Page 58 of Free to Judge
Ciro snickers. “And here I thought you spent your weekends draped in tits and ass from Velvet Vice. At least that’s what Sal reports back.”
I ignore the implication because there’s nothing there. The strippers drape themselves over anyone in the VIP section at Velvet Vice as they try to amp up their tips—nothing more, nothing less. They’re not the woman who interests me.
They’re not Kalie.
Kalie, who walks around her home barefoot in the kitchen, hair tied up. Pouring a glass of wine as she listens with understanding and offers thoughtful insight. The way she welcomed me into her home for a few hours with hardly any hesitation increases the blood flow to my dick.
Ciro chuckles. “Yeah. You got a hard-on for one of them, for sure. What’s her name?”
I smirk just enough to sell it, eyes flicking toward the kid in the chair. “Don’t ask.”
If I had my way, I’d speak it reverently, like a prayer. I’d moan it into her mouth in the dark, feel what it’s like as I say it against her lips.
I crouch down to get a better look at Vin. “What was he stealing?”
“Leather from inside the BMW. Saw it in his pockets.”
“Got proof?”
Ciro reaches into his own pocket and yanks out the leather in question. Tosses it onto the floor. My lip curls. “If I go into the office, am I going to see a clear shot of him stealing this on the cameras?”
Ciro rears back as if he’s mortally offended I’m challenging his word. He works up enough phlegm and spits at my polished shoes. “How dare you question me?”
Straightening to my full height, I move at a lethal speed. Shoving him up against the lift with my forearm. “If you end up alongwith the rest of your feckin’ clan behind bars because this kid can ID you, I’m not doing dick to save your ass.”
He narrows his eyes. “You’re our lawyer.”
My smile turns lazy with malice. “I’m notyourlawyer. Get that straight. I was hired for a specific purpose. Dealing with shit like your fuckin’ hard-on for some fresh little boy meat? Nah, I’m not defending that.” It’s exactly what the Byrnes want me to do—protect their precious pipeline—but some two-bit Tiberi soldier helping himself to the merchandise? Not happening.
I step back and recommend, “I suggest you disappear.”
Ciro comes at me, fist cocked. “You…”
I catch it in midair before it can connect with my face. “Stop playing games. If you want, we can make a call to discuss what I just walked in on.” I bare my teeth. “Who do you think they’re going to believe—me or some sick fuck who isn’t paying the going rate?”
Ciro snarls, “Someone woke up with morals today.”
I bark out a laugh. “I woke up with my hand stroking my dick, thinking about the next pussy I plan on fucking, not the family I plan on fucking over.” The reality is that I woke up thinking about Kalie. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, the warmth and steadiness in her actions. The way her husky voice says my name causes vibrations to dance up my spine.
For just a few minutes, it was enough to be just me—not the me who had to roll around in slime and use a burner phone to call her so I don’t make a mistake and lead them right to her.
Ciro’s fists clench and unclench at his side, torn between his denied treat and knowing he now has a witness. Finally, I say,“Cut him loose. If he really did what you say he did, scare him. But no more.”
Ciro doesn’t say a word, just ensures he slams against my shoulder to throw me off balance before he storms out the door. I wait a full five minutes before I turn toward the kid. Leaning in close, I murmur loud enough for Vin to hear, but not loud enough for the microphones I surreptitiously planted to pick up. “You were damn lucky tonight. Don’t forget it.”
He nods fast, breath catching. When I release the final ankle tie, he leaps to his feet and falls back a few steps. “Wa-was he really go-gonna…?”
I nod once as I monitor Vin’s breathing. If I need to knock the kid out to keep his mouth from running, I will. Before I can decide, Vin takes off at a sprint. The metal door bangs open as he escapes.
I fling the information off to Cal to have him dig a little deeper for me while I head toward the back office so I can be seen working even as I’m digging into files on my end. Sliding my phone from my pocket, I check it for the information I need to look up—sales manufacturing slips for companies that don’t exist. Incoming vehicles that were reported stolen. Oddities that, while in the overall picture of a shop might not raise any red flags, definitely do so when you’re dealing with the sale and transportation of humans.
I can’t help but check my texts before I get down to work. There’s nothing from Kalie, not that I really expected there to be while she’s with her father. Still, just thinking about her makes me want to reach out to her.
Declan:
Hoping things are going well today.
After sending her the text, I dive into the mountains of paperwork, trying to get ahead. As I do, I slip in the occasional search, as if the files I brush up against are being accessed accidentally.
