Page 20 of Wounded Wing

Ren’s jaw ticks at my mention of including her.

Interesting.

Mae clears her throat quietly, “Of course. I just need to shut down shop and clean myself up–”

Growling, I cut her off. “No. Shut down and come straight here. Ten minutes, Mae.”

Hanging up before she can find a rebuttal, I raise an eyebrow. “You understand, of course. Mae is part of this business.”

His dark brows furrow contemplatively before he waves his hand again. “Very well. We can discuss this further once she arrives,” he concedes.

Gravel crunches outside of the office window followed by footsteps tapping along the asphalt, announcing my butterfly’s arrival. Ren’s body tenses, like an animal ready to hunt his prey. Little does he know how right his instincts will be.

Everything comes at a price and Ren Kudo will pay mine.

Chapter fourteen

Suppressing a shiver asthe air shifts from hot to ice cold, I stamp through the threshold, my mask sliding back into place. Employees avert their stares, while whispers flutter around.

What happened to her face?

I thought she was on vacation.

Shoulders back and head held high despite the dirt marring my face, I make my way to Atticus’ office passing the mocking whispers.The large, oak door appears faster than I had hoped, standing as one of many reminders of how I chose, and continue, to dance with the Devil. Inhaling deeply before the memories of what drug me under their tide, I knock sharply against the door.

“Come in,” Atticus answers.

Following his instruction, I enter the dark-themed office. The scent of leather and spices permeates the statically charged room. Lounging on the loveseat with tense shoulders, is none other than Ren Kudo. His reputation precedes him, a cut-throat businessman who never takes “no” for an answer. Photos of him circulate in news outlets and magazines, but none have done the man in front of me justice.

Fuck, he is gorgeous.

He has light, ivory-toned skin, barely a color above my own, and raven hair that is short and tapered perfectly. What catches my breath and makes my heart beat out of rhythm are his eyes. One deep blue, damn near the color of an ocean, and the other is amber, reminding me of a bald cypress tree.

“You must be Mae,” he rumbles.

My mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air. My nose scrunches at my social flub as a shiver rakes down my spine. Sensing that both men are expectingsomethingfrom me, I swallow my surprise and assume my club persona.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kudo,” I say, fluttering my lashes flirtatiously just as I’d do for clients who pay for private dances.

Smirking, Ren looks me over from head to toe and back up again. His stare burning a pathway for my blush to bleed from my cheeks tomy chest. “See something you like?” I ask, breathlessly. Something about this man makes me want to throw him off balance.

Flaring his nostrils, Ren’s gaze finds mine. A mixture of fury and desire crosses his flawless features as Atticus approaches behind me, wrapping his thick arms around my wide waist.

“Don’t tease him,mon papillon. Have a seat and hear out his proposal,” Atticus chides.

Guiding me to the leather loveseat next to Ren, Atticus deposits me without a second thought. Spatial awareness has me shifting away from Ren’s proximity.

Nodding his approval,Ren begins to recount his offer. His lips move effortlessly as he describes how he can make the club somethingbetter. Every time he says it, his dual-colored eyes seek mine.

Atticus’ head snaps in my direction, his gray eyes lit with mischievous intent.

Motherfucker.

“I’ll accept your proposal, under one condition. Think of it as a form of reparation.” His voice borders manic at the prospect of whatever bullshit plan he just concocted.

Reparation? What kind of history does Ren and Atticus have?

Bile threatens to spill from my throat over the pristine flooring. Atticus smiles widely, appearing more like a grimace as he bares his perfectly white teeth. “Mae, be a good girl and sit on Ren’s lap for me.”

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