Chapter 4
Slay
Yesterday hadn’t gone well with Cass. I’d been dying to see her. Now that I had a meeting scheduled in San Francisco with Remo and Fabio Ferrari, I had time to drop by her café.
“Where are you going, handsome?” Suzy appeared from the kitchen as I made my way out of the building.
“Got some things to do.”
“I missed you last night.” She walked right up to me and put her hand on my chest. “Maybe we can get together tonight.”
“Maybe.” I smiled as Jefe’s words replayed in my head. That sweet, sexy girl wants you. Try with her.
I’d find out sooner than later if there was any hope with Cass. And if she rejected me again, I would force myself to give it a go with Suzy. My conscience would be clear knowing I’d given it my all trying to be with Cass.
“I can’t wait!” Suzy’s face brightened.
“I’ll see ya later.” I pinched her chin and winked.
“Okay! See ya later,” she said as I left faster than I normally would. That girl scared the shit out of me.
Why did she scare the shit out of me?
Because if I was with her, it only meant I would never be with Cass again.
Fuck me. I sounded pathetic.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I groaned, seeing who it was.
“Shit, Steve. You really need to get a life and stop bothering me.”
“Slay, you’re going to want to hear this. It’s about the Russians.”
“What about them?” I scrubbed my hand down the side of my face as I sat on my Harley.
“My dad told me Cass has a new Russian friend. A dude who seems to like her more than a friend.”
“Come again?” I squeezed the phone in my hand.
“It sounds crazy. Am I right?” Steve laughed. “When I talked to my dad a bit ago, he told me he met a Russian guy last night at Cass’s café. Alek is his name.”
“Fuck!”
“I know, right? Seems he’s been in town a few weeks and stops in at the café multiple times a week.”
“But he’s only her friend, right?”
“He kissed her on the cheek when he left.”
“Fuck!”
“Man, I know you got feelings for my sister. But my dad likes this dude. Do you think he’s one of the bad Russians the deputy mentioned?”
My blood turned cold. “I gotta go.” I ended the call, started my Harley and drove off.
If the Russian was a member of the Bratva, Cass could be in danger. Not that I thought this dude Alek had targeted her. Like why? There was nothing between Cass and me. She wasn’t linked to me.
This was all coincidence. Which meant his interest in Cass was genuine.
Fuck!
One thought floated through my mind as I broke the speed limit to get to the café. What if Cass, my Cass, was interested in the Russian? It was possible.
I’d probably hate her, initially.
But I also loved her and wanted her to be happy, even if it wasn’t with me.
Fuck that shit! I might respect women, but I’d be damn if I just let Cass slip through my fingers without fighting for her.
When I arrived at the café, I parked my Harley in the alley and went around the front.
My feet stopped moving, frozen in place at the sight of Cass and some guy laughing. He was seated at the bar, wearing a gray suit and he had an air of confidence about him. I didn’t have to hear what they were saying because I knew… I knew he was the Russian.
My first instinct was to barge inside, threat his life and claim my woman.
That would go over like a steel turd with Cass. She’d likely force me out of her building and tell me she never wanted to see me again.
Been there done that, not looking to go there again.
Only the last time had been in her home when she forced me out after Josh’s funeral. She’d yelled, “I never want to see you again,” with tears running down her face.
Obviously, she had seen me again.
Cass had stayed in town after her family moved away. I never quite understood why she would stay in San Diablo, the place where her whole life had blown up following the death of her brother.
A huge part of me believed Cass had built her life here because of me.
Did I really want to risk pissing her off?
No, but I also needed to get an idea how close these two were becoming. With that final thought, I entered Cass’s Vibes.
She immediately looked in my direction with a gorgeous smile, but her joy quickly disappeared. I wasn’t a customer like she’d assumed when the door opened.
“Hey.” I jerked my chin, acting as if I wasn’t there for her.
“Hi,” she said, awkwardly.
The Russian peered over his shoulder as I passed the café area and made my way to the book section.
“Do you know him?” the Russian asked, not even trying to be quiet or discrete.
But then I hadn’t removed my cut, in case he was Bratva. I wanted to him to know right out the gate who he would be messing with, because nobody fucks with the Kings.
“Yes. It’s a small town.”
I found myself out of earshot and staring at Harry Potter books.
The collection reminded me of when Cass was obsessed with the Potterverse and called herself a Potterhead.
Those were some of the best times of my life.
Things had been easy and we’d been happy.
She’d told me I was Gryffindor and she was Ravenclaw.
That year she’d made me dress up for Halloween, wearing a black cloak and carrying a wand.
I would’ve done anything to make her happy.
I would still do anything to make her happy if she’d give me the chance.
“What are you doing here?”
I turned to face her. “Looking for a book.”
“You don’t read books.” She squared her shoulders like she was preparing for a fight. When really, she was only annoyed. “I read books, not you. Why are you in my business?”
“Thought I’d check it out.”
“You never come here.” She considered me for a long second, then understanding flashed in her hazel depths. “You saw me with Alek and your possessive side came out.”
“When it comes to you, my possessive side is always at the surface.” I moved toward her. “It never fades away, Cass.”
“Stop.” She took two steps back, her cheeks turning bright red. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I need to talk to you and didn’t want to be rude while you were with a customer.”
“Alek isn’t only a customer.”
Rage ignited in my belly. Were they a couple already? Was I too late?
“He’s also my friend,” she said, instantly defusing me.
“That’s good. We can’t have too many friends.”
“No, we can’t.” She stared into my eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she could see into my dark soul. “What did you need to talk about? Were you wanting some book recommendations for your club girl?”
“My club girl?” I screwed up my face. “I don’t have any girl.”
“Yes you do. The one wearing booty shorts and carrying your laundry. She seemed disappointed to not have your bedroom key.” She leaned toward me. In a tight voice, she said, “Give her a key. It’s a nice thing to do when she sleeps in your bed every night.”
That there reeked of jealousy. It made me damn happy too.
“Suzy isn’t in my bed every night.”
“Suzy?”
“Yeah, Suzy. She mostly does my laundry.”
“Poor girl. She does all the dirty work and doesn’t get any of the perks.” She shook her head.
“Do you want me to give her my biggest perk.” I shot a wicked grin at her.
She gasped. “Don’t talk like that in here. This is a family-friendly establishment!”
“There aren’t any children around.”
“There could have been.” She scanned the area. “I don’t care what you give her.”
“You don’t?” Admittedly, her words hurt.
“God, Slay. Why would I? You’re a grown man and free to do whatever or whoever you want.”
“Good to know.” I stepped away from her. “You answered my question.”
“What question? You didn’t ask one.”
“It doesn’t really matter anymore.” I turned on my heel to leave. Clearly, Cass would never be mine again. I just had to fucking accept it. “Good luck with Alek.”
“Wait!” She grabbed my wrist and jerked me around.
“What?” Just feeling her touching me made me weak.
It didn’t matter how many years had passed since we were together. I could still taste the cherry ChapStick she used to wear on my tongue. Hear her sweet whimpers during sex. Feel her warm, naked body shivering against mine after her climax.
Christ, I could take her right the fuck now.
Maybe I should try.
I could toss her over my shoulder, take her into the back where her office was, and pound her on her desk.
God, if only I knew she wouldn’t fight back.
“I’m so confused.” She wrinkled her forehead and bit her bottom lip. It stole my attention, and I practically forgot what we were talking about.
“Would you slap me if I kissed you right now?” I needed to seal my lips on to hers more than I needed my next breath.
Her mouth slowly popped open, and she sighed. Sighed.
“Don’t do that to me, sweetheart. You know you’re teasing me.”
She snapped her mouth shut. “You can’t be serious.”
“I wouldn’t never joke about kissing you.” I moved closer to her. “Never joke about anything with you.”
“Slay. Please.” She backed up against the wall of books.
“Please, what?” I placed my hand on her cheek and stroked her soft skin with my thumb. “Please, kiss you? Please, tear your clothes off and make you scream in ecstasy? Sweetheart, you don’t even need to ask.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Her breathing increased, showing her arousal. “This can’t happen.”
“Of course it can. Nobody will see us.” Although, I’d like Alek to catch us with our lips locked, so he’d know she was mine.
“Are you high?” she asked, but she didn’t move away when she could have.
“If I said yes, would you let me kiss you because you think I’m impaired?”
“You’re not on drugs.” She rolled her pretty eyes. Of course, she knew better. Aside from the occasional joint, I never messed with drugs.
“But let’s pretend I am.” Putting my hands on the shelf behind her, I boxed her in and went for it.
My mouth captured hers and I poured everything into the kiss. Kneaded her pillowy soft lips the way I remembered she liked, slow and firm. I rubbed my body against her, but forcing myself not to grind against her. I’d surely go from nothing to exploding in five seconds.
Fifteen years.