Page 49 of Until It Was Real

Nothing except taste and touch her all night long. My cock springs to life as the memories assail me.

“Nothing,” I croak out.

“If she quits because you were being an asshole, I’m firing your ass.”

“You can’t fire me. I’m your brother.”

“Try me.”

I palm my neck and squeeze as I search for calm. Getting into a fight with my brother will not help resolve things now.

“Can you message me Dakota’s address?”

“Why?”

“I have some of her things with me.” The lie rolls off my tongue.

“I’ll message it but do not mess with my assistant. I’m not kidding, Rhett. She’s the best assistant I’ve ever had. I won’t lose her because you’re an asshole who goes into over-protective mode whenever anyone comes close to the family.”

“Thanks.” I ring off before Eli asks any more questions.

My phone beeps with a message and I hit a button on my console to read the address. It’s a street near the downtown of Smuggler’s Rest. I drive to the address. This can’t be right.

I’m at theMermaid Motel.Dakota can’t possibly live here. But I spot her piece of shit car in the back of the lot. What is she doing here?

I park in front of the reception and march inside to investigate. The bell above the door chimes when I enter and the receptionist glances over with a smile on her face. Her smile disappears when she realizes it’s me.

“What the hell are you doing here, Dakota?”

“Um...I…Do I hear the phone?” She whirls around and runs toward the office but slams into the wall instead.

I rush to catch her before she falls. She bats my arms away.

“I’m fine.”

I lift a brow. “But the wall came out to attack you?”

“Yes.” She nods. “Exactly.”

I step closer to crowd her and her eyes flare before she clears her throat and glances away. “What are you doing here, Havoc?” She doesn’t answer and I continue to push her. “Do you work here?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Wrong.” I tuck one of her curls behind her ear. “Everything about you is my business.”

She scowls. “Stop trying to control me.”

“I’m not trying to control you. Wanting to know everything about you, isn’t controlling you.”

She rolls her eyes. “You don’t want to know everything about me.”

“Yes, I do, Havoc. Every single thing there is to know.”

The bell over the door chimes again. “Ay caramba!” A woman shouts. “Hot. Hot. Hot.”

“Who are you?” I ask her.

Dakota pushes past me. “Don’t be rude. This is Sadie. She’s the manager of the motel.”

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