Page 7 of Ruthless King
I squint to make out more details, but he’s too far. His brows furrow as we stand there locked in an epic staring contest, neither moving. I finally blink, and he darts into the car.
“Hey!” I call out, unbidden, but the car takes off, tires screeching. I watch it race down the street and disappear around the corner. I’m filled with the strangest and most overwhelming need to follow it.
What the hell’s going on with you, Stella?
Shaking my head, I continue down the street until the savory scent of fried dumplings and sweet and sour sauce invade my nostrils. The mouthwatering Chinese food is the only thing I miss from the year spent shackled to Bo. The pair of gaudy red dragons eye me as I grow closer to his family’s restaurant. Drawing in a steadying breath, I attempt to tame the monster-sized butterflies whipping around my belly. The idea of begging Bo for mercy makes me want to vomit.
But I suck it up and force my feet up the steps of the Red Dragon.
The bright scarlet door swings open, the jingle-jangle of the overhead bell like a death knell. Feng leers down at me, dark bangs plastered across his forehead. “What are you doing here, Stel—”
His words are cut off as my ex marches in, a satisfied grin on his lips as his eyes rake over my scandalous dress. If it weren’t for the purple shiner darkening his cheek and the split lip bringing a smile to my face, I would’ve turned tail and run. No, I tell myself to enjoy the moment of triumph. Short-lived, but still.
“You got a little shmutz under your eye.” The words pop out before I can stop them.Merda. Dammit, Stella. You’re supposed to be winning the ass over, not pissing him off.
His expression sours, the satisfaction on his lips melting into a scowl. “It was worth it just to see your face when that book hit the tracks, and the fear in your eye when I had you on your knees.”
I contemplate a witty comeback, namely, mentioning I already got a brand new book from my mysterious savior so he can suck it, before I remind myself I’m here to play nice. Inhaling a calming breath, I bat my lashes and don my sweetest smile. “I didn’t come to fight, Bo. I came for a favor.”
He snorts on a laugh, dark eyes gleaming. “Miss my cock that much, huh?”
I bite back the slew of curses poised on my tongue. Thebastardoknows exactly why I’m here. “It turns out my dad owes the Red Dragons some money.”
Bo leans back against the counter and crosses his arms over his wiry, muscled chest. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
His lips slant into a thin line. “Not a thing, Stel.” He moves closer, a wicked grin taking shape. “It’s a nasty business gambling.” He pauses, letting the embarrassment sink in. “How much are we talking?”
“Twenty-five g’s,” I grit out.
A sharp whistle echoes across the quiet restaurant. “That’s more thansomemoney, babe.”
I cringe at the old pet name. How the hell did I ever find that cute? Slapping my hands on my hips, I swagger closer despite every nerve in my body recoiling at his proximity. “So can you help me out?”
“What exactly are you asking?”
“Can you make the debt go away?”
A throaty laugh bursts through his thinned lips, and a second, higher pitched one detonates from his cousin’s mouth. Feng had been so silent I’d forgotten he was here. The pair of idiots laugh at me, and anger burns my cheeks. This is so humiliating.
No, what comes next is going to be much, much worse. “I’ll do whatever you want,” I grit out.
Bo’s eyes light up, and he hisses at Feng, “Leave us.”
His cousin’s thin brows shoot up, and my ex barks at him in Mandarin. Feng turns heel like a beaten dog with his tail between his legs and slinks through the metal doors to the kitchen.
Bo stalks closer, and bile rises further up my throat with each step.You can do this, Stella. I clench my fingers into tight fists and force my body to still. My fight or flight reflexes are kicking in, and all I want to do is get the fuck out of here.
“Anything?” The corner of his split lip tips up. “Will you be a good little whore and suck my cock?”
His hands close around my shoulders, and he forces me to the ground. My knees hit the cold tile, and pain streaks up my legs. I grit through the ache and plaster a smile on my face. “I will if you erase my father’s debt.”
Bo barks out another harsh laugh as he unlatches his belt buckle and sneers down at me. “Twenty-five thousand for one blow job? How good do you think you are, babe?”
A swirl of anger and embarrassment heats my cheeks, and I’m a second away from punching thestronzoin the throat. There must be another way out of this. I close my eyes and Dad’s miserable face darts across my mind. I have to do it for him. Steeling my resolve, I smile wider, flashing my teeth. “Then what would it take to expunge the entire debt, Bo?”
He snatches my chin with his thumb and forefinger and jerks my head up, forcing my eyes to his. “You’re mine till the end of the summer. To do with as I please.”
