Page 45 of Blood & Loyalties
Opening the door, I chanced one last look at the woman who had captured my heart in such a short time. The misery was written all over her face, and I ached to make it go away.
“I’m coming back,” I tried to reassure her once more. To reassure myself.
A lone tear rolled down her face, and my heart shattered as I walked out the door.
Chapter Ten
NINE MONTHS LATER
PULLINGINTO THE driveway at my estate, I saw a small black car waiting, and my stomach plummeted. Fucking Maria. I did not want to deal with her shit today. Hell, I didn’t want to deal with her shit any day.
After I got out of the car, she followed suit. She was blonde and beautiful, but there was nothing between her ears and more dicks had been between her legs than humanly possible.
“Hey, baby, it’s been a long time. I missed you,” she purred, making me want to retch.
“I didn’t. What do you want?” I walked right past her to the front door. She wasn’t getting in, so she had better make this fast.
“Can I come in and talk?” Even her most seductive voice fell flat with me.
“No. Talk or go.” I turned, crossing my arms over my chest, ready to be done with this shit.
She sighed dramatically, like it would buy her some time with me. Nope.
“I need money.”
Anger rose. “I give you fucking money every damn month. Way more than I need to, by the way.”
“I need more. I got into some trouble with Mickey. It’s just a bit, and I promise I’ll pay it back.” Mickey was a loan shark who had ungodly rates. There was no reason she even needed to go to him with the cash I gave her every month to leave me the fuck alone.
I scoffed. “You won’t pay shit back. I’m the only money you have. What did you do this time?”
“I needed some new things and didn’t have the money, so he helped me out.”
My eyes turned cold. “Was that before or after you sucked his dick and fucked him?” I hated her, and I was getting damn tired of her shit. Her train was about to run the fuck out of track.
Her face turned red with anger. I didn’t care. “That is none of your business. I’ll make it up to you.” She approached me like a hyena ready to pounce on an antelope. Her fingernails came up, scraping my arm in a seductive dance meant to entice. It didn’t.
“Get your fucking hand off me.” She complied quickly at my tone. “How much?”
Her shoulders drooped in defeat. “Ten K.” Her eyes met mine, wincing. She was ready for the anger, but it didn’t come. I was done. This was it.
“I’ll take care of it, and then I’m done. No more money. No more coming by. No protection. I’m wiping myself clean.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened just a hair to allow the gasp to escape as she stumbled back a bit. Good, I was glad I’d finally shocked her.
“You can’t do that. How will I live?” Her protests fell on deaf ears, and the screeching was giving me a headache. I had too much to do.
“Told you I’d handle it. From now on, you’re on your own. Divorce was final a long time ago. I helped you out for years so you’d get on your feet, but you can’t. Not my problem anymore. I’m done.” I turned to the door, unlocking it with my finger print, some technology the techie guy had installed for additional security.
An arm latched onto me, and I spun around. Before I could say a word, Maria dropped to her knees and hurriedly tried to unbuckle my pants. I jerked away.
“What the fuck are you doing?” The sound bounced through the night sky as she fell forward on her hands and knees in front of me.
“I’m sorry. I won’t screw up again. Please give me another chance.” Her pleas did nothing for her case except make her sound even more pathetic. Tears began streaming down her face, and once upon a time, I might have fallen for it. Not this time.
“Get up and leave, or Dan will make you. You are to stay away from everything I am a part of. If you come near me again, it will be the end.” I quickly walked through the door, locking it behind me. Dan could come in after he got rid of her.
I watchedas Vinny grabbed the pliers from the metal drawer, his eyes full of hate. We had been in this dump of a warehouse for three hours, and our patience was wearing thin. Mine was nonexistent.
