AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Oh. I didn’t hear live music in there now.
“None of them you want to replace?” I asked hopefully.
He shook his head. “No, they’re all real popular.”
Ouch. Okay. This hadn’t been in my plan.
“All right, well, I’ll, uh …” This had turned awkward. So much for me being the best singer he’d ever had perform here. Things changed fast. “I’ll get you the money. I’ve got to find a job, but as soon as I have it, I’ll bring it by. And I’m glad things are going so well.” Although the parking lot was half of what it used to be on a Thursday night.
“The money’s been paid, Briar.” He said the words slowly, as if he wasn’t sure he should.
I frowned. “What?”
He said nothing. He just stood there, looking at me like he would rather be anywhere else.
I studied him. He was nervous, uncomfortable, tense. Slowly, I began to work it out in my head. Putting the dots together.
“Storm came by here.”
Again, Bash said nothing.
That controlling asshole!
“When did he pay you, Bash?” I asked tightly.
“This morning,” he replied. “And he paid me more than double what I had given you.” He sighed. “Listen, I do not need trouble with the fucking Mafia, Briar. He didn’t threaten me, but he made it real fucking clear. I can’t hire you. No matter how bad I’d like to, I can’t. If you’ve gotten mixed up with them, I can’t even help you with that. No one can.”
I let out a hard laugh. “Oh, it’s a little more than being mixed up, and trust me, I am aware you can’t.”
I shook my head, knowing it had been too damn easy to get here tonight. That sneaky shit had expected this. He’d prepared for it. Dammit, he was good.
“Are you … is he holding you against your will?” he asked as he paled.
“No, Bash, he’s not. I’m in love with the man.”
The horror in his expression made me almost laugh.
“Jesus,” he whispered.
“He is nothing close to it, I assure you,” I replied.
“I don’t want to rush you or be rude, but could you leave? I mean, before he finds out you’re here? I don’t want to … well … die.”
I laughed then and nodded. “He won’t kill you. He set me up. I just didn’t realize it until now.”
“Don’t tell him what I said. I mean, I don’t think I was supposed to tell you he was here or that he paid me.”
I was sure he wasn’t supposed to tell me. Just send me away. As much as I wanted to throw a fit and point out how controlling this was, I also didn’t want to make Bash a target. He’d been nothing but good to me. When I hadn’t a friend in the world, he had helped me out.
“I won’t say a word. I’ll tell him you refused me flat.”
Bash shook his head. “Fuck no, don’t do that. If he thinks I upset you …”
“Relax. I will make sure you don’t see Storm again.”
He looked relieved. “Or any of the other ones. If the whole family could stay away—”
“You’re safe,” I assured him. “Thanks, Bash. For everything.”
He looked sad as he gave me a nod. I turned and headed for the back door again. Staying here was pointless. I also needed to decide what my next move was going to be because I was not letting Storm win this. He might have won the round, but I’d be damned if he won the game. I loved him, but he had to understand that his claim that he owned me was only true in the bedroom. That, I happened to enjoy. A whole lot.
Driving back to Storm’s house, I managed to calm down and try and understand this man. It was difficult, and it wasn’t like he even deserved it. Considering he wasn’t trying to come my way any.
Dovie was with Nailyah again tonight at a pool party being held at a side of the family I didn’t know. The Jones had two sons. One who was Storm’s age and one who was Nailyah’s. Dovie had said it was Nailyah’s birthday party. I hadn’t realized it was her birthday and wished I’d known so that we could have bought her something. But then I had no money, so it was another reason I needed a freaking job.
There was a four-car garage to the left of the house, and I’d been given the spot closest to the house. He had his Jeep in the next one, an Escalade in the third one, and the last one had his truck. Why the man needed so many vehicles I didn’t know. I could have borrowed one of his if he’d thought my car was unsafe. He hadn’t needed to buy me one. I was sure the Escalade was just as safe as this G-Wagon.
