Page 29 of Sinister Intentions

Or was she just watching me from the shadows like some twisted game of cat and mouse?

Like me.

A twisted sense of intrigue swelled within me and replaced the annoyance that had swept through me just moments ago.

The little punk had bigger balls than I’d given her credit for, sneaking around and spying on one of the most dangerous members of New York’s most powerful crime family.

I chuckled, and Dom stared at me as if I’d grown a second head.

What was her intention in following me? I narrowed my eyes.

Part of me wanted to march over there, swat that ridiculous baseball cap off her head, grab her neck, and put an end to her foolishness once and for all.

But another part of me…a darker, more primal part was actually intrigued. Why was she following me? To spy on me? To find something she could use against me?

Because I didn’t believe she had enough guts or motivation to follow through with her threats. But if she really wanted to killme, she would’ve tried already. So, what was her plan? And how far would she go?

The thrill of the hunt always excited me: strategically putting everything in place, seeing how your opponent reacted, setting up traps, and then letting them fall into them.

That was my kind of game.

“Vince?” Dom said.

But there was no way Jemma Donnelly was a worthy opponent. Did she have a death wish? Or was she simply that reckless, that bold? That punk was playing with fire.

The questions swirled through my mind as my eyes locked with Dom’s. “What?”

“You look positively diabolical. What the hell are you thinking about?” Dom said and wrinkled his forehead.

I held his gaze, thinking through my options. I could get up, confront her, or I could…a thought popped into my mind, and tension built inside my body, a sense of pressure and urgency like a tightly coiled spring waiting to unleash its power, paired with a sense of anticipation and excitement. My lips quirked ever so slightly. “Nothing.”

If she wanted to play…I was more than willing to indulge her. Two could tango in this dance of power. And something told me she had no idea just how dangerous what she was doing could get.

I grabbed my phone and quickly typed out a message to Michele, ordering him to prepare to take Jemma the moment she left the restaurant. A sly grin tugged at my lips as I hit send and pocketed the device. The prospect of having that defiant punkunder my control, of teaching her a lesson, sent a thrill coursing through my veins.

I forced my focus back on Dom, who was looking at me as if he was watching a science experiment, but my mind raced with possibilities. What would I do once I had her? Interrogate her about the hacking? Confront her about her trailing me?

Or should I just scare her straight?

Well, maybe I could do all of it. And have fun doing so.

“You’re awfully quiet over there,” Dom said, eyeing me curiously. “What’s going on in that head of yours? And what kind of devilish plans did you just hatch?”

I leaned back and feigned nonchalance while keeping one eye on the girl by the bar. Michele needed some time to get everything in place, so I needed to pass some time. “Just thinking about your gym and the competition. You said you need help getting the word out, right?”

Dom nodded. “You endorsing my gym would’ve definitely drawn attention.”

I focused back on Dom. “So, business is slow?” It hadn’t been long since Dom opened. And from the few exchanges we’d had over the past couple of weeks, it sounded like he was having a tough time financially.

Dom wasn’t like me. His family hadn’t been rich or powerful. He’d been the charity case at our school. Others had looked down on him because of that. Had looked at me sideways for being friends. Not that I ever cared what anyone thought of me.

Dom sighed. “It’s hard to get the word out.” He shrugged and played with the salt-and-pepper set.

“Do you need an investor?”

Dom scrutinized me for a moment before he gave me a knowing grin. “You know our friendship’s important to me.”

I nodded. I knew. I also knew Dom would never ask for money. “If our friendship weren’t important to you, I would need to think you pursue me solely for my sexy body,” I said.

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