Page 54 of Jordan

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Squirrels,” he replied, very matter of fact, then his face hardened. “I’ve stressed to you repeatedly the importance of wearing a seat belt. Had you been wearing one, the little fucker who took his life in his hands when he crossed the road wouldn’t have caused you much trouble. Your lips could still be pressed to Mr. Weathers.”

“Oh my god,” Hartley laughed. “This conversation is fantastic. Keep going.”

“You’re lucky if you don’t find a squirrel carcass in your bed tonight when you go to sleep, Albert.”

“Yes, sir. If I do, I’ll be sure to fling it out the window for the crows, who are also still around for winter. They do love a treat.”

“Do birds eat squirrels?” Hartley asked.

I groaned and dropped my head back. Hartley was hooked on one of the many conversations Albert had while driving. There had been numerous occasions when I’d learned far more than I wanted to about the animals who dwelled in and out of the city, including the ones where my son lived with Dexen and Greer.

One day, I had to hear about bears and what to do if I encountered one that was aggressively charging me. I told him I’d shoot it. Albert launched into a conversation about bear hunting afterward.

His point wasn’t lost on me about seat belts. Hartley wore his. I didn’t like them. They were too restrictive. There was no way I was saying that out loud. Albert’s son died in a car accident over two decades ago. Had he been wearing a seat belt; he probably would have survived. Albert made a point to tell the people on my staff to wear theirs when they were in a vehicle. I was a prick and didn’t unless Vail asked me to, apparently. I also kept my mouth shut on the topic. This wasn’t the first time Albert stopped short, causing me to collide with the seat in front of me. He’d never put me in harm’s way. He wanted to get his point across.

Thankfully, we were rounding the corner to my building and driving down into the garage a minute later. Hartley was getting an education about birds, their diets, and also their habitats. The pileated woodpecker was next on the list, but the car stopped before Albert could educate Hartley on more than the sheer size of the bird.

“I’d like to see one,” Hartley said to me. “Have you ever seen a woodpecker that big in person?”

“I have not and don’t care about them.”

“But they’re big birds. Think about what it would be like seeing one up close. It’s not a crow.”

“Hartley, I don’t give a solitary fuck about the pileated woodpecker or squirrels or river otters.”

“River otters?” Dear god that only got him more excited.

“Oh, river otters, good topic, Mr. Weathers,” Albert said while holding my door open. “Did you know there are otters in the Schuylkill River? We could drive out there when the weather is nicer and you could see all kinds of things, though I’m not sure if we can spot an otter.”

“No,” I said as I stood and held my hand out for Hartley. He took it and exited the car as well. “No more of this. I’m taking Hartley upstairs where there will be no talk of animals, but there will be lots of moaning.”

Albert grinned. “Yes, sir, as you wish.”

“As you wish,” I grumbled. “I’m going to show you?—”

“Come on, Jordan,” Hartley said, pulling me toward the elevator in the garage.

“It was nice talking with you, Mr. Weathers,” Albert called.

“You too, Albert!” Hartley waved as he kept pulling me.

When we were in the elevator with Reghan in front of us, Hartley asked, “You love Albert, don’t you? He’s such a nice man. Although, I have a feeling he could kill someone easily. He’s not small.”

Reghan’s shoulders shook in front of us. Lifting my foot, I kicked him behind his knee, causing his left leg to buckle before he could right himself. I didn’t hurt him, just reminded him where he was and who he was with. He didn’t laugh the rest of the way up. Hartley did though.

“Thank fuck,” I said when the doors opened and I was home again. It was my turn to pull Hartley up the stairs and into my bedroom. There was no Latte, which meant she was out for a walk.

“Yes, please,” Hartley begged, as his back hit the bed with a bounce. “I’ve been waiting the entire car ride for this.”

I took off my jacket as I climbed over him, my thighs straddling his. “I don’t have the patience right now to take my time with you.”

“That’s okay. An orgasm is an orgasm and since you moved me into your home today, the least I can do is blow you. Or maybe you should blow me for not putting up a fight when you went all alpha male on me.” He tapped his finger on his chin.

“Enough,” I growled and undid my shirt, one fucking button at a time. “You’re lucky I like you or I’d stuff your mouth so full you wouldn’t be able to do more than whimper.”

“I know you’re a badass mafia boss, but that threat needs work. You shouldn’t try to intimidate me with a good time.” His hands went to the front of my slacks to work them open. “Put your dick anywhere you like, and I’ll gladly take it.”

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