Page 153 of Tempting Little Thief

There she fucking is, Damiano at her side like a good little soldier. This time, I allow my features to harden. Downing the beer because I know she doesn’t expect me to, and small creases form along her temples.

Letting my head fall back lazily, I eye Rocklin while speaking to Rae, so she can read my lips clearly from where she’s standing. “She is the opposite of you—a follower. A rich bitch who only dates rich boys.”

She’s not a follower, I know this, but she did follow her daddy’s rules out of fear, and she needs to get past that. She’ll never have what she wants, what she’s worth if she doesn’t.

It’s not something anyone can do for her. The girl’s gotta figure out how her damn self, to spot the crack she keeps missing, holding on to thatfamily before allbullshit he ingrained in her.

I scoff at the thought.

Damn, she looks good, pissed off and a little tortured, but good.

Her big green eyes beg me to come to her while her sharpened features dare me to deny her.

Cute, Rich Girl. Still pretending you’re in charge when you never have been, not when it comes to you and me.

After a moment, I move my eyes back to Raven.

“Wanna make her jealous?” she jokes, and an instant laugh breaks free.

In my peripheral, Rocklin jerks, but someone keeps her in place.

“Nah, I’m not in the mood to fight your boy tonight.”

“Ah, come on, you can hold your own.” She smiles. “I mean, at first.”

I smirk at her as I push to my feet, letting her keep her little opinion of her man. No need to ruin it for her.

“You’re good people, Bass Bishop.” She offers me her fist, so I push mine into it.

I pull a pre-roll from my pocket and slide my headphones over my ears as I nod goodbye.

I don’t look at Rocklin once, heading in the opposite direction she’s standing, but I know she’s coming.

Pulling my phone out to send a quick message to Hayze, I find he’s already sent one my way.

Hayze: your girl’s here. Six total.

Me: Leave.

Rocklin needs to do the same. She’s got no business being here.

And lookee, lookee … no fucking guard on her tail.

Again.

Rocklin

“Do you want to go to The Enterprise? Maybe wind down and—”

“No,” I cut Dom off, moving toward my wing without a single look back.

I’m fuming, on the verge of shaking or screaming or throwing myself down the fucking stairs, but I make it no more than five steps up when the front door bursts open and my dad flies in.

“What did I say?!” he booms.

But I’m not given a chance to answer, as no less than two dozen men file in behind him, half head toward me, the other half breaking toward the right.

“What the f—” My arms are gripped on both sides, and I yank away, but then each limb is in someone’s grasp and I’m carried out the door. “Dad, what the hell! What is going on?”

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