8. Simon #3
What do I say? No, June, I’m not dating anyone.
Because all I can think about is you. I eat, sleep, and breathe you, and from the second I fucking set my sights on you, I knew you had to be mine.
What I thought was going to be a fun game of fucking with my rivals’ girl turned into me being completely captivated by a woman I could never have.
I point to the open window area. “Another fight is about to begin.”
“Do they teach avoidance at mafia training school?” June rises from the couch and strolls over to her spot at the window.
I follow her over, my heart aching at the immediate shift in dynamic in the room. I gently latch onto her forearm and pivot her toward me. “I’m not dating anyone, love.”
She swallows harshly and stares into my eyes. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to.” The honest truth, aside from one obvious exception.
“Maybe you would if you weren’t forced to be around me all the time.”
I shouldn’t, but I take a step toward her. “I am not forced.”
“Stockholm syndrome,” she mumbles.
I can’t help but focus on her lips, wishing I knew what they felt like on mine. “I want to be here,” I tell her. No, it’s more of a need than a want, but I don’t tell her that.
“Why?” Her dark brown gaze darts between mine.
“I think we both know the answer to that question.” I bring my hand slowly up her arm and hover it next to her face. “And don’t you dare compare me to them.”
“I…” June starts to say something but struggles to find the rest of her words.
My attention flickers to the crowd on the other side of the window.
Protective mode always enabled and ready to go into action when she's around.
A large man creates a path as he moves, his presence alone keeping people at a short distance.
He approaches and I focus on the shape of him, nearly having a fucking heart attack when I finally realize who it is.
"Shit, J, we have to go." I grab onto her hand and yank her in the direction we came.
“What? Why?” Disappointment and shock no doubt coursing through her.
But we’ll have bigger problems than her temporary frustration if we don’t get the hell out of here.
“Dom is here,” I tell her, hoping she’ll get the urgency of the situation.
Her eyes widen, an appropriate response to the untimely arrival of her ruthless boyfriend.
The door opposite of us jingles. Dominic must be entering the room from the other side.
If he makes it inside, he’ll murder me on the spot. Any of her men will kill me if they find out, but death at their hands could never be worse than seeing June longing for something she can’t have or that they won’t give her.
I yank the door we came through open, but that throng of people from earlier remains. Well, maybe not the same people, but yet an endless supply of men that are trying to get a spot inside to watch the fights.
“Get the fuck out of the way,” I tell the two assholes not bothered by us at all.
June flits her attention to the other side of our room and then shoves the man in our path. “Move, dick head.” She doesn’t waste another second, no, June balls her hand into a fist and blasts it across the guy’s face.
"Fucking bitch," he yells and grips the spot she hit.
I yank the gun out of my waistband and point it at his fucking head. “What did you just say to her?”
Within an instant, the crowd parts for us. The man mostly in our way throwing both hands up and mumbling an apology.
June grabs onto my arm and pulls me through the opening, the door Dominic is at opens as ours closes and latches behind us.
“Love.” June shakes me. “We have to go.”
I’m brought back to reality, the warmth of her touch and the softness of her voice searing through me. I shove the gun back in its home, weave my hand around hers, and rush us down the hall.
We burst into the alley, the chilly air hitting us in the face.
Laughs bubble out of both of us but it doesn’t stop me from hurrying to my car and opening the door for her. “Quick, get in.”
June complies and I dart around to throw myself into the driver’s seat.
A second later, my wheels spin and shoot us out onto the main road, my car blending in with all the others.
I look over at her reddened cheeks and watch the steady rise and fall of her chest.
“Did you just call me love?”
“I thought we were flying under the radar. I didn’t want to say your name,” she explains.
“Pretty sure everyone will have known that was me after I pulled a gun.”
But a part of me feels like she already knew that—or at least, a part of me hopes that’s the truth.
“That was so fucking close.” June flips down the mirror and pats down her unruly hair.
At the next light, I brake and reach over to pull her seatbelt across her lap. “Buckle up, love.” I latch the thing in place, our breaths mingling at the closeness.
Her phone rings, snapping us both out of our trance.
The signal changes to green, and I push on the accelerator. "Who is it?" I ask her and wonder which of her boyfriends I'm going to envy.
“It’s…Gwyneth.” She holds the phone out and looks at me as if silently questioning what I think she should do.
“Answer it.” I pause and add, “Put it on speakerphone.”
She pushes a couple buttons and the line connects. “Hello?”
“June, hello. It’s Winnie Sharp. How are you, darling?”
“Hi, Winnie. I’m good. How are you? Is something wrong?”
"Not at all, sweetheart. I was just calling to check in; see how things were going. It's been a while since we last chatted."
But there’s something else she isn’t saying.
“Things are fine. Pretty much the same,” June tells her.
“That’s good to hear.”
An awkward silence falls between them.
Finally, Winnie speaks again. “Listen, I’m in town this week, and I’d love to get together. What do you say, brunch on Tuesday?”
June glances at me again and I nod.
“Yeah, that works.”
“Great, I’ll send you the details Monday.”
I drive the speed limit while I attempt to dissect any hidden meaning within the call.
“How are your men, darling?”
“Um, they’re good, I think. They’re pretty busy.”
“Mmhm. Yes, I can only imagine. Dominic has his hands full.” A muffled sound comes through like she’s switched the phone from one side to the other. “And Simon, how are things with him? I understand you two have been spending quite a bit of time together.”
June’s cheeks flush. “Per the guys’ request.”
I shove away the bitter rejection caused by her defensive tone.
“Yes, of course. Your safety is their highest priority. And Simon is fit for the job. He’s rather fond of you, June.
But that’s not why I called. I’m sure you’ve got other things going on this Friday evening.
I’ll let you go, but I’ll be in contact about Tuesday.
Do let me know if something comes up and you cannot make it.
I look forward to seeing you and getting a chance to catch up. We have much to discuss.”
“I look forward to it, too.”
They say their goodbyes and the call disconnects.
June steadies her gaze on me. “What the fuck was that about?”
I shrug and turn onto a side street. “I have no idea. But you’ll find out soon enough.”