Page 8 of While You Sleep

“You know why.” He knew as well as I did how important this deal going my way was. I needed to be close to Sophia while she had Brian sniffing around, and Dec’s apartment was closer to her than my place. I grabbed my jacket. “I’m going out.”

Declan leaned against the wall. “No, wait…please…stay.”

I ignored his sarcasm and strode out, almost knocking over some woman who basically dove for my dick as I walked past. Knocking her down was an accident, but I didn’t stop to help her up. I wasn’t a fan of being pawed at by random strangers.

I pulled out my phone, texting as I walked.

Dean: Where’s he taking you? So someone knows if this guy turns out to be a fucking psycho.

I got in my car and waited for Sophia to reply.

Sophia: Some Italian restaurant. It’s fine, you don’t need to worry. Have a good night. I’ll talk to you later.

I gripped the steering wheel so tight it groaned, then started the car even though I wasn’t sure where the hell I was going. I’d fucked up. I thought the insecurity she had about her sleep disorder would stop her from getting serious with anyone. I was wrong, and now she was out with this guy, with condoms in her purse.

I swung by several Italian restaurants, but I had to be careful. More than one in this area were frequented by Alto Leone and his men, and they wouldn’t welcome Seamus’s enforcer strolling into their territory unannounced. Things between us and the Italians had been tenuous for a while now—something I planned to change when I took over. But if I showed up now, they’d assume the worst, and we had enough to deal with among ourselves, let alone start something with someone else.

This was pointless.

I’d miscalculated. I hadn’t seen this guy as a real threat. Not until she’d sent that picture. With nothing else to do, I headed back to Sophia’s apartment and parked across the street. All I could do now was wait and hope he didn’t take her back to his place.

Several hours later, I finally spotted them walking along the street. He was talking, and she had an odd look on her face. I clicked open the camera on my phone and snapped several pictures. I didn’t know who this guy was, but there was something off about him. They stopped at the door, and he grinned down at her, saying something.

Sophia blushed, I could see it from here, it was something she did a lot. Then she chewed her lip, but not in some coy way, not trying to be sexy. She was uncomfortable. I’d been watching this girl for a year, and I’d seen this look on her face multiple times. She had the same expression when he’d walked her to her door after their date last week. I’d almost gotten out of the car that night. He’d fucking mauled her, and it wasn’t hard to tell she wasn’t into it. I thought she’d be done with him after that.

Fuck knew why she’d gone out with him again.

He tried to lead her to the door, motioning to the keypad for her to unlock it and take him upstairs. When she balked, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Her smaller frame stiffened before she pulled away, shaking her head. His hands fisted, and the look on his face set off alarm bells.

He thought he was getting a taste of her tonight, and he wasn’t happy she’d turned him down. Sophia backed up and quickly keyed in the code. Brian said something else, and the uncertainty on her face slid away. Whatever he’d said she hadn’t liked it. She yanked the door open, and he lunged to grab the handle, but she shoved it closed, locking him out.

He banged on the door as she took off.

Brian cursed several times, then punched the wall.

I looked at him more closely.

I was no expert, but that seemed like a big reaction over being rejected by someone you’d only been out with a few times.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, hit the screen, and walked off down the street. I looked up as Sophia’s lights came on.

Two minutes later, my phone dinged.

Sophia: So my date was awful. Brian’s a gargantuan creep. I’m staying single for the rest of my life.

I thought about what Dean would say, he’d want to play the hero. He was the good guy. I quickly typed out a reply.

Dean: What did the asshole do?

Sophia: He wanted to come up to my apartment. I wasn’t into it. He didn’t take it well.

Dean: What did he say, Soph?

Sophia: That I’m a cock tease, that he’s looking for an adult relationship, and I’m obviously too frigid to give him what he needs.

I found this kind of interaction difficult. I didn’t know how a woman’s mind worked, or what Sophia would need to hear. I quickly typed out my reply and hoped I got it right.

Dean: Did he really think spouting some reverse psychology bullshit would convince you to fuck him? Fucking pencil dick.

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