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Should have followed Mom to New York. Except I like college here, and I love my friends.
“Layla.” He’s on his feet, too, his glare matching mine. We’re father and daughter all right. “I’m only looking out for you.”
“No, you’re controlling my life and not telling me anything!”
And Hawk has refused to tell me details about his parents’ arrest. I only know what the media reported. He’s always managed to distract me irritatingly fast with his body and mouth and the games he likes to play with me.
Or used to play, anyway, before he pulled another of his vanishing acts. Quite frankly, I can’t do this anymore, this game of hide-and-seek. I’m done with him.
The thought makes my chest tight, but what else can I do?
“Jamie Fleming is off-limits to you,” Dad says, looking away, jaw clenching. “He’s involved in illegal business with the Chinese mafia and other dangerous people.”
“The Chinese mafia?” I bite my lip. This doesn’t sound good. “Are you sure?”
“The Boss says the Fleming heir is dangerous, and I don’t like it, kiddo. I don’t like it at all, and neither should you. There are plenty of men out there. Forget about this Hawk guy. And get out of here before the Boss wanders in and sees you. He doesn’t like it when family drops by work.”
Forget Hawk is easier said than done. Still, I’m trying.
“Christ, Dad. Your boss sounds even worse than Hawk, seriously.”
Dad’s face hardens. “Enough. You think I’m joking around? Stay away, is that clear?”
“Crystal.” Sheesh. “I only came by to tell you I’m back from New York, and that Mom says hi, but honestly—”
“Don’t come back here, Layla. I mean it.” His glare is now ice cold, and it sends a shiver down my spine. Dad doesn’t normally scare me, so I stumble backward a step, wondering what’s going on here. “Get out!”
Shaking my head, confused and rattled, I grab my purse and get the hell out of there.
***
What just happened? It’s not like I’ve ever been very close to my dad, but since he and Mom got divorced, and she moved away, I’d thought we were close enough. Close as a father and daughter often are—comfortable in each other’s presence, easy enough to ask for some extra money to buy something I needed, or to tell him about my vacation plans or my studies.
My dad is not a scary man. He’s the head of a relatively small shipping company under a bigger operation umbrella. He manages trucks and warehouses and moves goods around the US. That’s my understanding of his business.
Can’t say I’ve ever been interested in what he does. I love books. Book design, covers, marketing, bookshops and everything that revolves around books and stories. It’s why I’m studying publishing.
But this Boss of his… he’s been like a ghost most of my life. I’ve been hearing about him, the guy who owns the company, but I’ve never seen him.
Now I’m sort of glad. Glad he hasn’t seen me, either.
Crap.
This is ridiculous, I tell myself as I walk out the door of the office and into the watery sunshine. I’m ove
rreacting. Dad was overreacting. He’s probably overstressed and tired and had a fight with his boss or something.
I honestly felt like I was three and told to go stand in a corner. I was just visiting my dad for chrissakes. Done it a thousand times before. He was never too happy about me hanging around his work place, but he never yelled at me to get out, either.
Dad and me, we’re going to have words. About this, and about trying to control my life.
Although… Hawk. Hawk is involved with mafia? Was Dad right? This really sucks, because the guy’s handsome like a god, and fucks like one, too—and I shouldn’t be thinking about that.
Still, my face heats as I remember the last time we were together. How he pushed me against his bike and used his fingers to make me come, then fucked me right then and there, in the shadows but still where everyone could see us if they passed by.
Where everyone could see him marking me, taking me. Owning me.
And yeah, I know it’s just sex, but he is so hot I can’t help it. I want him, even if he’s a cold-hearted, rich bastard who only uses me for his needs. Hey, I have needs, too, and he’s a sex machine.
