Page 44 of The Denver Alpha

I spin around on him right as I emerge from the pallet maze in the center of the room near the table. “Myclubs are clean,” I counter, pointing a finger at him in warning. “And I intend to keep it that way.”

Gavin rolls his eyes, relaxing his stance and folding his arms. “Fine.”

Fine?

I stare at him dubiously, narrowing my eyes. Because that seemed way too easy.

“Let me guess, you want a better deal? A separate cut of the profits?” He sighs, shaking his head in annoyance. “Go on, name your price. Everybody has one.”

“Not me.”

As we bicker, Gavin’s goons start to gather around us, hanging on the periphery but making their presence known. It’s a thinly veiled attempt at intimidation, but they don’t know who they’re dealing with. If I let my wolf out to play, I could singlehandedly slaughter these idiots within minutes, long before they knew what hit them. Too bad I’m committed to flying under the radar and maintaining a clean image in business. My wolf could use the excuse to work off some aggression.

I hold up a hand to cut off Gavin’s babbling about this being a mutually beneficial arrangement, shaking my head adamantly and standing my ground. “I already told you, Holley, this isn’t gonna happen. I think it’s best we go our separate ways.”

He opens his mouth to protest again when the slam of a door draws everyone’s attention- and before I even turn to look, I know who just walked in.

Even if Juliet wasn’t the type to constantly push back and defy orders, I’d know it from the sickening grin that spreads across Gavin’s face as soon as he glances in that direction. I clench my fists at my sides as my blood boils, my pulse quickening and my agitated wolf clawing his way closer to the surface. The way Gavin’s leering at her makes me want to rip his eyes out of their sockets and feed them to him, and it takes everything within me to remain calm and in control.

“Well this is a nice surprise,” he chuckles, swinging his gaze back on me. “I see your game now, Bauer. This is your way of trying to get a better deal, right? You play hard to get, then bring in a gift for me to sweeten the pot?”

This guy must have a fucking death wish.

I focus on drawing even, measured breaths as I look toward Juliet, focusing on her alone to keep my wolf at bay. “I thought I told you to wait in the car?” I growl.

Her lips part, eyes widening. I can tell by the look on her face that she knows she screwed up, but what’s done is done- there’s nothing either of us can do about it now.

“Wait a second, are you two…?” Gavin starts to ask, but I cut him off, shouldering past him.

“We’re done here,” I grumble as I grab the envelope of contracts off the table and tuck it under my arm.

I probably shouldn’t give a guy like Gavin my back, but I’m not exactly thinking straight as I storm in Juliet’s direction, determined to get her out of here as quickly as possible. Gavin calls something after me, but I don’t even hear it over the blood rushing to my ears. As soon as I reach her, I grab Juliet by the arm, towing her toward the door with me.

To her credit, she doesn’t resist, even though I’m being a little rougher with her than necessary. She must sense that I’m dangerously close to the edge, like a raging hurricane bound to destroy everything in my path.

I pull Juliet through both exit doors, breathing a little easier once we emerge in the alley outside the warehouse.

“Cole, I…” Juliet sputters as I release her arm, but her mouth snaps closed when I turn to shoot her a glare.

“Just get in the car,” I growl, pointing at the Camaro.

She scampers around to the passenger side, pulling the door open and climbing in. I drop in on the drivers’ side and fire up the engine, the tires squealing on the pavement as I peel out of the alleyway and away from the warehouse.

Both of us are silent as I navigate the city streets, the tension between us hanging thick. I take turn after turn, almost on autopilot, and before I know it, I’m pulling into the parking garage of my office building downtown. I park in my reserved spot on the third floor, cutting the engine and staring at the concrete wall in front of me as I flex my grip around the steering wheel.

“Why can’t you just listen and do what you’re told?” I grit out, slowly turning my gaze on Juliet seated beside me.

Her wide blue eyes meet mine as she worries her lower lip between her teeth. “You said five minutes.”

“And?”

“It had been fifteen.”

I growl in frustration, rubbing a hand over my buzzed head. “You don’t get it, Juliet. You never know what kind of people you’re in business with, so it’s best to keep your personal life out of it. Otherwise, they can use it against you. Nothing good can come from someone like Gavin knowing we’re… involved.”

She arches a brow at my choice of words- the last one in particular. “I didn’t think…”

“That’s the problem,” I interrupt, slamming the heels of my hands against the steering wheel. “You don’t think before you act! You’re reckless and impulsive and you do shit just to prove a point, not thinking about the consequences. You’re a spoiled fucking brat, Juliet, and someone needs to teach you a goddamn lesson.”

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