Power (Romantic Suspense) (22 page)

“Why would you lie now?” I asked. “You’ve already lied enough.”

“I told you that you can leave, after Domingo. That’s not true anymore.”

“Well, when can I leave?”

“I’m working that out in my head. So far, I don’t have a date.”

“What does that even mean? Either everything is over and I can go, or things are happening and I have to stay.”

“That’s where I would have to lie to you. I’m not sure if I’m ready for you to leave yet.”

I took a deep breath. “So. . .you’re saying. . .like you’re a host and you’re really enjoying your house guest so you’re like, ‘Hey, stay an extra week. This is fun.’ That type of you’re not ready for me to leave yet? Or is it. . .creepy kidnapper, chain me in the basement sort of host?”

“I’m figuring that out.”

My voice rose louder than I’d wanted it to. “What the hell does that mean? I can’t just stay with you until you want me to leave. I have a life. I go to college. I’m. . .I don’t know—not freaking used to being around guns or people who use guns. Sure, this made sense because I was scared for my life and—”

He opened the limo door and gestured for me to get in. “You stay with me.”

I glanced over my shoulder. Again, I could not run in these heels and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run. We’d been having a freaking date, before all the craziness.

Noah’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Running from me isn’t a good idea. Din City isn’t that big and I’d always catch you.”

“Those have to be the most romantic words I’ve heard in my life.” I stepped up to him and poked his chest. “You don’t ever talk to me that way.”

He stared at the fingertip stabbing at the center of his chest. “Could you not do that?”

“Or what?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet, either. I’m not sure I could hurt you.” He captured my hand, moved it away from his chest, and drew me to him smoothing my body against his. “I haven’t figured out how to punish you in a way that never hurts you, because that’s the biggest problem with me. I have a short list of people that I won’t kill. Very short.”

“Who’s on there?”

“My parents.”

“That’s a very short list.”

“You’re on there, too.”

I blinked.

“Sometimes, Crusher too. His safety varies from day to day. It matters on how often he sings.”

“Noah—”

“This makes things hard.” He captured my hips and consumed my lips. “I want you near me, all the time, but I don’t know how to make you stay. I’m sorry I lied, but I’m figuring this all out now.”

“You could’ve asked.”

“There’s no need to ask when there are no other options.” He devoured my mouth and whispered against my mouth, “I’m falling for you, Mary Jane. I’m so sorry.”

Shocked, I didn’t know what to say.

“I’m falling for you, baby, and we’ve just met, but I can’t get enough of you, so yes, you’ll stay, until I figure it out.”

“No.” I climbed out of his arms and let out a nervous breath. “I will stay for a few days and
we
will figure something out, that’s less creepy and restricting of my rights as a woman and human being.”

“Women have rights?”

“Fuck you, Noah.” I punched his gut. “That’s not funny.”

Unphased by the punch, he frowned. “I thought it was a great joke.”

“It sucked.” I climbed in. “This is a great joke: what did God say after creating Adam?”

“I should make a creature named Eve that will keep Adam addicted to what’s between its thighs?” He got in the limo and pulled the door behind him.

“No. After God created Adam, he looked at the man and said, ‘Hmmm. I bet I can do even better. This time I’ll make the creature perfect!’”

“I missed that part in the Bible. Either way, you should definitely add my joke to your act. The whole concept of women having rights is funny in itself.”

I glared at him.

“What? Was the punchline not working?”

A smile didn’t appear on my face. “Don’t lie to me, anymore.”

He looked away. “Okay.”

“And I can’t stay with you forever.”

He sneered. “Let’s talk about this after dinner.”

“No. We will figure out something that works and soon because I have to go. I can’t live with you. I don’t even know you. We can date. Sure, but—”

“Date?” Noah asked.

“Yes.”

“I don’t do that.”

“But you’ve dated, before.”

“No.”

“Well, guess what? Now, you’ll be able to check this off of your bucket list items.”

“Does dating involve you dating other men?” There was something about the way he said those words that gave me chills.

“I’m thinking that’s probably not a good idea,” I said.

“You’ve always been a fast learner.”

“But we take our time and—”

“I’ll see.”

“It’s
we’ll
see or I don’t date you. First of all, I don’t even know if I could. Your life is. . .not. . .like my life. I don’t know how much of it I can deal with. And I need you to assure me that I’m safe around you. Also, if I want to leave you, you won’t make me
sleep with the fishes
.”

He sighed. “Sleep with the fishes?”

“Kill me.”

“I know. You watch too many mafia movies.”

“Anyway, that’s not an answer about me being safe,” I said. “I will need a safe out or I can’t date you. This is a regular dating situation, not gangster craziness.”

He furrowed his brow as if I’d been asking for something complex and foreign. “Let’s talk more about this, later.”

“Are you a cave man? You don’t honestly think that I can’t just walk away. That you’ll always get your way with me?”

Confused, he asked, “Is that a trick question or a joke?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not talking to you. You’re insane.”

“Good. I don’t want to talk, right now, anyway.”

A moment later, he had me back in his arms, decorating my face and bare shoulders with kisses, trying desperately to take off my dress, taking my breath away, and whispering how sorry he was that he’d fallen in love with me.

I couldn’t even deal with the damned issue anymore, because things were moving too fast and I felt more confused than ever. Because in the end, I was falling for him, too. And although I should’ve been pissed about him lying to force me into staying, I wasn’t.

What was happening to me?

Chapter 14

Mary Jane

A glutton betrothed his daughter to another glutton.

Asked what he was giving her as a dowry,

he replied:
"A house with windows facing the bakery."

–Philogelos (The Laughter Lover)

W
e
arrived at Spectrum Restaurant. A grin spread across my face. I could barely hold in my excitement. This was another one of those places that I’d never stepped inside of. Not until Noah. He was showing me new places. Areas I never had access to, until he stood by my side.

Spectrum was an undersea restaurant. When tourism increased for Vaso Beach, more businesses decided to build around the shore. Not much available remaining land, one millionaire owner got creative and built his restaurant within the ocean. The first year it opened, everyone talked about it. News crews filmed the inside. I’d seen so many shows on it that I’d felt like I’d been there.

When we climbed out of the limo, a breeze rushed by and chilled my flesh. Crusher moved to us and remained by our side.

Noah rubbed my shoulder and held me. “Do you want my jacket?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Sure. I’m fine, but maybe, confused. Or a bit frazzled and going through a mind blow.

Instead of walking forward, Crusher, Noah, and I stayed by the limo. Both men gazed at the place with annoyance.

“What’s going on?” I leaned away from him.

“Fuji looks worried.” Noah drew me back to him. “That’s never a good sign. Let’s wait for a minute and let Fuji do his thing.”

“Okay.” I took in my environment.

The sky had darkened as the moon came out. No stars sparkled. No birds flew. Storm clouds hovered and the surroundings seemed less romantic than I’d seen on television. Even the water mirrored that darkness. The ocean was grim. Slow murky waves spilled out looking more like oil than the sea. None of the restaurant was visible from the parking lot. There wasn’t even a sign that said
Spectrum
, and no other business was in sight.

A huge railing flanked an enormous elevator where a man in a suit stood next to a podium. It must’ve been the place’s host. Fuji was next to him. I had no idea how he’d beaten us to the place, but there he was, wearing a worried expression on his face.

What’s wrong?

In seconds, the elevator doors opened and Mo stepped out. Fuji went to him and they had a heated conversation. One that probably didn’t end well, because Fuji hurried our way with Mo and with every step, he cursed.

Fuji’s face grew scarier than I’d ever seen it. Gone was the fun lovable, big guy that seemed more like a teddy bear to me than a gangster. Now I saw what others had witnessed, that expression—furrowed brow and murderous eyes—it scared me more than Crusher’s monstrous glare.

“I sent Mo inside to check the place out,” Fuji said. “He says that three tables are full and he recognizes everyone.”

“Who?” Noah asked.

“Domingo’s brother, Hugo, is in there with his guy. Then, Choppa with those crazy fucking twins.”

“The Bordello brothers?” Noah asked.

“Yeah.”

Noah’s jaw twitched. “Who else?”

Fuji muttered, “Butterfly is in there, too. She’s sitting at the table that you reserved for MJ.”

She? I thought Fuji said that they didn’t have women working with them.

“Who is she with?” Noah hissed.

Fuji sneered. “The guy you gave her.”

Noah gave her a guy? Who’s Butterfly?

Noah let go of me and sighed. “The streets are definitely keeping me busy today.”

Fuji stirred. “I say we leave or at least not take MJ inside. Maybe you can go in by yourself.”

Noah glared at the restaurant. “I’m definitely going inside.”

I raised my hand. “Mary Jane is right here and Noah isn’t going in there without me.”

“It’s not that simple, baby.” Noah raked his fingers through his hair.

“Who’s Butterfly?” I turned his way.

“Not important.” A smile cracked on his face. “An old business associate. Nothing more.”

“You’ve never slept with her?”

His confident smile faltered. “Well. . .that’s not a fair question. But, I can tell you that she hasn’t been in my bed since I was a teenager.”

My stomach knotted. “So you’ve known her forever?”

“Mary Jane, trust me. Butterfly is not the problem. It’s bigger than that.”

I left it alone for that moment. This man dealt with killers. There was no need to act like the jealous chick now, not when things were already on the edge.

Fuji looked nervous, but he spoke anyway, “I think we should leave.”

“Call some more people here. And have 305 do a scope of the whole area.” Noah gestured for them to leave. When they did, Noah stayed silent as he studied the sky. “Mary Jane, how much do you want to know about my life?”

I placed my hands on my hips. “Everything. Especially all information pertaining to Butterfly.”

“Some things you won’t be able to deal with. It might make you afraid to sleep next to me at night.”

A shiver ran through me. “Then. . .maybe don’t tell me everything.”

“I like that idea. In fact, I want to have Fuji take you home so—”

“No.”

He raised one eyebrow. “Did you just interrupt me?”

“Yes, I think I did. If you’re not going home with me, we’ll be going in there together.”

“No.”