Crap.
Again not good.
Ren didn’t know a little. He knew a lot.
He leaned slightly into me, his eyes no less intent or probing. “The real kind of Catholic schoolgirl type. In other words, somehow her shit got fucked, and this is not an unusual situation for Lee Nightingale to sink his teeth into. Problem is, even Valenzuela thinks Lee swung you out there, and this guy is a lunatic. Anyone else, even a whiff Lee’s involved, they steer clear. This guy, he’s likin’ that your piece is on the chess board. Thinks it’s interesting. Wants to keep his eye on that shit, which means he wants to keep an eye on you.”
I kept my mouth shut, but mentally added a phone call to Darius to discuss this unpleasant news first thing in the morning.
Ren kept going.
“Dom told me and Vito. Vito is not about swingin’ women’s asses out there. He knows you, likes you, and if he gets in the mood to blow, he blows. So it’s late and he still doesn’t hesitate pickin’ up the phone and tearin’ your brother a new asshole. Problem is, Lee has no clue what the fuck he’s talkin’ about.”
This also wasn’t good.
“Figure, though,” Ren went on. “He intends to find out.”
That was a definite.
“I—” I began.
“What were you doin’ at Club, Ally?”
“I was—”
“And what the fuck were you doin’ in a bar that Valenzuela works with Darius fuckin’ Tucker?”
I felt my back snap straight. “Darius is a friend.”
“Darius was a friend, he wouldn’t be sittin’ with you in that bar havin’ a chat. He’d be haulin’ your ass out of that bar and laying into it to get your head sorted for bein’ in that bar in the first fuckin’ place.”
Oh no.
He didn’t say that.
“What the fuck are you into?” he bit out.
“None of your business,” I snapped.
“Right.” He leaned back. “Was gonna have this discussion with you when I wasn’t pissed at you, but it needs to be said, and now’s a fuckin’ brilliant time to say it,” he started in a way that I didn’t find very promising.
Then he kept going.
“I’m thinkin’ the nature of our relationship is movin’ beyond casual. I’m thinkin’ it’s gettin’ into the non-casual zone, seein’ as we spend practically every night together, even if you roll into my house at three thirty in the morning after a shift at Brother’s. This suggests to me that we can’t get enough of each other, and since you haul your ass to my place most of the time, you can’t deny that.”
This was true. I couldn’t deny it.
He wasn’t done.
“So I’m thinkin’ we’re in the zone where we actually go out and eat a meal and get to know each other better. Not wolfing down breakfast, you go your way and I go mine. Or I make you spaghetti because you’ve been behind a bar all night and haven’t eaten, then the minute you’re done, we fuck each other’s brains out. So, to end, if we’re not casual, it is my business.”
“I’m not feeling the love for not casual right about now, Zano,” I shared.
He lifted a hand, palm out my way, and shook his head.
“Sorry, my mistake,” he began and dropped his hand. “That came out like you had a choice. Which you don’t. Tomorrow, you’re in a nice dress. My pick is the one you wore to Club, unless you’ve got another one that makes my dick harder faster, which, babe, just sayin’, will be a feat. Then I’m takin’ you out to a nice dinner, and you’re gonna share with me all your hopes and dreams. But right now you’re gonna tell me what the fuck you’re into.”
Although one could not say I didn’t like that he liked my dress—and why—I still crossed my arms on my chest and declared, “We’re not going out on a date.”
“You wanna get laid tonight?” he asked, and I felt my brows shoot up.
“Are you using sex as a way to get me to go out with you?” I clipped.
Suddenly he threw his arms out in exasperation.
“Jesus!” he exploded. “Ally, usually a guy’s gotta take a girl out as a way to get sex.”
“I told you, I’m not like other girls.”
“Well, you’ve proved that statement correct a dozen fuckin’ times since it came out of your mouth.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“You over that guy?” he asked back instead of answering and my head twitched.
“What guy?”
Ren’s chin jerked back, and his heavy angry vibe that was weighing in the air became stifling.
