Beneath These Scars (Beneath #4)(32)

I raised an eyebrow.

Elle’s shoulders relaxed the slightest bit, and she lifted a hand to her mouth. “Shit. I wonder . . .”

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s really none of your damn business, and if Yve wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”

Women. Stubborn as hell. Elle’s defiant expression told me that demanding more answers would get me nowhere, so I tried a different tack.

“What about buying Dirty Dog? You know about that?”

Elle’s eyes lit up. “She’s really going to do it? Yay! I was so worried that she wouldn’t dive in. That’s so awesome.”

Vanessa frowned. “I didn’t even know it was for sale.”

Elle filled her friend in, and the information proved to be exactly what I’d come here to learn—at least on that topic.

“Harriet is selling off all the businesses she owns. She’s officially retiring from everything, except she didn’t really tell Yve. Yve found out because Harriet got a letter from her business broker, and Yve opened it. Shit, Van. She was devastated. That shop is her life. It wouldn’t be what it is without her.” Elle’s eyes shot to me. “But you didn’t hear any of that from me. And if you tell Yve I told you, I’ll deny it until they seal me into a crypt.”

It wasn’t everything I’d wanted to know, but I’d take it. I nodded. “As delightful as this has been, ladies, I’ll be going.”

“Oh no, you’re not,” Vanessa said. “You’re going to get those billionaire hands dirty and make PB&J. It’ll do you some good to do more than just write checks from your ivory tower.”

I opened my mouth to tell her that would happen when hell froze over, but we were interrupted.

“You throwing my words around, princess?” Con said from the doorway.

“Thought I’d drop by and see how you were spending that ivory-tower check,” I said, turning to face him.

“Didn’t come to check on my balls?”

If he expected an apology, he wouldn’t get one.

“No.”

“You’re still a dick, Titan. So you want to keep tabs on your donation? Can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. I guess a mil should let you walk around, even if I want to toss your ass out. Come on. I don’t want you alone with my woman. I still don’t f*cking trust you.”

“Barbarian,” Vanessa shot from across the room.

“Damn straight,” Con replied. “Let’s go, Titan.”

I followed him out and into the gym.

Con didn’t waste any time. “Why are you really here?”

I decided not to bullshit him. “Yve Santos. I want information.”

Con stopped, and his features were branded with skepticism. “And you thought we’d give it to you?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve always got an angle, Titan. So, what is it this time? You want to bang her?”

Now was not the time to tell him I already had, and would again. I stayed silent.

He snorted. “Don’t want to tell me? That’s interesting.”

“Let’s just say my intentions are . . . good enough.”

“So that’s how it is,” he said and his eyes lit up. Con’s shoulders shook as he took his time laughing at me. “If there’s one woman I’m confident can take care of herself, it’s Yve. She’s liable to chew you up and spit you out. You deserve it.”

My instincts sharpened. “You know her well.”

“Better than you.”

Possessiveness gripped me. That cheap shot in the balls? If I’d regretted it even remotely, that regret was now gone.

Before I could respond, Con said, “Here’s a tip. If you try to buy that woman, you’re gonna do nothin’ but alienate her. I can promise you that.”

My hands balled into fists at my sides. “I think I could have figured that out on my own. You gonna give me anything else?”

His mocking mood snapped to something infinitely more serious. “Yve’s story ain’t mine to tell, but you better step carefully around her. We will f*ck you up if you hurt her.”

I didn’t acknowledge his warning; my thoughts were on Yve. The odds of Con or anyone else in this building telling me what had happened in her past were about as good as the odds as Yve telling me herself. Zero.

“You wanna get in the ring? I owe you a cheap shot.”

“Maybe another day, Leahy. I’ve got better shit to do with my time,” I said and turned to leave.

“Didn’t peg you for a coward, Titan.”

I spun back around. “You can’t bait someone who doesn’t give a f*ck what you think about them. I’ll see around, Leahy.”





“HE DID WHAT?” I YELLED into my phone.

“Ouch, girl. You’re gonna blow my eardrum,” Elle replied. “And yeah, Titan was here. Asking about you.”

“I’m gonna kill him. Gonna hunt him down and—”

“Whoa, hold up, Yve. Don’t tell me. That makes whatever you’re going to do premeditated.”

Of all the people I’d ever met, only Elle could make me laugh in any given situation. The woman was a total nut.