Page 18 of Viper

“Understood,” he replies. “I will have more information for you tomorrow.”

“And where are you on the Yakuza front?”

“That is a bit harder,” he admits, “but I am close. My connections are getting me closer to the person I need to speak to.”

It irritates me that this is taking so long, but I can’t rush this. Impatience will lead to problems. The Yakuza keep to themselves, preferring to handle their own business away from others, but on occasion, we have been there to lend a hand, just as they have done for us. It’s a relationship that the Pakhan will not want meddled with. Even if it seems like they were trying to overtake our operation and use my area to get a foothold into the United States, and that cannot stand unpunished. Still, I will force myself to be patient and wait it out. “Good,” I tell my man. “I expect a call within twenty four hours.”

“Done,” he assures me.

I hang up and then turn and look out the window. The weather is dark and dreary, much like my mood, but I know I’m getting closer to finally getting the information I need. Then I’ll be getting back to work on getting rid of the Devil’s Soldiers. War is coming, but I need all the pieces in place so that there is no way they can best me again.

First way to do that is to make sure that the local law are on my side, and not theirs. Greasing the right pockets, and making sure that those currently on the payroll are staying on top of things. But it’s time to add some new ones to our back pocket, and I need to get Sasha working on that as well. I pull out my phone and send him a message.

It’s time to get refocused, and that starts now. Things are coming together and soon enough, I’ll be back on top.

EIGHT

EDEN

Someone’s balls are getting kneed into their throat if they cross me today.

After another restless night, I’m one cranky bitch today. Enough that I’ve come in with the bare minimum on my face, and thrown my hair into a simple braid, uncaring that it probably looks terrible. I threw on a pair of black leggings, a long gray top, and a pair of simple black heels. From the top up I look professional enough, even though it’s not my normal business attire.

I just can’t bring myself to care today. I don’t do well without sleep and I place the blame squarely on Viper’s shoulders. Well, and on Sadie’s, because she was the one who insisted we have a couple glasses of wine last night, which meant I was up later than I should have been. Still, I’m going to mostly blame Viper. Which is why when I walk out of the courthouse at lunchtime, the last person I expect to see is him leaning against his bike near my car.

A scowl instantly pulls at my lips and I don’t bother to hide it or the glare I shoot his way. Not that he seems fazed. No, the big bastard’s lips pull up into an amused grin and he straightens from his bike, waiting until I reach him. “I’m going to kick you in the balls so hard that you’ll feel them in your giant throat,” I threaten as I stop close to him, tilting my head back so I can see his face. “And then I’m going to take those fancy dick decorations of yours and twist them into a necklace and wrap it around your uvula.” Graphic, completely impossible to accomplish, but twisted enough to make sure he understands how pissed I am.

He cocks his head slightly as he stares down at me, but he doesn’t lose his grin. Instead, he asks, “Is that so?”

Clearly this man has no self-preservation, or he’s so cocky he thinks that I won’t do it. He’s fucking wrong. Quick as a snake, I lash my hand out, cupping his cock in my hand, and gripping tight enough that he lets out a grunt, and the grin falls from his face, replaced by a tight expression full of caution and pain. Good, it seems he’s finally starting to get the message. “Does this answer your question?” I ask him silkily, tightening my grip ever so slightly. He flinches, and I feel him going up on his toes, like he thinks that will help ease some of the pain.

“Baby girl, whatever you’re pissed about, I’ll fix it, but I need you to let go first,” he admonishes, tension in his voice.

“You’ll fix it?” I repeat.

“Of course,” he says, strained.

“Then you need to get on that bike, and drive far away,” I tell him, narrowing my eyes. I release him and then step back, and I watch as he widens his stance and adjusts himself, wincing. I probably should feel bad and also apologize, but I do neither. And I probably also should be considering where I work and what someone might think if they saw me, but again, I don’t give a flying fuck.

“I take it it’s been a bad day?” he asks me carefully, watching me. “And as much as you think that me leaving is going to help, I can guarantee you it won’t.”

The audacity of this man is off the charts. “Is that so?”

He holds up both hands placatingly. “We both know we have off the charts chemistry. So how about we see where things go, and I show you exactly why giving me a chance will make your day better.”

I stare up at him. That’s what he got out of this? That if I just give him a chance, all my issues will float away? This son of a bitch needs more than his balls up in his throat; he needs his head examined. “After all of that, including the part where I just showed you why you don’t want to piss me off, and you think telling me to give you a chance is the way to make my day better? Is the air too thin all the way up there, because you clearly don’t have enough oxygen flowing to that big head of yours.” I take one step forward, and I’ll give him credit for not backing away. “So I’m going to say this one more time, and then I’m going to enjoy my break that you are interrupting. I don’t want you or any other man. We had a fun night, and that’s it. That’s all I needed, and it should be enough for you. We got our rocks off multiple times, and now that’s it. You need to focus on your son, and I need to get my work done and live my life without a man getting in the way. So, as fun as this has been, I’m going to lunch, and you need to get on your bike and drive the hell away and forget I exist.” Then I step back, turn on my heel, and continue through the parking lot and across the grass that leads to the sidewalk and down to the diner a block away.

It’s my favorite place to eat when I’m having a bad day. I see the worst of the worst with my job, and there are days I wonder how the hell I’m going to make it through. I mean, you see murderers, thieves, and people you can’t believe are still living with the lives they lead. But then there are the days children are crying in pain as they watch their families break apart, or when children are recounting the pain and suffering they’ve had to deal with at the hands of people they should be able to trust. It’s sickening, and I can’t do anything else but listen and take notes. Do my job and try to disassociate myself from it all. And on those days, this is my favorite spot to be. Comfort, homey, and the kind of place where I can relax, even if it’s just for a few minutes before I have to go back to work.

Today, I need it to calm myself down. When I walk in, the waitress smiles at me and points at a booth for me. It’s not too busy, considering the lunch rush has just finished, and that means I shouldn’t have to wait too long. Except, as soon as the waitress goes to grab a menu, the door opens and in walks the very man that clearly isn’t getting the hint. And he gives the waitress a charming smile as he leans forward to say something. She blushes and nods, before handing him two menus and heading for the counter, in the opposite direction of me, leaving Viper to stride my way and slip into the booth across from me.

He slides a menu to me, and gives me a winning smile. I pin him with furious glare, which he ignores and says, “I’ve brought Archer here a lot, and I love their burgers, so I already know what I’m going to get. How about you?”

“I’m going to grab the cutlery she’s going to bring over here and stab you with it,” I hiss, furious. I already told him I’m not interested and clearly he’s not listening. Just like every other man, when you say no, they take it as an invitation.

“You can try,” he replies easily, leaning back against the seat and resting his arm along the back. He’s calm and casual, and it pisses me off. Any other time, I’d be noticing the bulging of his biceps, or note the ink on his arms, or hell, being drawn in by the blue of his eyes, but right now, I’m too pissed off and irritated he’s forced his way into my life. In person and in my dreams. It’s irritating. Good sex should not result in this kind of thing with a man. Never. It should be one and done, and I should be able to forget about it, but clearly my mind didn’t get that memo and is intent on punishing me.

The waitress comes over with a cup of coffee, and my normal request of a soda. I rarely drink soda, but today is definitely one of the days. “Alright, you two, what can I get you?” she asks brightly, though I don’t miss the way she looks at Viper first.

---