Page 41 of Crime Lord’s Captive

His fingers twitched. She could see that this last one went against his need to control, to dominate. Before, his alpha personality excited her. Now, she saw the damage it wrought and it scared her. It made her feel smothered. She wasn’t a child that needed to be monitored. She was a full grown woman who had been on her own for years and was fully capable of accomplishing what she set her mind to.

“How long?” Gavin asked.

“Three months?”

“Give me three years.”

“You have to be joking.”

“I’m not,” he said through clenched teeth. “You took away three years, you give me back three.”

She shook her head at his logic. Psycho Pyres. “Six months.”

“Two years.”

“Eight months.”

“One year.”

Their negotiating was pointless since she already had a deal with Manny, but if that backfired, she needed another out. Could she last a year? She could hibernate in Manny’s house when Gavin became too much to handle. A year in Vegas for real freedom where she didn’t have to look over her shoulder? A year in Las Vegas with Carmen, her parents, Manny and Gavin. Before she discovered Gavin’s infidelity, she’d been happy here. She could spin this to her benefit and spend time with Manny and Carmen. She was giving Gavin a year, but that didn’t mean she was spending a year withhim. She was committing to stayingin Vegasfor a year.

“Final offer?” she asked and he nodded. “Fine. One year.”

He closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were unguarded and filled with joy. When was the last time she saw Gavin like this? When she first met him? When Manny began to step back from the company, Gavin changed. Gavin had more responsibility and less time. It wasn’t just the legitimate side of the business he had to tend to, either. At the thought of the man in the basement, Lyla’s stomach clenched. It was a good thing she was staying with Manny. She didn’t want to witness anymore beatings or become Gavin’s punching bag if he lost it. Distance was key when dealing with Gavin.

Lyla leaned forward to see into the other pod where Carmen and Vinny were making out. “I want to dance!” she shouted.

Carmen heard her because she broke her lip lock with her irritated husband and bustled over. She took Lyla’s hand and led her downstairs. The music picked up when they stepped on the dance floor. Lyla gave herself up to the beat. Life was too complicated to plan and it would do whatever it felt like anyway. She had no control over anything. She was so fucking tired of being on the run, of trying to anticipate bad shit. She let it all go and danced her troubles away.

Large hands splayed on her abdomen and pulled her back against a solid body. She had no doubt who it was. Lyla kept her eyes closed as they moved. Songs changed, but the hands didn’t leave her. At some point, she turned to face him and realized what a big mistake that was. His cock pressed against her belly and she saw that his face looked carnal in the blue lights from above. She hated that she responded to the desire on his face. How could she want him even after all the things he’d done to her? Ashamed, she pushed away and turned to Carmen who was dry humping Vinny.

“I’m done. I want to go home,” Lyla said.

“I’ll take you,” Gavin said, pulling her back against the hard ridge of his erection.

“I rode with—” Lyla began.

“I know.”

Gavin pulled her off the dance floor and jerked his head at Ricardo. They walked out of the club and the line of people still waiting to get in. They were both soaked with sweat. Lyla was tired. She wanted to take a shower and crash in Manny’s guest bedroom, away from Gavin. His energy buzzed around her. People felt the force of his personality and got out of the way. Gavin had been groomed to lead, protect and succeed. A woman who belonged to a man like Gavin had to stand toe to toe with him and be able to take the heat. She wasn’t that woman.

The Rolls Royce was waiting for them. Ricardo got behind the wheel and when Gavin helped her into the car, she let out a long breath until Gavin rounded the car and got in on the other side.

She gaped at him. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Seeing you home. That’s what you do after a date.”

A date?Oh, fuck no.“And how are you going to get home?”

“Blade can pick me up from Dad’s house.”

She relaxed fractionally and belted herself in. She wanted away from him, but of course he wouldn’t go until he was ready.

“Tell me about the life you built without me.”

Lyla’s head whipped around. “What?”

“Tell me why you want to return to that life.” His eyes flashed in warning. “Don’t bring up that fuck. We both know you don’t have feelings for him.”

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