Page 62 of House of Cards

“We can charge more if she’s not—“ there’s the slightest hitch in my voice that makes Richmond flash a frown in my direction, “—worn out.”

Myles chuckles. “Jaysus, you make it sound like we’re gonna strap her down in the cigar lounge.”

“Not a bad idea. Free use is trending right now,” Rich says, dead serious.

“She’s a mess. She needs?—“

“Whose fault is that?” Myles says, but I carry on speaking right over him.

“—rest.”

Rich sniffs loudly, the only sound in an otherwise frozen silence. “You gonna rub her feet and feed her grapes?” he asks, a cruel laugh in his voice as he thumbs his nose.

I stand just a little taller. Clench my fists just a little tighter.

“She’s. Not. Ready.”

Rich’s smirk deepens as he leans his head to the side, daring me to respond with words or violence. I’ve done both in the past but tonight, I’m saving my energy.

Going toe-to-toe with an ex-MMA fighter whose aggression got him disqualified before he could hit pro won’t end well. Forhim.

“She’s not, or you’re not?” Myles claps a hand on my shoulder, generous with his smile as he says, “We’ve all seen this movie before, old chap.” He taps his temple. “None of us liked the first one. What makes you think we’re shelling out for the sequel?”

Christ, he just called me old chap.

“Myles—”

“No. No,” he cuts in smoothly, warmly, patting me right on the spot where Zoey stabbed me. “Myfault. I ride you boys too hard. All the killing, the racketeering, the pimping. Adds up. Tell you what…” Another pat, this one firmer than the last. “Soon as you’ve wrapped up that finance report?—”

“Compliance review,” Richmond corrects, sniffing as he thumbs his nose.

“—compliance review, you take yourself a nice long holiday. Somewhere warm. Or cold. Whatever wanks your willy.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if he could hear my teeth grinding. “I don’t need a fucking vaca?—”

“Oh, Iinsist.” Myles’s grip tightens as he leans in close, his voice dropping to a friendly whisper. “You have one day, Smith. Sort your shit out, or I’ll sort it out for you.”

“A week,” I counter, maintaining eye contact.

Myles’s smile tightens. “Seventy-two hours. Not a minute more.” He pats my cheek twice, hard enough to sting.

Christ.

I rub a hand over my face, attempting to scrub another traitorous memory from my mind before it takes root.

He’s already decided I’m going to fuck this up. That’s what pisses me off the most. Not the threats, not the condescension, but the fact that he’sright.

One bad choice. One mistake. A fuck-up that nearly brought this whole thing down. And it’s still hanging around my neck like a goddamn noose.

I don’t need a fucking vacation.

I need to prove to Myles, to Richmond…tomyselfthat history isn’t about to repeat itself.

And the best way to do that is to leave Zoey the hell alone and let her repay her debt as I’d intended. But I don’t trust the rest of the Balmont Boys to leave her alone. Angels come and go, butthere’s always a fuss when we get a new one on board. Everyone wants to see how far they can push her.

How pretty she sounds when she screams.

And there’s fuck all I can do about it without Myles sending me off to the country like I’ve had a nervous breakdown.

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