Page 6 of Reluctant Surrender

“This looks like at least two thousand.” I closed the envelope and put it back in its hiding place. “Friends don’t usually pay each other for help.” I shut the book and leaned down to her ear. The soft trace of lilac filled my senses as I inhaled deeply. Such a pure scent from such a naughty girl.

“Are you doing things you shouldn’t be doing, Maggie? Do we need to talk about staying out of trouble?” Her breath hitched. “Should we discuss what happens to bad girls that do bad things?” My cock hardened, pressing against the back of her chair. All the bad things I could do to her whizzed through my mind.

“Like I said, I can take care of myself,” she whispered, keeping her eyes trained on the table.

I chuckled and moved to her side. “So you keep saying.” Grabbing hold of her chin, I brought her eyes to mine. “You’re playing with a whole forest fire here, Maggie. If you find yourself getting burned, you call me. Understand?”

“Sure, Lukas.” She gently pulled away from my grasp. “If I need you. I’ll call you.”

Little liar. I wouldn’t call her out on it, not yet anyway. Let her tangle herself up a little bit before I help unravel her.

“Be good, Maggie.” I winked then left her to her textbook and her envelope of cash. When Christian told me to keep an eye out for her, I don’t think he realized how much of a handful she was going to be. But that was fine. I could have a little trouble now and then. It would keep life interesting.

So long as I kept my dick in my pants and didn’t complicate things.

Chapter 4

Maggie

The screech of a cat echoed in the alley where I stood waiting. I stepped further against the wall of the building and stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jacket. Fall was coming faster than normal; the evening temps dropped quickly once the sun faded from the Chicago sky.

Cars drove down the busy street. Groups of people shuffled by my hiding spot to the entrance of Eclipse, seeking both the excitement of the new hot spot and the heat.

I sighed, frustrated with having to wait outside. It was a necessity, but that didn’t mean I had to like the situation.

Finally, a black town car with dark tinted windows pulled into the alley. In my right pocket, I gripped my small revolver. One could never be too safe in these sorts of transactions.

The car stopped when the back seat lined up with where I stood and the window slowly rolled down. All this cloak and dagger bullshit made my stomach twist, but most of the men I dealt with liked it that way. It made them feel more powerful. More of a man.

Most of them were anything but.

“You did well.” Joshua Townsend, the owner of a small used car dealership in Wrigleyville, held out a thick envelope to me through the window.

“Glad you were able to get what you needed.” I took the envelope, peeling back the flap to do a quick count of the hundreds. I’d brought in over twenty grand for him. After assuring my ten percent was all accounted for, I stepped back from the car.

“There’s another game in two weeks,” he said, his gray eyes meeting mine. The same desperation as I noted the first time he came to me still clung to him.

“I never work the same game twice.” I shook my head and zipped up my coat to my chin with the money tucked safely in the inside pocket.

“These would be different men,” he objected, but I kept shaking my head.

“I can’t be seen at any games with you for at least a few months. It would jeopardize too much.”

He frowned. “Okay. I’ll reach out in a few months then.”

“You do that.” I smiled and slipped my hands back into my pockets, my fingers wrapping around my revolver again.

“Let’s go.” He tapped the seat in front of him and rolled his window back up.

As the car made its way down the alley and the tail lights faded, I rolled my eyes. The same conversation could easily have taken place at a diner or a coffee house, but men like Joshua Townsend, men who had no real power in their lives, grabbed for the small bites of it they could. Even if it was all make believe.

I reached my car parked a block and a half away from the club and popped open my trunk. Taking a quick look around for any lingering eyes, I slid my fingers along the bottom of the trunk until I found the secret compartment and pushed down on the panel. After I stashed the envelope of cash and my gun, I locked everything and headed back toward the club. I was meeting a few friends for some drinks. After the week I’d had, I deserved it, too.

As any typical weekend night, Eclipse was packed. The music thumped against the walls, and the wave of people swaying on the dance floor to the music gave the club a quick pulse. I found my ‘friends,’ a few girls from work, huddled around a small high table near one of the bars.

“Maggie!” Carol threw one arm around me and hugged my neck. “I wasn’t sure you’d come!” she yelled over the music into my ear.

“Of course. I said I would.” I looked over to the bar. “I’m going to get a drink.” I pointed toward the crowd hovering around the alcoholic trough.

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