Page 45 of Mob Knight

“Explain what? I don’t know what you mean.”

His eyes narrow even further to slits. They’ve got to be almost closed, but I doubt he ever closes them longer than to blink if he’s somewhere other than his own home. It would mean somebody could approach him without him noticing. Then again, he seems to have a sixth sense for any of that stuff. He could be blindfolded and gagged, and he would still know somebody was approaching. Even ear plugged.

“He made it sound as though you were flirting with him the other day.”

“What other day?”

He must mean the day they fought. I only caught snippets and knew they spoke about a woman, but I didn’t realize it was me. I got pissed because of how they acted in public.

“He said you were having a conversation and checking him out throughout it. Then he implied you were in that building to see Javier.

“Why would I ever see Javier at that building?”

“Because he owns an apartment there where he keeps a sub.”

Now it’s my turn for my eyebrows to shoot straight up. “You think I’m that woman?”

“No, not anymore.”

“You ever thought that?” I’m incredulous and insulted.

“I wasn’t sure what to think for a while.”

“But you don’t believe it anymore? Or did you believe it until we fucked and now you don’t?”

“I wasn’t sure what to believe until somebody in the neighborhood explained Pablo was lying to me. I want to know why he would do it. What did he think to gain by telling me you were checking him out or that you might be involved with his cousin?”

“Obviously, he was trying to piss you off, and in the meantime, probably risking my fucking life. What if somebody heard that and believed I was involved with a Cartel member?”

He shoots me a sardonic smile as though I should realize how stupid it sounds to object when I just spent the night at a sex club with a mobster. But I already know I feel differently about Cormac than I ever could about a Diaz or even somebody in the Mafia or bratva. I’m probably a fool for that, but I just do.

“I don’t know, Joey. It sounded like you and Pablo are much more friendly than you claimed.”

“Well, then he lied, and you believed him, and that’s precisely what he wanted. He wanted to goad you, and he succeeded. I bet you showed no reaction to it, but I also bet he knows you well enough to read you even when you don’t want to be read.”

“Is that how he is with you?”

“No, Cormac. He’s nothing with me because you’ve seen how I try to avoid him.”

“But do you really?”

My anger spikes, and I’m ready to walk in my apartment and slam the door in his face. I don’t want to see him at all right now, and I definitely don’t want to see him tomorrow night if this isthe way he’s going to be. He can’t trust me even a bit. I know he’s known Pablo longer than he has me, but I’d like to think I’ve been more trustworthy than Pablo Diaz ever could be.

“Cormac, Pablo will say anything and everything to fuck somebody over. If he thinks he can do that to you—someone who’s always been his rival—then he’ll use any excuse to do it. That’s me right now. I resent that he would include me in whatever little vendetta the two of you have against each other. And I resent you believing him at all when I’ve given you no reason to think I want anything to do with the man.”

He watches me for a moment, and it’s only giving me more time to stew, and my anger spikes to the roof.

“You know what, Cormac? Never mind. Never mind about any of it. Never mind about tomorrow night. Never mind about me. If it’s going to take you this long to even consider believing me, then I want nothing to do with you. I don’t want to be with somebody in any capacity who doesn’t trust me, especially not when I’m going to submit everything to him and put my well-being in his hands. Why should I trust you if you won’t trust me?”

“That’s a fair question, Joey, but it’s not just about me. Every decision I make will always include my family’s well-being. It’s never just about me. Anything I choose to do will affect them, so I must always consider that, even if it seems like it should be private between just me and my partner. I can’t be with anyone who might jeopardize my family.”

“And you believe what? That I’m going to sell secrets to Pablo? That I’m going to have him come over tonight, or leave here as soon as you do and run to him for some pillow talk? You’re unbelievable.”

I turn around and put my key in the lock.

“Joey, wait. This isn’t how I want the evening to end.”

“Then you should have thought of that before you started accusing me of things. You just took a perfect night and turned it to shit. I don’t appreciate that. I wish we’d ended tonight with wonderful memories, and instead I’m going into my place insulted and pissed off. So, like I said, forget about it. There’s nothing else to say to each other. I don’t want to see you, and I don’t want to hear from you.”

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