Page 85 of Desperate Needs

The tail I had on her had just sent the alert.

I stalked through the hallway, my mission pounding through me.

After she shut me out, I had to resort to other means to follow my sweet little Darlin’. Color me surprised when her father, of all people, told me she was going out tonight.

“You know, Callahan, the jury’s still out on whether or not I’ll kill you for what you did. But my team tells me this virus is brilliant, and your improvements to our firewall are inspired and advanced. So, yeah, I’ll buy the Group from you.”

“You will,” I stated, nodding my head. At least I hadn’t fucked that part up too bad.

“And I’d like to offer you a position job on the board.”

“Just me?”

“No, I’ll also hire all your personnel on a probationary basis.”

“And Clementine? I’m not giving her up, Aziz.”

“Ha. You would be a fool if you did. I gave up my wife once, and it damn near killed me. But, as for my approval of you courting my daughter, she wouldn’t ask me for it anyway. I raised a strong woman. It’s her choice, Connor. Always.”

I nodded, relief filling me.

“But if you want her, you may want to go to the Den tonight. She’s gonna be there with her cousins,” he paused, “they’re going dancing.”

The prick just wanted to see me unravel. And I almost did.

Fucker.

Look, I knew I was a caveman about this woman, but I also knew she needed to get rid of some of the hurt and sadness she experienced this week.

I also knew I was the cause of all her upset. And that alone was enough to send me into a rage.

Clementine should never be sad. She should never cry or sob like I made her.

Part of me hated myself for the things I’d done to her, which, considering the violent life I led, were fairly mild in comparison.

But it wasn’t the action itself that carried weight with me. It was the recipient of those actions.

Clementine simply meant more to me than words could express.

I love her.

I almost missed a step as the realization punched me right in my gut. I loved that woman and without her I was nothing.

Garbage.

A loser.

Completely and utterly bereft.

It didn’t matter how much money her father paid for my company or the fact he’d handle all the outstanding debts, liens, and loans on the Group, hiring my employees, and giving me a position on his board.

Most of the Callahan family was happy with the outcome, my mother and sister especially. They’d been worried about me.

But the old timers like Lorne were pissed. They refused to have anything to do with it, and that was fine. They could slither away like the slugs they were.

The heavy bass of old school dance music made the walls vibrate, and I cocked my head to the side, curious. That my sweet, not to mention young Clementine, even knew this kind of music was shocking.

I grinned as I caught sight of her flaming hair beneath the flashing lights. Circling the crowded dancefloor I kept my eye on her, eyes bulging when I finally got a good look.

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