Page 66 of Soul Food

I shook my head as I rode the elevator. The guys were just getting warmed up when I stepped into the room. Pete stared over me leisurely. “There she is.”

Liam tilted his head at me. “No blushing brunette?” He was referring to Jayne.

I laughed. “Afraid not.”

“Damn, we really did scare her away for good,” Steve acknowledged.

“She’s not cut out for the entertainment world, but she does a hell of a job taking care of mine,” I told them.

“So…” Liam started, and I braced myself for what I knew was coming. “I thought you had nothing to do with our president?”

Walking over to my favorite spot on the floor, I dropped down. “At the time, I didn’t.”

“And now?”

I shrugged and tried to fight the warm flurries that resided in my chest. “Well…”

“Shit… Are you fuc—sleeping with him?” Pete asked. I didn’t know why he didn’t just say fucking like he wanted to.

I stiffened. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“Oh fuck, she is,” Steve muttered, rubbing his temples.

“He’s bad news, Ruth,” Liam said again with a certain sadness in his eyes that troubled me.

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Just is,” was all he said. “I wish I could protect you, but there’s nothing I can do at this point.”

He was freaking me the fuck out. “What are you even talking about?”

Steve raised from his stool, suddenly furious. “What the fuck does he think he’s doing, anyway? Why would he—”

“Just stop talking, Steve,” Liam cut him off.

Now I felt extremely worried and confused. My pulse thundered in my ears uncomfortably as a horrible, pang filled my insides like I was going to be sick. They knew something about Amit I didn’t, and I could already tell they weren’t going to tell me. And whatever it was could be bad.

My stomach swam with all the possibilities. Was he into something illegal? I’d heard of all sorts of disgusting abusive tales about guys with power like Amit and what they’d done to women and young girls. That couldn’t be it. He didn’t seem the type, but then what was it? What did they know that angered them so much about him? I suddenly had a headache. What hurt wasn’t the fact that the fellas knew something. It was the fact that I knew nothing about Amit.

The door opened andspeak of the devil…His presence was one that stole the air as he entered and one I very much felt deep against my soul every time he was close. “Ruth.”

My body reacted as it always did when he said my name. There was always a certain level of fear I felt for Amit even before talking to the guys, but now, I was filled with uneasy energy. At first, I couldn’t figure out why he was here, then I caught sight of takeout in his hand. My fear completely lifted as I got right back up and beamed at him. “Did you bring me food?”

He handed the bag over to me. “I got it for me but if you want it, it’s yours.” Then why come here? Why did he lie? Was it so hard for him to admit to bringing it for me?

I let him pretend even though I honestly thought it was sweet. He was sweeter than me or anyone gave him credit for. Was I the only one that saw it?

“Where’s mine?” Pete asked.

Amit’s expression was that of practiced control as well as unbreakable patience when he smoothly replied, “I thought soulless creatures had no need of food?”

“You’re right.” Liam flashed his teeth. “We don’t.”

There was obvious tension between Amit and the band. Despite it, they took the disparaging comments with ease. “Hey, want to take me somewhere to eat this?” I asked Amit. “I don’t get why you all are like this, but it’s obvious you can’t be in the same room.”

“He’s not a nice guy, Ruth,” Steve stated.

“I see you didn’t heed my warning.” Amit growled at them.

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