Page 60 of Mocha Kisses

I laugh straight into his face before stepping back. “Seriously? You don’t see how fucked up your choices are? The fact that youcame backis even funnier.” Maybe I shouldn’t be laughing at my pain but what else should I do? Cry again? I’ve done enough of that in the last week.

John pushes off the column and moves toward me until my back is against the sink, this man’s face inches from mine. “Do you know what those men around you do? Griffin might just be a writer. But the other two? Their legal businesses are just a fucking front. Rome’s brother is the one who chased you out of town six years ago. Did he tell you that?”

My entire body tenses up because Rome never mentioned it. However, I don’t need him to tell me shit like that because Rome would never hurt me. He told me he loved me and I want to trust that. Will I run him over the coals later for not saying anything? Yes. But I’m not going to throw the man away for withholding that. “Didn’t need to.” I unsuccessfully push against John’s chest, grimacing when he doesn’t move an inch.

“You’re sleeping with the devils. Oh, you didn’t think I did my research? My wife gives me several updates on the terrible choices that you make, the motels you stay at, and the constant shit that you get into. The fact that you haven’t been dragged in yet is laughable. You’re terrible at hiding.”

My heart sinks into my stomach at his words. How could he know all this? How have I never seen him? The fact that the suited goons always show up within a few days to weeks of finding a new city to be in always bugged me. I didn’t use credit cards, had a prepaid phone that I regularly changed, and yet they still found me. The connection doesn’t make any sense. “It’s gross that you know who I’m sleeping with. Get the fuck off me,” I growl as I push against him again. This time he goes. “You really just come here to tell me to pay your fucking bill? You’re a piece of shit.”

“Of course, not. That would be stupid of me. I forgot the rest of my sentence. Pay the bill before someone else has to, Luna.”

I don’t know what that means and John can obviously see my confusion.

“You’re married now. What? You thought that contract only meant offspring? It’s anyone who’s related to me. By proxy, now, so is Griffin Solace. You tried to save him last time. What about this time?” A sinister grin slides onto his lips before he presses a kiss to my forehead and then walks to the edge of the bathroom. He pulls back the curtain hanging over a window I didn’t know was there and jumps out before a sob tears from my throat and the door busts open, Rome right there.

“Luna? Shit, sweetheart, talk to me. What’s going on?”

“My father.” I can’t seem to make the words work. John just threatened Griffin. He came out of nowhere and threatened the love of my life. This is what I was scared of. I don’t want to run, because it won’t help anymore. The public has already connected us to each other. Rome catches me just as my legs give out.

“Luna, I need you to take a deep fucking breath and tell me what just happened. Did he call you?Was he in here?” He growls and just as he’s about to launch toward the window, I pull him back.

I shake my head, taking that deep breath I’ve been commanded to before I meet his amber eyes. “Find Griffin. They’re after Griffin.”

Griffin

Yetanotherinvestorfindsme, shakes my hand, and starts spouting the politics of the industry. This isn’t why I started writing. I wanted the world to enjoy the characters in my head and if Yana is still working with Shepard’s Press after this book, I’m pulling out. One glance over at Nova in the corner, brooding like the sexiest lawyer I’ve seen tells me that he’s about at the end of his rope as well.

For now, I have to spend another hour or two greeting these people to keep Yana happy. The moment Luna returns to my side, I’ll make up some terrible excuse so that we can leave. I’m pretty sure everyone will think she’s pregnant but I don’t care. I need out.

I look around, wondering where she’s gone. Rome followed her but with everything going on, I don’t like not being able to see her. No one seems to notice my rising panic, not even Yana who approaches with that sultry gait. Everyone eyes her up and down, licking their lips as she walks up to me. She’s more like a bulldog, with a very focused mindset. Not that I blame her.

“Griffin! There’s a few more people to meet that would be a great addition to Shephard’s press. Right over by that back table.” She gently prods for me to say goodbye and follow her. I’m glad for the distraction but not happy that it’s pulling me further away from Nova and where the other two disappeared. My breathing picks up and I know that if I don’t get these thoughts under control, I’m going to fall apart. Not exactly what Yana wants to throw out in the press, right?

“Who are these people?”

“Some larger network that could definitely use a story like yours.”

Yana has done this before but she does her fucking research. She knows all about my book, talks me up, and then gives me names and histories so that I’m not talking out of my ass. We get to where two of the men are standing and a shiver runs down my spine. The air seems colder here, Yana tapping my shoulder before skittering off to deal with some other part of the party.

We stare at each other for several seconds before I manage a stupid smile. “Um, hi?”

“Griffin Solace?” One of them asks and I nod.

The other one tilts his head. “Husband of Luna St. Claire?”

This time my nod is much slower. No one should really know about her. They aren’t here for her. I take a step back and the second suit just laughs.

“I wouldn’t do that. Your wife owes a lot of fucking money and unless you want that to overshadow your pretty little book release, I’d advise you not to get any funny ideas.”

I clasp my hands together and let a shuddering breath fall from my lips. “What do you want from me?”

“The money, of course. They parade you around like this airless tattooed bad boy turned writer but that’s not who you are at all. I’m sure you’re a smart boy. I also know that you have a few dollars squirreled away.” They’re waiting for my response and I know they think they’ve terrified me into a corner. However, unlike some of the men that Nova and Rome have dealt with that I’ve seen in passing, these just don’t fit the same vibe. They’re definitely a little terrifying and if I was Luna, I’d take off too. They’re just not Rome and Nova’s level of terrifying.

These suits seem like they’ve stepped into a role rather than having been born into it. “Right. Leave your card and your wire and I’ll send you the money.” Am I shaking in my boots about to piss my pants because this is the closest I’ve gotten to Rome and Nova’s side of the tracks? Yes. But if I make a big deal about it, Luna will be in danger. I don’t have the kind of money they’re looking for but I’m sure I could scrounge up something pretty close. I throw out my hand, trying to make this like a fucking business transaction.

The first suit looks down at my hand, chuckles, and then shakes his head. “Fat chance. I want to see you pull out that money myself and hand it over.”

“No one has a fucking million dollars at their beck and call. You’re stupid if you don’t know that.”

---