Chapter 15
Sinclair
My reaction to learning Vincent’s identity wasn’t about being reckless.
Nor was enjoying spending an evening with Josette.
The unknown assailant from the coffee shop already knew I’d saved her. Keeping my luscious guest a complete secret at this point wasn’t possible. Plus, the only way of getting to know her was through actions, some even ignoring my carnal desires.
As before, just thinking about the woman and her insistence on keeping me at arm’s length had a similar effect as before. Controlling my desire was a feat I wasn’t used to being forced to make.
Yet the Prince name and reputation was on the line. Every deal the family had ever made had been backed by blood and promises of total destruction.
Every man and organization who’d dared cross us had learned a valuable lesson.
Many had vanished, several disappearances believed to be a product of our family’s immersion into black magic. They weren’t completely wrong.
Blood stained the hands of my brothers and our ancestors before us. We’d never wavered in our courage or determination, and it wasn’t going to occur now.
If Santos believed that by either force or cunning he could dare infiltrate our territory, undermining our operation, he would face the very violence he’d proctored.
I’d need to keep every part of my life organized and controlled as I’d always done before. Doing so had kept me alive.
Including with Josette.
However, if she could learn to handle the heat and the required control I had of her, she could prove herself useful. In turn, I’d make her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
After all, I was a consummate businessman.
With another promise made to myself, I headed toward the house, enjoying the pitter-patter of paws on my granite floor as Indiana tumbled inside.
As he raced through the first floor searching for her, I grabbed the bags, taking my time to set up his bed in the living room, unpacking some toys and even filling his water bowl and leaving it in the kitchen.
All in an effort to calm my anger and try to determine how I could gain at least her limited trust. By the time I was finished pondering, Indiana had curled up on his bed as if completely comfortable in his new surroundings, snoozing after playing hard.
He’d earned his rest.
For me, there would be none until the thieves were found and dealt with.
Josette’s beauty was subtle yet powerful, intriguing as well as mysterious.
Underneath her conservative clothes and quiet demeanor was a tigress.
My instinct was never wrong. I wanted to peel away her layers, nurture the woman who’d longed to see the light of day.
And I craved fucking her in every hole, claiming her as mine.
The thought was both arousing as well as disturbing.
Tasting her twice was obviously not enough.
I’d show her kindness instead of force. I’d allow her to see whatever more reasonable side of me existed. But she would obey me. A thought slipped into my mind. She’d worked herself to the bone to protect her business.
She lived modestly, nothing frivolous or expensive in her house, including a couch that had seen better days twenty years before. What little money she did spend was on Indiana. Maybe I would manage to appeal to her business side of things.
If she helped me, I’d help her. And in the meantime, we’d continue the passion that had already formed a connection.
I would enjoy the time spent tasting her.
Breaking her would be one of my greatest joys.
Before walking into the room, I listened for any sounds. There was nothing but utter silence. Whatever her thoughts were after watching me with Indiana and my subsequent angry reaction with Enzo shouldn’t matter.
But it did.
When I opened the door, I expected her immediate retaliation. What I saw took my breath away. She was curled up in a chair by the window, the waning sunlight creating a golden halo around her head, illuminating the highlights in her hair.
Her scent lingered in the room, something sweet yet alluring like she’d shown herself to be.
Just seeing her now was a fire bolt to my system.
Her soft lips. Her voluptuous body.
She shouldn’t have the kind of effect on me that she did.
Everything about her was fucking dangerous.
That’s why I would cross the line with one aspect.
Tasting her luscious body as often and with as much roughness as I desired.
Josette turned her head, her face expressionless, possibly resigned to her imprisonment.
Or maybe calculating her escape.
I walked to the window, staring out at the garden and remaining silent for a full minute. While she had no choice in coming with me, it would be better to have her as an ally, if only for the time spent together.
Until I unlocked all her dirty little secrets.
However, she would cater to my every need, answering my questions until I was satisfied with her knowledge.
She glanced toward the closed door, her expression smug. “Why are you keeping me here?”
“We’ve been through this before.” Instead of torturing myself with her beauty, I continued to peer down at the grass where I’d played Frisbee with Indiana.
“You really think I’m the target. I don’t know how I could be. No one in their right mind would try and steal from a tiny company making no money.”
“You’d be surprised the various reasons people do what they do. Besides, you saw the man’s face and if the information I just discovered is accurate, he works with some very bad people.”
“You mean bad people just like you.”
“This isn’t a joke, Josette. You might consider me a monster, but I assure you the men I’m talking about make me look like a hero.”
Her half laugh should have been annoying. It wasn’t. “You’ll never be a hero. At least not to me.” There was a slight tremble in her lower lip.
“Maybe so, but I hope at some point you’ll come to understand that I have your best interest at heart.”
“I don’t know anything, Sinclair. How many times do I need to tell you that? I’d seen the customer once before. He grunted out his order and took the same seat, doing nothing more than staring at his phone as almost every other customer does when alone.”
“If you’re being truthful, then when the situation is handled, you can resume your life.”
“And what about my business? I can’t just let it go.” Her defiance was a powerful aphrodisiac. She had no idea how arousing the fire in her eyes had become to me.
“I had my man lock the store. I’ll have another keep watch to ensure you aren’t burglarized.”
Just then I thought about her missing phone. It would need to be found.
She snorted, the sound shooting through me like a bottle rocket. “Your man. Do you have men to do everything for you?”
I forced myself to remain emotionless, even though a part of me wanted to drag her over my lap and give her a very long and very harsh spanking.
I had no doubt that would come later. She’d never learn to play by my rules.
As soon as I turned toward her, I was rewarded with a flash of heat and need tickling her soft skin.
“I’m going to offer you a onetime deal, Josette.”
She shifted in her seat, leaning forward as if I’d piqued her interest. Somehow, I knew that wasn’t the case. The woman was too smart for tricks.
“Don’t you mean you’re increasing your list of demands of me?”
As soon as I crouched down in front of her, she tensed, but as expected, she refused to back down. I leaned in even closer, inhaling the last of her lingering perfume. With the rise and fall of her chest, I sensed she was also aroused but certainly wouldn’t admit it.
At least not yet.
“A business arrangement.”
She licked her lips, keeping them parted. Lurid thoughts tumbled through my mind. “Okay. I’m listening.”
“Even if your business was successful, which we both know it isn’t, it won’t be open much longer.”
Her eyes slowly opened wide. “How do you know that? You’ve been checking on me.”
“Yes, I assure you I am having your life dissected, but that’s not how I know about the financial strain you’re in. It’s because my family’s corporation put in a bid to purchase the strip mall where your coffee shop is located and every out parcel in a two-block radius.”
Her reaction was slow in coming, her temper simmering as if a kettle with very little water. Once fully heated, it would explode. Yet her smile was as cunning as the woman.
“Tossing me out. You bastard. It was a rent to own situation.” She even lifted her hand and I was certain she had plans on using it.
“Tsk. Tsk.” I snatched her hand, squeezing her fingers.
Her skin was so soft. Even though she stiffened, I rubbed my thumb across her palm, fighting the strong urges trying to breach the surface.
“We were the first purchaser, but there’s another party determined to break our verbal contract. The timing is oh so very interesting.”
“Please don’t tell me you think I’m involved with trying to, what… extort you out of money?”
“No, nothing like that. However, there’s something about your presence there that created a red flag. Until I find out what that is and can know for certain that you have no ill intent in mind, you will my guest.”
“You mean your prisoner.”
“That’s entirely up to you.”
The tension between us was as sweet as it was palpable.
Finally, she twisted her mouth, her eyes glassing over. “What is this deal you’re proposing?”
“Very simple and I think quite profitable for you. I’ll protect you from the organization who will use whatever necessary to prevent you from identifying the assailant with all the force necessary. You’ll provide me with direct and clear answers to every question I ask.”
“Is that all?” she spit out.