Page 84 of Fight

“Yeah, I could eat, thanks,” he says with a nod.

“Good, because I want you to hear my idea pitch to Tommy,” Jasper says with a smirk as if this all fits into his plans.

Fuck, we’re mafia men and opportunists. Why am I not surprised? Even if Jasper just runs the fights and trains the men, he’s got a steel trap of a brain. Prepared for whatever he has coming my way, I open the door as I say, “Let me get a couple of bites of my damn food in, and we’ll be fine.”

Smelling blood in the water, Jasper nods as I lock up the apartment and we head out. Wherever it is, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Chapter Nineteen

CERENITY

Ithought Tommy was going to kill me. I didn’t realize he was so… high maintenance. His hair care may match mine, and a part of me wants to share some of my hair products. Can you imagine, sharing hair tips with a mafia boss alpha?

Ridiculous.

“I can practically hear you snickering to yourself, Sweetheart,” Auggie murmurs as he squeezes my knee. While Tommy was showering, I changed into something more appropriate. Jeans now cover my legs, and I’m kind of sad I can’t feel more of Auggie’s warmth on my skin.

I also carefully applied makeup to hide the bruising underneath my eye and cheek, and I think it worked wonders. Occasionally, Auggie and my sparring have led to a glancing blow. He always feels like shit afterwards, but it’s a reminder that I need to be faster to deflect. It makes me better, and keeps me alive. It’s also taught me how to expertly apply makeup.

I don’t want to scare anyone while we’re out in public, or get stares. It’s odd because sometimes I’ll completely forget about the bruising until I see myself in a mirror, and other times I’m hyper aware of it.

“Huh?” I ask, flushing as I raise my gaze to meet his. I was staring off into space. Fuck, I need to stop daydreaming.

“Cere,” he says, chuckling. “What’s going on?”

“Ugh, why does the damn alpha have to look so good with blue hair?” I groan. “I really expected him to eat me or something.”

“Cerenity,” Augustine says, snorting. “Really? The only thing that man wants to eat is your sweet pussy. He was pissed off, but I watched him rein himself in for you.”

“I noticed. He had fiery green pits of rage for eyes, but not once did he launch himself at me,” I mutter. Covering my face with my hands as I hear myself, I groan. He’s slowly growing on me, but I’ll never admit it.

“Look at you,” Auggie teases me. “Tommy made bad decisions in Chicago. I’m not saying you shouldn’t put the fucker through his paces because I’m petty as fuck, but maybe we can admit that you like him.”

“Nope,” I grunt, dropping my hands from my face, hissing as I accidentally brush under my eye. “Just because he may be good for my hole doesn’t mean he's good for my soul, Auggie.”

Howling, Augustine continues to tease me as we pull into the parking lot of the club.

“Okay, we can only be here a maximum of two hours, Cere. I know you get sucked in while you’re here, but we need to watch the time. Check the liquor, make sure the place is still standing, and call the insurance. Then we’re out of here. You need a new car. I’m sure they’re going to say your vehicle is only good for the scrap heap, baby.”

“Ugh, I know you hated Little Blue, but I loved her.” I pout at him. I should be scared or scarred from the accident, but sitting in a vehicle doesn’t bother me. If it did, the six hour drive from Chicago would have really sucked.

I just don’t know if being behind the wheel of a car will be any different. Maybe I will go with a bigger vehicle this time. Dammit.

“I know, baby, but she wasn’t safe,” Auggie reminds me as he puts the truck in park. “Test drive a few cars, find something that’s you but won’t give me a coronary every time you get into it, please.”

Smirking because the man is a low key drama king, I nod and lean in to give him a kiss. Things are new for us, and the smile he gives me is the most beautiful sight, and makes me happy.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I open the door and slide out, waiting for Auggie to lock up as we walk up to the club.

Things look the same, though I’m not sure what I was expecting. It feels as if I’ve been gone for longer than just a few days. Drifting through the club as I walk through it, I check everything we’ll need for tomorrow night.

Augustine changes out the kegs, I see how our amounts of liquor are behind the bar, and then go to my office to check in with my staff.

They depend on me for normalcy, with some coming from traumatic situations, and it’s been a bit rocky this week.

It takes a little longer than planned, and by the time I’m done, Augustine has called the insurance company for me and worked out the facts of the claim, because I got wrapped up in these calls.

There’s a police report for the accident, even if it’s bullshit because of Arthur’s influence, but they did mark it as a hit and run at least.

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