Page 88 of Beneficial Misfortune

“See, that’s where you're wrong. We don’t tolerate your kind of behavior here. Our staff has the right to feel safe while working, and it’s our job to ensure scum like you don’t push yourself on them despite the status you seem to believe you have.”

That’s the final straw.

Carter lunges for me, his hand closing around my collar as he pulls me close to him in an attempt to intimidate me, but all I can do is smile.

“Listen here. I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you can’t just come in here with your expensive suits and tattoos and expect me to listen to you. This city is fine just the way it is, and we don’t need the likes of you trying to stick your nose in shit you don’t know the first thing about. My parents donate a lot to this club, and I’d hate to have to call the owner to have you thrown out, but I will if I have to.”

Reaching down, I carefully unwrap his fingers from around my shirt but remain where I am.

“My apologies. How rude of me. My name is Alex Lawson, and this is my nephew Desmond.”

“Oh, shit…” one of his buddies murmurs, but I don’t look up to see which, ensuring Carter has my full attention.

“As of two hours ago, this country club is now under new ownership.”

Vince is ready the second I turn to him, more than happy to take care of this pompous asshole. He’s always been our muscle, but something feels different this time. Is he so eager to helpbecause he knows what Kat means to us, or just because of Kat herself?

I don’t have the time to dwell on the thought right now, and frankly, I’m not sure I want to.

“Vincent is going to show you and your friends out, and from this moment on, none of you are welcome back.” Vince moves toward the table, and despite how big and tough Carter’s friends try to appear, they’re quick to fall in line.

Carter does not.

Vincent reaches out to provide Carter with some motivation, and he stupidly pushes back as if he could overpower him.

“It’s time to go, Carter. Before you give Mommy and Daddy a bad name.” The sarcasm that drips from Vince’s words has me biting the inside of my lip to stop from smiling.

Carter stands for a moment, his face becoming more red by the second before he takes a deep breath and shakes his arm free from Vince's hold.

“This isn’t the last you’ll be hearing from me,” he hisses, leaning closer so that we're damn near nose to nose.

“For your sake, I hope you're wrong. This was a warning. Next time, we won’t be so nice,” Desmond says, and with that, Vince grabs him and drags him toward the door, cutting off whatever else he might feel the need to say.

Which reminds me.

“And stay the fuck away from Kat. She’s ours now.”

Carter stills, causing him to trip over his own feet when Vince urges him forward, and I hear Desmond chuckle beside me.

“I want him to leave her alone, but I also want to beat his fucking face in,” Desmond whispers to me as we watch them go.

“I’m shocked you didn’t hit him this time, if I’m being honest.” He shrugs as if it’s not a big deal, but we both know it is. I’d had Vince on standby should Desmond need taming while dealing with these assholes, but it hadn’t been necessary.

“Next time, he won’t get so lucky,” Desmond says, and a smile turns his lips as if the idea excites him.

“No, he won’t,” Vince says as he makes his way back to us from the door now that Carter is gone.

Damn it. As much as I might enjoy Vince being on our side and our muscles, I can’t get past the feeling that this time it’s more than him just doing his job.

I’ll have to talk to Nate when we get back home.

Chapter 28

The house is quiet with Addison in the bath and most everyone else gone. Alex, Desmond, and Vince had some kind of meeting they flew out to earlier today in a bit of a rush, leaving Oliver, Nathan, Addison, and me for dinner. It was strange. Most of the meal was quiet, minus Addison’s chatter about her day. Even after just a short time, I’d grown used to Alex and Desmond being here and their constant teasing, along with the feeling of their eyes on me.

Addison needed a bath, which Nathan moved to handle before I could, but she made sure to let me know she wanted me to read her bedtime story with him tonight. It had become somewhat of a routine. No matter who else read to her, she almost always wanted me there. It was sweet, and damn it if it didn’t make them more appealing watching them all dote over her.

While Nathan handled her bath, I cleaned up the table and the food from our meal. No matter how much they told me not to worry about it, I just couldn’t help myself. Besides, what else did I really have to do? Read another book that would only fuel my very inappropriate dreams…

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