Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
RYO
Ishould have been stronger. I should have said no, and yet, when we’d finished eating and the time came for my answer, I caved.
Link’s smile had dropped when I stood to leave at the end, though. I was sure he’d thought I was leaving without saying anything.
I couldn’t bring myself to do that. Not when I’d enjoyed his company. Even when he did most of the talking by asking me silly questions that, apparently, would let him know me on a deeper level.
My phone vibrated, and I sighed. I knew it would be him. He was the only one who contacted me during business hours, unless there was an emergency.
I took my phone out of my pocket.
Link:
Thinking of you.
There was an image attached of him winking and grinning like a fool.
My lips twitched, until I thinned them. His charm wasn’t going to win me over so soon. He could change his mind about me. Grow bored when he realised I wouldn’t be easily swayed into his bed.
His worried gaze from the night before swept through my mind.
“You’re leaving?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
He pushed his chair back and straightened. I held my hand up when he started to approach and told him, “I’ll consider your terms, but I do not rush anything.”
His bright smile had my breath catching. “Got it, snookums.” He winked. “Don’t you worry, I’ll earn each kiss, touch, and more. You’ll see how serious I am about you.”
I scoffed. “You’ll grow tired of the chase.”
He chuckled. “No fuckin’ way, baby. You’ll be worth it, and just know that when I catch you, I’ll make sure you won’t want to escape.”
I sighed and shook my head. “You speak as if you want me around on a long-term basis.”
“Forever,” he said instantly.
He couldn’t be real. Shaking my head once more, I told him, “I’ll speak to you soon.”
I’d quickly gotten out of there because he’d made my heart react in a way it hadn’t before. Yes, I’d had lovers, but none of them wanted to get to know me in the way Link showed he wished to.
Ryo:
If you must.
A throat cleared. I blinked back into reality and lifted my gaze from my phone to Wolf, who sat across from me in the vehicle.
“Is that smile for who I think it is?” Wolf asked.
Blanking my expression, I pocketed my cell again. “Tell me again why you agreed to this meeting when you’ve already given him all the information you need to?”
Wolf grinned. “Deflecting. Very well. Ross doesn’t believe I’ve handed everything over to Link. He refuses to deal with Link until I, in person, tell him I’m done with the drug trade.”
“And you’re allowing Ross to dictate your actions?”
Wolf’s grin turned vindictive. “I wish to make sure he clearly understands I’m out of the business and that me and mine are off limits.”
“He threatened Ruin?”
“Not exactly, but it was insinuated.”
“Will it be just you and I going in?” I asked.
“Yes. The others will wait outside for the signal.”
“The signal?”
Wolf cocked a brow. “When the screaming starts. I placed your wakizashi in the trunk.”
That was my favourite blade. Perfect.
My pocket vibrated; I would check it later. Now I had business to deal with.
“You wanted me here, and now you stay silent?” Wolf glowered at the man opposite the desk. Ross glanced from me, where I stood at Wolf’s back, to Wolf.
“Why didn’t you come to me with the deal instead of Link? That stupid fucker already owns enough of everything around here.”
A wave of fury washed over me. I placed my hand on the hilt at my waist and squeezed. A need pushed at me to draw my weapon free and slice off his head.
Link wasn’t a stupid fucker.
He was smart and trustworthy, or else we wouldn’t have deemed him worthy of our time and business.
Wolf’s hand shot up near his shoulder, telling me to hold.
“My choices are my own business. I don’t have to explain myself to you. If you’re wise, you will tread carefully when it comes to working with Link. He won’t be as lenient as I was. I allowed your little side business. He won’t.”
He slammed his hand onto the desk. “I’m not afraid of you or that piece of shit—” His scream echoed around the room.
Wolf looked up at me, and I sheathed my weapon.
“I only took a few fingers.”
The door behind us flew open, and Ross’s men raced in with guns drawn. They looked at their boss cradling his hand against his chest.
“Kill them,” he ordered.
“Don’t even fuckin’ think about it,” a new voice said as a gun cocked.
Link entered the room with three others at his back.
The foolish man beamed over at me. “Baby, that sword move was damn hot.”
Shock had me jerking my head back.
He tipped his head to the corner of the room. “We installed cameras last night. Pure luck on my part, or else I would’ve missed seeing you act in my defence.”
I sniffed. “The only reason I acted was because he didn’t fear my boss.”
He winked. “Uh-huh, sure. It was also luck I’d been on my way for a chat with this fuckface.” He turned to Ross and fired. Ross bellowed as blood pooled over his upper arm.
“Guns down,” one of Link’s men ordered loudly.
Link scowled at Ross and bit out, “I didn’t like the way you looked at Ryo.”
“Dear God,” I muttered.
Wolf snorted.
“And I really don’t like your fuckin’ attitude, Ross. The way I see it, I can either delete you from my world, or you can continue playing your small role by my laws and live to see your family again. What do you say?”
“Your rules,” he said, wincing.
Link laughed. “I thought so. The cameras stay. I’ll be keeping a closer eye on you and your people. Better be a good boy from now on, or I’ll allow my man to cut off more than your fingers.”
“I am not your man,” I told him with a glare.
“You will be, snook.”
Did he not care who was around?
I wasn’t sure if I liked that about him or not.
Not. No, I didn’t like it because it sent my blood pressure sky-high.
This man spun my world out of control, and I felt my cheeks heating.
I looked to Wolf. “Are we done?”
Wolf nodded and stood. “Also know this, Ross. If you come near me or mine, you will suffer in more ways than you can imagine.” Wolf strode toward the door, making Link’s men move out of the way.
I followed, but it wasn’t until we were outside and I’d removed my weapon to place it back in the trunk that I realised Link was there waiting by the car door.
After Wolf climbed into the vehicle, I shut the door and turned to the bouncing man behind me.
He grinned. “Can I kiss you today?”
“No.”
His grin widened. “Are you busy tonight for dinner?”
“Yes.”
The window on the car wound down. “Ruin and I are staying in tonight, and I’ll have the other guards there. You’re free to do what you wish.”
I scowled down at Wolf. “I wish to work.”
“And I wish for you to cut back your hours. You work too hard,” Wolf said.
“We’ll speak about that later in the office.” Meaning I wished for him to keep his mouth shut, and if he wasn’t understanding that from my glare, then we were going to have a problem.
“So,” Link drew out, “dinner?”
“No.” I gripped the door handle and went to open it, but Wolf hit the lock button. “Wolf,” I warned.
“Link, would you like to have dinner tonight with Ryo, Ruin, and me?”
That meddling bastard.
Link clapped, and then I felt his hand brush over my back. “Perfect. See you tonight, baby.”
“Don’t call me that,” I shouted to his retreating form and heard his laughter before he entered the house again.
Wolf pressed the unlock button, and I yanked the door open.
The image of strangling my boss and friend made me smile. Wolf scooted over on the seat.
“Maybe if you had told me what happened between you and Link last night, I wouldn’t have intervened.”
“I’m asking you as my friend to please stay out of this from now on. I’ll see Link when I wish to. I’ve already told him I wasn’t free for four weeks.”
Wolf studied me before he nodded once. “You have my word I won’t interfere any longer.”
Sighing, I relaxed back in the seat. “Thank you.”
“But since we’re now speaking as friends, will you tell me how last night went? Four weeks, seriously?”
Snorting, I shook my head. “You’re too nosey.”
“It is a fault of mine.”
“I enjoyed dinner with him, and I said I’d consider seeing him exclusively.”
Wolf smiled. “You’re dating.”
“We are not. I said I would consider it.”
“He already sees you as his,” Wolf pointed out.
“I know,” I bit out. “But he doesn’t mean it.”
“I like this for you, Ryo.”
My heart stumbled.
I did like Link’s attention, too, but I wouldn’t allow all my walls to drop and risk being hurt.
“I’ll see how things go.”
“He shot Ross for the way he looked at you.”
Pinching my nose, I groaned. “Please don’t remind me.”
“I think it’s sweet, since you did cut off Ross’s fingers for the words he used against Link.”
“I did not.”
Wolf smirked. “Sure.”
At least I never would admit that I let my anger get a hold of me for that brief moment.