Page 80 of Dmitri

“No food service at the hotel last night?”

“Didn’t bother looking.” I suck a piece of food out of my teeth. “I was too busy enjoying a self-care night.”

“Self-care.” Kaleb’s smile is a real one. He’s amused by me. Good. “Is that what it’s called?”

“Sounds classier than finger-banging myself until I decide I’m ready to ride a massive dildo while I’ve got a vibrating butt plug stuffed in my ass, doesn’t it?”

Rory, the stealthy server, grabs my glass and pours more OJ into it. Her cheeks are bright red. I don’t care that she’s heard. In fact, I hope lots of people do. It’ll mess with Kaleb’s head.

“That definitely explains your hobbling this morning, babygirl.”

I salute him with a hushpuppy and eat it.

“Next time you need your holes stuffed…” Kaleb leans in with a devilish grin. “Call me. I’ll send my boys to do the job. You remember how well that went before with Emmanuel’s crew, right?”

My mask nearly slips.

Three years ago, Kaleb allowed Emmanuel’s men to run a train on me to “gain respect”.

He also tried to have Ace fuck me once. Said it was another initiation thing. Ace refused to do it and ended up getting his ass beat so badly he was out of commission for weeks. I have no idea what he did to get back in Kaleb’s good graces, but whatever it took, he’s been Kaleb’s right-hand man ever since.

I think his refusal is the only reason I tolerate the piece of shit.

After cleaning off my plate, I sit back and belch loudly. Kaleb laughs because a few people look over at me with disapproval. “Your manners are deplorable, Daelyn.”

So is the fact that you’re still breathing. “I don’t have to impress anyone here. Their opinions of me don’t matter.”

“That’s my girl.”

I’m not your girl.

Smiling, he waves Rory back over to us. “Can we get the check, please?”

“Sure thing.”

Less than five minutes later, Kaleb’s paid the tab, and we’re back in his car. “Got plans today?”

“Yes.” I buckle in. “I’ve got a mountain of work to do.”

“Why do you insist on working for that dumb company, Daelyn? They don’t pay you what you're worth.”

I lean back and close my eyes. “You know why.”

I refuse to take handouts. I’m trying to be legit. It’s ridiculous Kaleb would even ask such a question after he’s just shown me all the incriminating evidence he has against me.

“I can take care of you, if you’d let me.”

“No, thanks.” I cross my arms and look out the window. “You’ve taken care of me enough.”

Understatement of the century.

“You know everything I’ve done is for your own good, right?” He starts the engine. “The videos, the tracking app, the jobs I put you on. It’s all to help you reach your potential.”

My potential as a what? Drug runner? Whore? “I have zero interest in running some mafia club cartel circuit circus thing, Kaleb. I just want an honest, simple life.”

“You still don’t get it.” He pulls out of the parking lot. “People like us don’t get to have honest, simple lives. We’re made different.”

“Agree to disagree.” Tears prick my eyes and I hold them back, reinforcing my mask. “I’m out. You said if I did this thing with that fighter that I’d be out.”

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