Page 72 of Clinch'd

Chapter 28

Cooper

After paying the cab driver, I grab Minnie’s bag and throw her a wink before leading the way into the airport. Her pretty lips curve into a smile and my heart thumps before settling back to its normal rhythm.

I have no fucking clue what I’m doing but I do know that I need answers. Beast’s explanation only told part of the story and it’s disturbing to say the least.

Why would Minnie spy on me on behalf of Sal Castinetti? I don’t know the man beyond his reputation, but I’ve heard the rumors surrounding him. He’s not someone you mess with.

Hudson’s warnings circle my brain, but I can’t see any reason for the man to want information about me which makes me wonder if this isn’t related to Hudson instead. Thoughts of which leave me cold.

This could be really fucking bad, and I’m annoyed that Beast didn’t tell me this shit sooner, ignoring the fact that per him, he’s tried.

Now I have to get Minnie to spill her truths which is why I decided on this fucking scheme to begin with.

I’ve never invited a chick to travel with me and the notion makes my gut burn, more so because with Minnie, it feels almost natural.

She’s easy to be around. She doesn’t demand anything and enjoys even the trivial things we do together. Unlike some of the others who make demands that aren’t hard to see through. I know I’m using them, but it would be harder to do if it weren’t so obvious, they weren’t doing the same.

“Hungry?” I ask and she shakes her head.

“Okay.” We settle in seats in the first-class lounge, and I glance through emails while we wait.

Beside me, Minnie pages through a magazine. When she pauses and pulls it closer to her face, I look over.

It’s some dude in an underwear ad and I chuckle before grabbing it from her hands. “What’s this?”

“Hm, eye candy,” she says with a sly grin.

Raising a brow, I roll the magazine between my fingers, and tap it against her arm. “Bad, bad girl.”

When she giggles, her smile lights up her face. It does crazy things to my insides. My fingers tingle to pull her into my arms but Beast’s words from last night ring in my ears and instead, I toss the magazine on top of her bag.

“Min?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad we met,” I say, and she raises her luminous eyes to mine. What’s she thinking? What does she want from me?

“Me too,” she says with a shy smile.

“It’s just,” I say, grabbing her hand and kissing the tips of her fingers. “You’re the first woman I’ve met in a long time who’s real, you know? I don’t have to worry about…”

The smile slides from her lips and I feel her unease as she pulls away. “About?” she whispers.

Shrugging, I look away. I don’t want to see her face when she lies to me again. “What you want, you know. Fame. Money.”

“Oh.”

That’s all she says, and we drop into silence. I brood the entire flight to Florida and as we exit the airport, my resolve hardens.

Minnie could have confessed to whatever she’s up to a thousand times over, the fact that she hasn’t is a message I can’t ignore.

It’s time to turn the tables. After all, the lives of my family could hang in the balance.

Chapter 29

Minnie

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