Hooked: A Dark, Contemporary Romance (Never After #1)(31)

“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?”