doesn’t have a bathroom attached?” I mumbled, walking back and forth.

I needed to a distraction. Maybe I could count all the people on the floor. Once again, I went over to the window and started pointing at the civilians while calling the numbers aloud. I got to seventeen. Fuck it. I rushed to the office door and yanked it open.

“Woah, Gwen,” Vincent said, straightening from the wall just outside the door. “What’re you doing? Bro told you to stay put until the meeting was over.”

“Are you telling me you’ve been outside this door the whole time?” I’d thought it’d been a stranger guarding the door. “While I’ve been cooped up in here with no one to talk to?”

“Uh… yes.”

I sighed. “Well, I need to use the bathroom.”

“Sorry, Gwen, but you’ll have to wait.” He went back to lean against the wall and twirl the hair tie around his fingers.

Wait? Hell no. “Vincent, you pudding pie, you. If you make me wait any longer, I will piss myself. I’m sure you don’t want to clean that mess up.”

He looked at me with wide eyes. “You aren’t serious, are you?”

“Deadly.”

He groaned and tied his hair up into his usual bun. “Fucking hell. Okay, hang on.” He stepped up to me but reached around me to close the door to the office. “Follow me.”

He headed down the hallway, and I quickly followed while internally chanting, Hold it, hold it, hold it.

After a moment, we reached the security system activated door, which we’d gone through earlier. Vincent turned to me. “We only have to enter through two of these security doors. Then, if you remember the corridor to the left, the bathroom will be off to the side there.”

I danced from one foot to another. “Okay. Got it. We’d better hurry, though.”

His gaze flared before he turned and entered the password. Once the door slid open, I ushered Vincent to speed-walk down to the next. As soon as we were through, Vincent’s phone beeped, and he muttered a quiet “Fuck” under his breath. “Reaper just texted. Meeting is finalizing, so let’s be quick.”

“Got it.”

When we rounded the corner, Vincent pointed and said, “Bathroom’s through there. The women’s is down the hallway and on the right. I’ll be in the hallway.”

I walked past him, blowing him a kiss. “Thank you, thank you.” I ran the rest of the way to the bathroom. I had seconds to spare before I peed myself, but luckily, I made it.

After coming out of the stall I went over to the sink to wash my hands. “Phew, that was a close call.”

When the door to the bathroom slammed shut, I jumped and turned toward it. Veronica stood just inside the door with a scowl on her usually pretty face. Letting out a sigh, I faced the mirror and began fixing my hair while ignoring the pissed-off woman.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

With an eyeroll, I told her, “I’m waiting on Max.”

“What did you just say?”

Whatever she was planning or thinking, I didn’t want to be a part of it. I just wanted to find Max and finish our first night together.

Facing her, I shook my head. “Nothing.” I stepped forward to go past her and get to the door, but I’d barely moved when she grabbed my arm.

“I’m talking here,” she spat, nails biting into my flesh.

I yanked free of her grip and warned, “Don’t touch me.”

She sneered. “What’s so fucking special about you, bitch? You’re short, pudgy, and look like a mess.”

A familiar surge of irritation hit me—the same one I’d experienced countless times in my high school days. Mean-spirted people never grew up.

With a shrug, I said, “Whatever you say.” After turning, I was jerked back by my hair. My heart jumped, more from surprise than anything else.

“What the fuck?” I spun around and shoved her away as a few strands of my hair were ripped from my scalp. Glaring, I rubbed at my head. “You’re one crazy-ass bitch.”

What did she think would come of this?

She screeched, “He belongs to me. I should be his. I should be the one running the organization at his side!”

Snorting, I shook my head. “You really are just a crazy, gold-digging bitch.”

She screamed and stamped her foot. “I’ve done everything right for him. I’ve been at his beck and call, assisting and helping with the businesses.” She paused before smirking and crossing her arms over her chest. “And I’ve pleased him in so many ways. He’ll grow bored of you and come back to me.”

Her words were a slap to the face. Max wasn’t a saint, and he had a past with other women. I wasn’t really surprised she was one of them.

Even though her words churned my stomach, I could look beyond whoever came before me because he’d shown that I was important and that he wanted to give us a real chance. You’re it for me. Just remembering his words gave me more reassurance.

Malice, I trusted.

This woman, I didn’t.

It was her smirk and knowing tone that sparked something I couldn’t shake. A flash of anger and protectiveness spread through me. My hand twitched, and before I even realized it, my hand shot out. The sharp smack of my palm landed on her cheek and echoed through the room.

She froze, wide-eyed and stunned by my reaction. I mean, so was I. I’d never laid a hand on another person before, but I didn’t regret it. The anger at her words still burned in my chest.

The air between us thickened with tension. Every part of my body was on alert. I could feel her eyes drilling into me, then she lunged, shouting. I braced, ready. But before she touched me, Vincent had his hands around her waist, lifting her and dragging her back.

Then I felt a familiar warmth at my back—solid and grounding. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me against him, the hold firm and protective.

Only, Veronica wasn’t done. She thrashed in Vincent’s arms, her voice high and frantic. “Malice, please. She’s crazy. She slapped me. You need to get rid of her.”

“Enough,” Max barked from behind me, and silence fell over the room. She stopped yelling and thrashing.

“Malice,” she said in a tone filled with pleading.

“Vincent, take her to the blue room and teach her a lesson. She’s never to step foot on my streets again.”

Vincent began to drag her out of the bathroom, and once more, she kicked and screamed, begging for forgiveness, but Max ignored it all. As soon as we were alone, Max turned me around to look me over, brushing his fingers over my body, checking for any injury.

I reached up and rested my hands on his cheeks. “I’m okay,” I murmured. “How’d it go with the cops?”

He studied my face a little longer, eyes sharp, then grunted. “Reaper’s escorting them out. Someone in my organization told them I had underage women working the streets.” His jaw clenched. “I’m not letting this slide.”

“Of course not,” I told him, rising onto my toes to press my lips to his.

He stared down at me. “You never even considered I would do that?”

Scrunching my nose, I scoffed. “Why would I? I know how you work, Max. But do you trust these detectives were telling you the truth and didn’t just come up with a fake excuse to talk with you?”

His lips thinned. “I don’t know yet, but I will fuckin’ find out.”

“I’ll help in any way I can.”

“Fuck, baby.” He cupped my cheek and leaned down to kiss me, taking my breath away. Pulling back, he tucked me under one arm, warming me in ways that made me feel claimed, and walked us out. “You won’t see her again.”

“I know.” Outside the room, I glanced down the hallway at the elevator doors.

Reaper stood in front of it with two others.

They had to be the detectives. One of the men had brown hair parted in the middle and a nasty scowl on his face.

The other man seemed familiar—blond hair slicked back as he stood there, obnoxiously chewing gum with a smile.

An uneasy wave washed through me as the detective looked down the hall at us.

It was then, from the deep scar above his eye, that I realized why he was so familiar.

He was Stasia’s fucking ex. For a brief second, I saw his eyes widen in recognition, but it wasn’t for long because Malice moved in front, blocking any view.

I internally screamed in anger, knowing Carl Perez was the one snooping around Max’s organization.

I understood Max’s work wasn’t all legal, but Carl wasn’t any better than him, despite his reputation as a detective. He was one of the dirtiest officers on the force, and so was his partner.

A hand slid to the side of my neck and dragged me out of my thoughts. Warmth spread through me as I leaned into Max’s touch while resting my hands on his sides.

“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost, doll?”

Blowing out a breath, I told Max all about Stasia’s ex and just what type of investigator he and his partner were.

Max’s jaw clenched before he dipped and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Thanks for telling me, baby.”

“Max, I have information already stored about those two. You can use it against him when he shows what he’s really doing around your business.”

He nodded once. “Show me tomorrow. For now, let’s get you home, doll.”

My belly fluttered from the desire burning in his gaze.

I had a feeling I was finally going to get dessert.