Hooked (Never After Series)

Meeting with Peter put everything back in focus; his death so close I can smell it in the air. Now I just have to convince Ru that striking a business deal with him won’t work in our favor. I will be extremely irritated if my plans become more difficult because our business starts depending heavily on his.

Even if Peter’s days weren’t severely numbered, I would be wary of using him. Years of dreaming up ways to kill the man responsible for every trauma of your life gives you ample time to learn about his weaknesses. About his past. And I’ve learned more about Peter than even his closest confidantes. I know that he grew up in South Florida, his parents so poor they could barely afford the rice they put on the table. I know that he was a common drug pusher by the age of fourteen, running through the streets, going by the name of Pan, whispering ideas of grandeur in people’s ears. Promising a life of adventure if only they followed his lead. I know that while he rose to power slowly through the ranks, he left others behind. Most of whom ended up disappearing without a trace.

And I know that when he bought a failing airplane company, it was for pennies on the dollar, and somehow, the original owner was never heard from again.

I know Michaels is not his original last name. And I know the only thing he cares about in this world besides his money and his stature is his daughter.

Wendy.

But I can’t tell Ru all of that without admitting there is a huge piece of my life he’s never been privy to. And while Ru isn’t a nosy type of man, I can’t imagine he would take it well knowing that he’s allowed me into his fold, and I’ve kept the majority of myself a secret.

But I’ll deal with that tonight when I get back to the JR.

Right now, my focus is on a new bakery that opened on Maize Street. Normally, it’s the twins who make the rounds, collecting protection tax and the like, but after having issues with the new shop, I figured I’d pay them a personal visit.

Sighing, I sit down in the seat across from George, the owner, my stomach twisting with unease from the way flour sticks to all of the surfaces in the kitchen. I take out my gloves, the black leather encasing my hands in warmth, and I flex my fingers slowly as I speak. “Now… George.” I smile, crossing my foot on my opposite knee. “Tell me one more time what happened.”

George wipes his brow with a white towel, his potbelly expanding with each of his heavy breaths. “I told you, someone already came three days ago. I already paid.”

“Impossible,” I snap, irritation at this man’s blatant lies tearing up my insides. Taking in a deep breath, I lean my neck to the side, allowing the crack of my bones to settle my anger. “I do apologize,” I chuckle, closing my eyes. “I didn’t mean to lose my temper. It’s just… that’s impossible.”

He puts his hands up. “I’m telling you the truth.”

“I certainly hope so.” Uncrossing my legs, I pull out my knife, flipping it open and running my gloved thumb across the blade, reveling in the way the metal shines as it presses against the leather. “Tell me, do you know who I am?”

The man shakes his head no.

“Your neighbors didn’t mention me?” I press my free hand to my chest. “I’m hurt.”

“Listen, I told you what I know.” The man starts to stand up, throwing the towel over his shoulder. “There are customers ab—”

“Sit. Down,” I hiss.

The twins—who up until this point have been standing to the side—straighten and move closer. His eyes widen, but he plops back into the chair.

“Now, I’m a reasonable man. And I understand how upsetting it must be to learn that you were taken for a fool by some common beggar. I’m willing to overlook your mistake, since you didn’t know better.”

His shoulders slump. “So what, I’m just supposed to pay some bullshit twice?”

I tilt my head. “I said I was reasonable, not weak. And as much as I’d like to let it slide, you know how it goes.” I stand, rolling my eyes as I twirl my blade in the air. “If you do it for one, then you end up doing it for all. And honestly, if you’re good at something, you should never do it for free.” I stop when I’m standing in front of him, my blade sliding underneath his chin, tilting his head until his eyes meet mine. “And while our protection is courtesy, it is the best chance your business has at survival.”

His lips thin, beads of sweat trickling down his face. “And if I refuse?”

My hand presses the knife deeper into his skin. “We can find out if you’d like.”

“I don—I don’t have it,” he stutters.

Leaning in, I allow the hooked edge to angle up, slicing into the meat under his chin, blood trickling down the blade and onto my glove. “Then I suggest you get it.”

“Fine,” he wheezes. “Please.”

I remove the knife, standing straight. “Wonderful, Georgie.” I pause. “May I call you that? Georgie?”

His Adam’s apple bobs.

“Let me explain to you how this is going to go.” I reach into my breast pocket, withdrawing a handkerchief as I wipe the red from the hooked edge of my knife. “First, you’re going to tell me everything you know about the person who came in three days ago. And then you’re going to pay my friends here,” I tilt my head toward the twins. “What you owe us.”

“But I just said I—”

I lift my hand. “I understand, I do. And like I said, I’m a reasonable man. If you can’t pay today, we’ll be back tomorrow. But I feel I must warn you, I don’t like to be kept waiting, Georgie. I’d hate to see what becomes of our friendship if you test my patience.” I tsk, shaking my head.

“I’ll get it.”

“Smashing.” I grin. “Now, tell me about this person.”

“It… it was a woman. Said there was a new boss in town, and she was doing a courtesy by allowing me to show my loyalty upfront.”

Rage clamps on my insides. Of course.

“A woman,” I repeat. “What else?”

“Th-that’s it,” he says. “That’s all I know. I was warned by my neighbors to not fight when y’all came asking for your dues, and I didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot.”

I rub my chin with one hand, blade twirling through my fingers with the other.

“I’m telling you the truth!” he pleads.

Sighing, I place the knife back into my pocket. “I believe you. Be good to my boys, understand?” The twins smile in tandem, stepping forward to take my place.

They’ll rough him up a bit, do the dirty work I don’t care to do. Send a message.

A ball lodges in the center of my chest, twisting until all I can see is red. Whispers aren’t good for business, and that’s what this annoyance will cause. Whispers.

A woman.

There’s only one woman I know in business with a powerful man, and they both just came to town.

My gloves are spackled with drops of blood, so I remove them, placing them in my pockets as I push through the front door. Suddenly, I’m jolted backward, a small frame crashing into mine. Clenching my jaw, my arms reach out. A whiff of vanilla hits my senses.

“James?” Wendy’s voice flows through my ears, and just like that, my irritation drains away, a smile taking over my face.

“Darling,” I purr. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“You’re telling me.” She grins. “What are you doing here?”

I twist around to look at the shop, George’s wife standing behind the front counter, flicking her eyes to the sidewalk every few seconds.

“Just paying my respects. I know the owners.”

“Do you?” Angie asks. “I’ve heard their scones are to die for.”

I glance at Wendy’s friend, my smile tightening. “I’m sure they are.”

“Do you want to come in with us and grab a snack?” Wendy asks.

“Unfortunately, I can’t stay, no matter how much the view has suddenly improved.” My thumb runs along her jaw, a warmth expanding in my chest when the apples of her cheeks redden. “Go out with me tomorrow.”

“I work until three.”

“Perfect. I’ll pick you up there.” Leaning down, I press my lips to hers. I meant it as just a peck, but her tongue slips out and tangles with mine, and I force back a groan, the noise from the sidewalk fading away as I get lost in her taste.

It will truly be a shame when I have to break her.

I’ll move on, of course, without a second thought, the joy of having finally accomplished my life’s desire washing away any of the empathy I have from knowing she isn’t the one who did anything wrong. But sometimes you must make sacrifices for a greater purpose.

“We might stop by the bar tonight,” her friend says once we break the kiss. “Will you be there?”

“I wasn’t planning on going,” Wendy tells me.

“You should,” I reply. “I’ll be busy, but I quite like the idea that you’ll be close.”

She grins, her eyes softening as she leans into my touch. “Okay.”

“Good girl.” I press a kiss on her forehead and step back just as the twins exit the building. “Tell Georgie to put anything you want on my tab.”

Wendy’s eyes widen. “You have a tab here?”

I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “Darling, drop my name anywhere in this town and you’ll never pay for a thing again.”

“Which name?” her friend pipes in.

I glance at her, my jaw clenching. “Pardon?”

She sucks on her bottom lip. “I’m just asking… which name? James? Or…”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “I believe you know the answer to that.”

Wendy sucks in a breath. “Hook?”

I incline my head. “That’s what they call me.”

“Why?” she asks.

“Just an unfortunate nickname, I’m afraid.” I wink and turn to the twins, nodding at them to head to the Escalade idling at the curb. “Do me a favor, darling?”

She lifts a brow.

“When you come to the JR tonight, wear something blue.” I lean in, my breath ghosting along her ear. “It’s such a lovely color, and I want to spend all night imagining the way it will look shredded on my bedroom floor.”

She sucks in a breath, and I press my lips to her cheek before stepping away and into the car, my cock stiff and my heart pounding.