After a hot shower where I wash away the craptastic day I’ve had, I turn out the lights, drape Shrimp’s blanket over his cage, and then crawl into bed. It’s not as soft as the one I sleep on at Win’s but it’s still nice. I search online on my phone for a bit looking for an apology present. Once I purchase it, I change the direction of my searching. To me and Win.
So far…no sex scandal blasted all over the internet.
Doesn’t help my anxiety any. It just feels like a bomb waiting to detonate. The anticipation is worse than the explosion.
I imagine a giant, blown-up version of Winston fucking my ass on one of the billboards in Times Square. Okay, so maybe the explosion will be a lot worse than the anticipation. Ugh.
As much as I want to stew over what Leo may or may not do, I try and channel my thoughts someplace else. My mind drifts to a simpler life when Tate was my boyfriend. Things weren’t so stressful back then. Boring, yes, but safe.
Nothing about my life is safe now.
I got in bed with a lion and I’m learning maybe I’m just a little mouse.
I’m way out of my depth here.
Loneliness has me reaching out to someone I once could count on. Tate. That is, until the triplets ran him off. I’m craving our easy friendship and his steady words. Since his number isn’t programed on my new phone, I reach out to him on Facebook.
Me: Life’s crazy these days. There’s so much I want to tell you. We should grab coffee and catch up soon.
I wish we’d have stayed friends but it’s one more thing that the Terror Triplets ruined in my life. It’s time to start taking back my life. I can start small. Tate’s not like all these other men I’ve been dealing with. He’s a good person. I know him. He’ll offer me his shoulder to cry on and then he’ll give me the motivation I need to pull myself out of the dirt.
That’s exactly what I’ll do, too.
Stand up. Dust off. Keep going.
The alternative is letting Leo Morelli beat me. Unlucky for him, I’ve spent too much time hanging out with Constantines. If I’ve learned anything from that family thus far, it’s that you never let the enemy have the last word.
This isn’t over.
I won’t let it be.
CHAPTER THREE
Winston
This morning, I feel like me.
Fucking finally.
Without Ash’s presence or her stupid bird, I managed to find the Constantine armor I usually wear, suit up, and am prepared for battle. There’s no time for weakness. Not now. Not when the Morellis are out for blood.
It’s early. The only staff in the building thus far are Deborah and Perry. I’d texted them both at the crack of dawn today, requesting their immediate presence at the office. I’m pleased to find Deborah sitting with her perfect posture clacking away on her keyboard while Perry waits outside my office, back leaned against the locked door, two coffees in hand.
“Perry. Deborah.” My clipped greeting has both of them straightening. To Deborah, I say, “Hold my calls today and get in contact with Anthony. I want a meeting with him within the next two hours to discuss a breach of contract on one of my business deals.”
Deborah flies into action. “On it, sir.”
Perry’s brow is arched but he wisely doesn’t say a word until we’re inside my office with the door closed. It’s been oddly satisfying to watch him grow into his Constantine shoes lately. I’d hired him to keep him out of trouble and it’s proving to be a wise choice. I’m going to need him even more in the coming days, that much I’m aware of. Every time I blink, there’s someone else waiting to fuck me over. Never fucking ending. And while I may not have proof right away of my hunches, I always get it in the end. I’m always right about those hunches, too. It’s clear the only people you can trust are the ones with the same blood running through your veins.
Ash is running through my veins on a fast track to my cock but that’s another story entirely.
“You’re in killer Constantine mode this morning,” Perry muses and sips his coffee, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Best he hears it from me first.
“We ran into the Morellis at dinner last night.”
Perry laughs. “Not surprised.”
“Imagine their surprise when I bought the restaurant before they had a chance to order.” My lips twist into a sadistic smirk. “They weren’t pleased.”
“I bet not.”
I lean back in my chair, tightening the knot of my tie at my throat before settling my gaze back on my little brother. His suit is crisp today and I don’t note any wrinkles. Golden-blond hair is styled in a way that toes the line between casual and business, but I figure it’ll do. The scruff he’s sporting, though it needs a little taming, makes him seem older which is a befitting look for him. Perry needs all the help he can get.
“Leo has been harassing Ash since the night of my birthday,” I say in a cool tone, watching his reaction with sharp intensity.
His humor fades as anger filters through him. He sits up, nostrils flaring. “He fucking what? I’ll kill him if he touches one hair on Ash’s head.”
“Don’t get your panties in a wad, Romeo. It seems your beloved girl thought she could handle this all on her own. She’s been keeping it from me. I figured it out last night and then made her come clean.”
He stares at me as though waiting for the punchline. “And?”
“And nothing. I sent her and her bird back to the whore apartment because that’s what she is. A paid-for living, breathing entertaining toy.”
“Dude—”
“Don’t call me dude.”
“Fuck, Winny. Is she okay?”
I bristle and shoot him a fiery glare. “It’s Ash. Of course she’s okay.”
“But you kicked her out.”
“You can’t kick out someone who doesn’t live with you,” I growl, quickly losing my cool. “I sent her away so I didn’t say something to make her cry.”
Lies.
I didn’t trust myself not to crawl back into bed with her.
Ash weakens me.
I can’t be the Constantine in charge when I have a feisty teenager distracting me.
“Okay.” His tone is filled with disappointment in a rare role reversal. I don’t like how he sounds exactly like Dad, either. “So that’s just it? You’re done with her? Just like that?”
“You’re missing the big problem here,” I explain, voice tense as my patience splinters. “Focus. Morelli was harassing her.” Stalking as she put it. “Which means—”
“He’s in breach of contract,” Perry interrupts, catching up. “What are you going to do?”
“Sue the fuck out of him. Naturally.” And take my motherfucking building back.
“You have proof?”
“Ash is on my phone plan now. I’ll have the records pulled and sent to Anthony before he even makes it into the office this morning.”
Perry nods, his brows crashing together as he considers his next words. “Great. So we get to fuck Morelli and get our building back. Now, can we talk about Ash?”
“I’d prefer not to.”