Chapter 15
Anna
“Why are all men assholes?”
A better question was why could I not get the man off my mind?
Maybe two reasons and I didn’t like either of them.
One was that every time I moved, I was reminded of the harsh round of discipline.
The other was that I’d spent the night with my pussy throbbing, unable to stop thinking about either the orgasm or the promise he’d stated as if signing a contract in blood.
I don’t know why I’d tossed out the question to Emme. “Why do they feel the need to assert their supposed authority while touting their arrogance?”
Well, maybe my blanket assumption was extreme, but the way Jaxon had reacted had been ridiculous. He’d acted as if I was working for someone hell bent on destroying him.
While I’d yet to confirm my suspicions given I was at practice very early, his behavior and what I’d seen the day before had led me to the conclusion that the Prince family was involved in a hell of a lot more than just running a hospitality company or even land development, which is what I’d heard from Emmeline.
Jaxon’s behavior had all the earmarks of a crime syndicate.
She’d apologized for her brother several times and I’d sensed there was much more going on with her family than I’d been made aware of.
Plus, she’d been somewhat cagey when I’d broached the subject.
I’d had a half dozen or more questions I’d wanted to ask her, but there’d been an awkwardness between us.
I’d been exhausted, hiding under the covers even though sleep had been difficult.
Sadly, the questions lingered in my mind.
“Because some of them are,” she answered with an unusual quietness to her tone.
“I’m sorry. Last night was just…”
I touched the beautiful fabric on the chair and sighed. Besides a sleepless night, I’d had a shitty rehearsal. With only a couple of days to go before the sold-out performance, I was way too out of sorts to assume the emotional side of the role.
Emmeline purposely knocked into me, something she’d done years before. She managed to grab my attention. “You can say it, Anna. Telling me my brother is a horrible person isn’t going to hurt my feelings.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not fair to you. I never wanted to put you in a position to be in an argument with your brother.”
“I have three others I can count on.” She laughed seeing my face, but her smile faded almost immediately. “I’m kidding.”
“Still, that’s not fair to you.”
“Jaxon isn’t a bad egg. In fact, he’s usually my favorite of all my brothers.
He takes protecting the family very seriously and has since college.
Although lately, I don’t know what’s going on with him.
His moods have become much darker over the last few months.
It’s funny. When he adopted Zorro, I thought he was finally able to let someone in past his armor. ”
“The gorgeous dog I met yesterday.”
She nodded. “Yes, from what my brother told me, now being used as a drug-sniffing dog. I guess that’s what he used to do when he worked with the police. I don’t know if it’s his getting older or maybe he just needs a hobby. A girlfriend would do him a hell of a lot of good.”
I had no idea why she was sharing so many personal details, but at least I was gathering a sense of what made Jaxon tick.
“Well, I’m sorry to say I can’t offer to be his go-to girl.
We didn’t quite hit it off.” Every time I moved, I was reminded of the harsh spanking.
I’d even stood in front of the mirror, glaring at the red marks.
I’d expected to see his handprint on both ass cheeks.
Thankfully, I’d been wrong but still, the ache continued and I had no doubt would for several days.
The questions lingered on the tip of my tongue.
“If I’d known he would use his acts of seduction on you, I wouldn’t have asked him to go to the benefit in my place.”
In all the years I’d known Emme, I almost never saw her blush. “Emme. I’m a big girl. What happened between us was mutual. Okay? We were pretending to be something we weren’t.”
She finally looked me in the eyes. “You know you can trust me. Right? I mean if you need to talk about your past, I’m here. I realize you don’t know me very well, but I have a very interesting family so I might be able to offer advice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Did she suddenly find it difficult to trust me? How could I blame her? I’d lied to her the entire time I’d known her. A wave of guilt hit me.
We continued walking through the store. Going shopping had been Emme’s idea, the store showcasing gently used furniture and home accessories.
However, what the store sold certainly wasn’t what my idea of grabbing a couple of cheap pieces of furniture had been.
The items were gorgeous, designer in quality.
She stopped in front of a beautiful leather sofa and chair. “I don’t blame you for being cautious around my brother, but he is single.” Her smile was sly. “I think he’s been working too hard. He acts like I can’t take care of myself and that there are enemies everywhere.”
“Enemies. I didn’t know the hospitality business was that cutthroat.”
“Oh, the family has several businesses, which makes all four brothers in the family crazy about keeping me safe. It’s ridiculous. I’m a grown woman.” She stopped herself as if realizing whatever she was about to say was potentially dangerous.
“He had every right not to trust me. I was just in your home. All you did was ask him to fix the toilet and I tried to bash his head in.”
“Let me give you a hint about my family. They can take being attacked and I assure you they dish it out.”
The look on her face caught me off guard. “I’m not certain how to take that.”
Emme had always been a private person. While she’d seemed close with one of my roommates, she’d also always been a little distant. In some ways, that’s why I’d felt close with her. Because of the mystery, the little bit of the unknown. We hadn’t needed to pretend with each other.
“I’m the baby sister and after the death of our father, they took it upon themselves to make me their pet project. The lost little girl who needs her big brothers to make every decision.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. What happened?”
Emme opened her mouth as if to answer then laughed, but the sound was different than what I was used to hearing. If there was one thing I counted on with Emme, it was her sunny personality. There was a dark aura surrounding her.
“This is the perfect set. Look at that chair. So comfortable. What do you think?” she asked me so flippantly that I sensed she wanted to shove aside any prying questions. She plopped down on the overstuffed chair, immediately stretching her arms over the huge, rounded armrests.
I eased down on the couch. “Leather furniture in bright red. What’s not to love?”
We remained where we were in the middle of the store, Emme staring out the window at the crowded street and me wondering what level of pain she was hiding.
We all had dirty little secrets. Just because it was obvious her family had money didn’t mean that she was immune to suffering.
“Daddy was killed by a gunman.” Her statement seemed so hollow, so full of sadness.
“Oh, my God. I don’t know what to say. Did they catch who did such a horrible thing?”
Her mouth twisted. “My brothers did. In a manner of speaking.”
I knew better than to pry. Whatever the reason, we definitely weren’t close enough for her to spill her secrets.
She rubbed her hand across the seat, nodding several times. “Do you really like this?”
“Absolutely. It’s beautiful. Maybe they have a layaway plan.”
“No need. We’re getting the entire set.”
My cough was met with a laugh. “Um, even secondhand, not in my budget. When they said principal dancer, we’re talking with a small ballet company. That didn’t mean a hefty salary.”
“Well, you have your first training session tonight at the club. The bartenders and servers make a killing. A lot more than I make.”
Why was she having difficulty looking me in the eye?
Given the whirlwind that had been the day before, I’d forgotten all about Emme also landing me a second part-time job. Now I was a nervous nelly. “Didn’t you say your brother is involved with the club? He will not be happy I was hired.”
“Jaxon is involved in all aspects of the corporation, but he doesn’t run the club. Daniel Grace does and I already told him you were coming on board. Daniel knows better than to cross me.”
“Does everyone do what you say?”
“If they want to live.” She bit back a laugh until I realized she was kidding. Finally, we both laughed. “Come on. You need furniture. I know the manager of this fabulous store since I purchased half my furniture from here. Little known fact. They can be dickered with.”
“Dickered with?”
“Girl,” Emme said as she pulled me to my feet. “The best part about shopping is getting the price down.” She walked straight to a nice-looking older gentleman.
“Emme. It’s so good to see you. What can I do for you?”
“Mike, this is my best friend in the entire world, Anna. Mike is the best in the business. That sofa set over there with the corresponding coffee and end tables need to be delivered to my address as well as the incredible maple canopy bed in the next room and everything that goes with it. Anna is moving into my fabulous apartment and needs pretty things. Lots of pretty things. Do you think you can have it delivered by day after tomorrow?”
“Whoa. Hold on,” I told her and she turned so only I could see her, winking as if this was all a game.
“For you? I can have it delivered tomorrow.” Mike was more than eager and willing to make her happy in any way possible. I could tell by the lust-filled look in his eyes.
The same one that I’d seen in Jaxon’s. I liked his name. It suited him.