Page 35 of Emerald

Brooks: She will have your back. I promise. But you will also have to trust her. She may not look it, but she has good instincts.

Nash: I’m not filled with confidence.

Brooks: You’ve got this.

Nash: Have you blown up my life, brother?

Brooks: Not intentionally.

Motherfucking asshole.

Nash: When I see you again expect my fist in your face. Asshole.

Brooks: Gladly.

Ellie Clark, who the fuck are you?

13

NASH

“Rosita,” I call out to the gorgeous woman sitting at a table with her friends. She flips me off. Understandable, I took her home and never called her again, but she works for the cartel as their event planner. I know it’s weird, the cartel has an event planner, but they host a lot of charity events for the community, and I guess someone has to organize them. “Ladies, you all look lovely tonight.” The table giggles as I greet them. “Your drinks look empty, next round on me,” I say, which makes them happy as they clap excitedly. Rosita is still glaring at me, but I know once she’s had a couple of shots of tequila, she won’t be able to say no to me. “Jose, keep the drinks coming to that table.”

“Will do, boss,” he says as he goes about making them more drinks.

It doesn’t take long for me to head back over. “Ladies, complimentary shots,” I say, handing out the shots. I give Rosita a wink, and she rolls her eyes but grabs the shot of tequila, throwing it back before placing the empty glass back on the tray, picking up another, and doing the same. “Have a good night, ladies,” I say, turning and heading back to the bar.

“What the hell are you playing at, Nash,” Rosita asks, tugging on my arm. “I haven’t seen you in months since you slinked out of my bed.” Those dark eyes glare at me.

“I thought that’s what you wanted. You know my reputation,” I say, moving her away from the busyness of the bar, which she lets me do, into a more quiet and intimate area. “You told me that you wanted to see what the fuss was about because you had broken up with Roberto.” She didn’t technically say that, her friends did when they begged me to flirt with her so she wouldn’t take back her cheating ex. Don’t get me wrong, Rosita is a gorgeous woman, but she wants marriage, kids, and the white picket fence and that isn’t me.

“I did?” she questions me.

I nod as I grab a lock of her hair and twirl it through my fingers. “You asked me for a favor.”

“A favor?” she repeats.

I nod. “You said you wanted me to wipe every last touch of Roberto’s from your skin,” I move closer to her so I can whisper the last bit into her, “and I think I did, wouldn’t you agree?” She swallows and her cheeks burn bright red as she nods. “I erased him from here,” I say, leaning in and pressing my lips to her neck, feeling her pulse flutter beneath them. “And then I erased him from here.” I move to the other side of her neck, running my tongue down her neck, and she shivers.

“What do you want, Nash?” she asks, her words unsteady.

I pull away. “What makes you think I want anything?” I ask, staring down at her.

“You’ve not paid me any attention in months and now suddenly you’re bringing up favors?”

My hands grip her hips and bring them to me so she can feel my hardness. “Maybe we could help each other? I’ll make it worth your while.”

She raises a brow. “I’m listening.”

“I need an invite to a Dominguez party,” I tell her honestly. She stiffens upon hearing my request. Shit. I thought she would appreciate the honesty but maybe I played the wrong card.

“Why?”

“I want to expand the bars, and I need investment.”

She looks at me for a couple of beats, trying to process my request through her tequila-filled mind. “And you want to get into bed with them?”

“Would rather be taking you to bed.” I grin, giving her a wink. She playfully slaps my chest before her fingers dig into my shirt.

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