Hooked (Never After Series)

My office at the JR is the largest of all the back rooms. It used to be Ru’s, but I convinced him to switch, citing the need for the en suite shower. He doesn’t necessarily do any dirty deeds, so he didn’t put up a fight, but there are certain occasions which call for stains to be washed from my skin.

Tonight was no exception.

My hair is still damp as I sit behind my desk, reminiscing over the knowledge I ripped from that idiot Jason’s brain. He deteriorated into sobs as soon as I walked into the room, my knife glinting under the fluorescent lights. The sight of my hooked blade twirling through my fingers was all it took for him to tell me everything he knew. Not that his version of truth does me much good. He’d never actually known the man whom he decided was worth crossing me for. Not even a name.

But Jason is a pathetic excuse of a boy. And boys are fickle.

Real men have loyalty.

That being said, I’m no idiot. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together. There’s a new player in town, one with power and money to fly under the radar. To not expose his evil to the world while he parades around like some type of king.

Peter Michaels.

It’s smart, truly. After all, it’s easier to do misdeeds when you hide them in plain sight. People don’t expect to see darkness in the daylight.

A knock on the office door snaps me from my thoughts.

“Come in.”

A scowl mars Starkey’s boyish face as he pushes Wendy into the room.

The pink of her cheeks darken as she glances around the office, her gaze locking on me behind the desk. Her hands twist together, and I bite back the satisfaction at seeing her nerves play so visibly.

“Leave,” I say to Starkey, my eyes never moving from Wendy.

The air is thick—the same way it always is when she’s here—the energy crackling between us. It would make things easier for me personally if I wasn’t attracted to her, but having this type of chemistry will undoubtedly help my plan unfold.

Help make it believable.

She moves closer, her pale blue dress swishing around her knees, dark hair framing her cherry cheeks. Her tongue swipes out to lick her bottom lip.

“Hi,” she says.

My stomach flips. “Hi back.”

“Do you normally send lackeys to do your dirty work?”

I tilt my head. “That depends. Are you planning on getting… dirty?”

She laughs. “You don’t ever turn it off, huh?”

“Turn what off?”

“The charm. You must have had lots of practice, with as good as you wield it.”

I stand up from my chair, walking around to the front of my desk and leaning against it. “Do you find me enchanting?”

Her face flushes a deeper shade of crimson, making a thrill zip through my chest. “You don’t need me to inflate your ego.”

I reach out and grasp her palm, gazing at the pink nail polish on her dainty fingers. My thumb swipes across the back of her hand. “On the contrary, darling, I believe I need you for a lot of things.”

Her mouth parts on an inhale.

“My turn for questions.” I step into her. “Do I make you nervous?”

“No,” she mutters. Her chest grazes against my torso with each breath, sending a shiver up my spine.

My free hand brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. “Don’t lie to me.”

“Or what?” she whispers.

The corner of my mouth tilts. “Better you don’t find out.”

Our eyes lock again, and my chest spasms. She looks at me as though she’s trying to see the colors of my soul, and the feeling makes me itch, so I break our stare, knowing the only thing she’ll find is its absence.

Her hand reaches up and turns my face, my stomach jolting when she does.

“Why did you bring me back here?”

My gaze bounces from her eyes to her mouth, suddenly desperate to know if she tastes as good as she feels. I lean closer, her breath skating across my lips. “To say good night,” I rasp.

She pushes farther into me, her curves pressing against the length of my body, and even through the fabric of my shirt, I can feel the heat.

This girl is liable to make me lose my mind.

“So, are you going to?” she asks. “Say good night, I mean.”

My brows shoot to my hairline, surprise flickering through me at how forward she’s being. Blood rushes to my cock, making it stiffen, and my arm wraps around her waist, pulling her flush against me, my fingertips skimming up her sides. “Would you like me to?”

“Y-yes,” she stutters.

Her hands press against my chest, and I dip down, my lips so close to brushing hers.

Knock. Knock.

Wendy jumps back, and my jaw tightens, frustration flowing through my veins at whoever is interrupting. “What?” I hiss.

Ru opens the door and waltzes inside. “Kid, I—oh, shit.” His footsteps falter as he takes in the scene. “Am I interrupting?”

I stifle the urge to tell him to get out and instead paste a smirk on my face. “If you’re asking, then you already know the answer.”

He sits down on the couch against the far wall and spreads his legs wide. “You gonna introduce us?” He nods to Wendy.

My heart skips. No. I hadn’t intended for Ru to meet her yet. The last thing I want is for him to put two and two together and realize she’s the daughter of the man who’s trying to dip his hand into our business.

“I’m Wendy.”

My head snaps to her, then to Ru, and then… the strangest thing happens.

A surge of something hot whips through my insides and slices up my middle, until I have to physically stop myself from pulling her into my arms and making sure Ru knows that she’s mine.

“Wendy.” He smiles. “I’m Ru. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” Her hand rises in a small wave. “I’ll leave you to it. Good night.” She smiles, but it’s strained, and my chest pulls when she moves toward the door. I grab her wrist as she walks past. “Let me take you home.”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s fine, really. I’ll grab a cab.”

My teeth grind, wanting to argue, but knowing I may scare her away if I come across too strong. “At least let me walk you out.”

She bites on her bottom lip and nods, turning toward the door.

My palm goes to her lower back, my eyes narrowing at Ru when I see the giant grin on his face. “You.” I point. “Stay there.”

He raises his hands in the air, chuckling. “Go handle your business, kid. We’ve got all night.”

I walk Wendy out front, ignoring the few patrons left in the bar—Moira and Curly in the corner cleaning up for the night. When we make it to the street, a cab is already there and waiting.

She moves to open the door, but I stop her, my arms caging her in, the metal of the car’s roof cool under my fingers. “You’re sure you won’t allow me to drive you?”

She spins, smiling up at me. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”

I cup her cheek, my thumb brushing across her bottom lip. Her pupils dilate under the yellow glare of the streetlights. “When will I get my date, darling?”

“When do you want it?”

“Yesterday.” I press into her. “Now.” She stumbles into the cab’s door. “Tomorrow.”

Her hands push against my chest. “Tomorrow works.”

I lean down, my lips brushing against her ear. “And how will I find you?”

“You can pick me up from the coffee shop at seven.” She rises on her tiptoes to brush her lips across my cheek. “Good night, James.”

And then she slips into the cab, closing the door behind her.

I move to the front, knocking on the passenger window until it’s rolled down, taking in the nameplate of the driver, and lowering my voice so Wendy doesn’t hear. “Anything happens to her and there will be no corner of the earth that can hide you from me. Understand?”

The cabbie’s eyes widen as he takes the fold of bills from my hand and nods.

“Good man.” I tap the top of the cab and stand at the curb until they turn the corner, wondering what the warm sensation is in my chest, and why I feel as though tomorrow can’t come soon enough.