Page 56 of Savage Daddies

I narrow my eyes and peek my head around the corner a little more.

“What is that supposed to mean?” asks Warren.

“They’ll find a way to escape. They’re strong girls.” Another laugh escapes his throat. “I mean, what father forces their daughter into marriage?”

“He threatened to shut down everything I’d built.”

Another laugh. “Everything you’ve built, meaning your business?” Paul rolls his eyes. “Word of advice for you, mate. Don’t birth kids into the world if you’re more bothered about money. Lonely people build businesses. Not those who are fortunate enough to have families.”

A stroke of realization flashes across Warren’s face. But only momentarily.

Then, the back of Paul’s head slams against the brick wall.

“You like to talk.”

“I’m not giving you money. Not a buck. Not a billion,” Paul says.

“May I remind you,” says Warren, “what Felix did for you thirteen months ago?”

This tightens Paul’s face. His expression turns long, but only briefly. “The pot calling the kettle black. I may have done wrong, but you and Felix still place first if we tally up all of the points.”

Warren tightens his jaw. Continues staring. “This is your final warning.”

“Oh, lucky me.”

Warren steps back to scroll his eyes up and down Paul’s body.

Then he yanks Paul’s hair and drags him to the ground in one smooth motion. Taking advantage of his vulnerable, bent-over position, Warren circles around and boots him to the ground.

Paul lands in the gravel face down.

I leave my side of the wall and charge over to headlock Warren. Throw him to the ground.

The son of a bitch hisses at me—didn’t know he spoke fucking parseltongue.

“Piss off back to your own casino,” I tell him.

This creases Warren’s face into a smile. “Shortly, this will bemy?—”

I cut the guy off with a punch to the face. “I suggest you go, and quickly, before I call for security. Better not cause a scene. That won’t bode very well forbusiness.”I waggle my brows.

Warren pushes off me and straightens out his blazer, creating distance between Paul and me. “For one of the three men caught hiding away with my daughter yesterday, you’ve got an awful lot to say. I’d be more careful, if I were you.”

He heads back inside after that, leaving Paul and me to our own devices.

“Thanks, mate.” Paul pats me on the shoulder.

Questions swim in my head. “What’s the deal with you and Felix?”

“Nothing,” says Paul. “You know what those two are like.” He starts to head back inside, widening the gap. “I told your mate this yesterday, and now I’ll tell you. Stay away from Felix and Zoe, and from me too. It’s not worth it.”

* * *

“I was startingto think the reason you three didn’t pay the club a visit last night was because you slacked too much and got on the booze.” Grizzly pots a pool ball and then stabs his cue on the ground. “Please don’t tell me I’m right.”

“No, Prez.”

Poet and Bullwhip on stand either side of me. They stayed at my place earlier today because apparently walking as a group in public would’ve sparked more attention.

---