Arran’s Obsession (Body Count, #1)

Convict gave a low whistle. “Damn, that was rough.”

I glowered at him, unspeaking.

“What? You did the right thing in scaring the pretty little rabbit off. She didn’t belong here. She’s probably wearing a wire or some shit anyway. You were smart with your words.”

He left the office, Shade giving me a quirked eyebrow then following him. Leaving me with Alisha and her judging stare.

“That was cruel,” she said.

“Convict’s correct. She’s wrong for this place.”

“Even so, you don’t talk to the girls like that.” Her tone held a question as much as an admonition.

Fifteen years ago, Alisha had been one of my father’s pets, experienced and skilled though barely older than my twelve years. She’d been allocated to see me into manhood. To take my virginity and start me on the path my father wanted me to follow.

She and I had spent most of our time in my room in his mansion playing videogames.

“Who is she? You knew her, didn’t you?” Alisha persisted.

I chewed over that, working back through the woman appearing in front of my car. Her calling to me from her window. Why the fuck I’d gone back to look for her?

“She’s sweet, a complete innocent,” Alisha continued. “She watched a private show and blushed so red she practically glowed in the dark. Then when Lara brought her back here and talked about the game, she shut down and didn’t make a peep. Lara told me outside the door. What’s the deal with her? There’s a reason you gave her that leeway. A freaking tour.”

“It was necessary.”

She paused, her gaze pensive and something else there I didn’t recognise. “I’ve never seen you like that. I don’t trust her.”

“She’s no one, drop it,” I snapped, ending the conversation.

Because she wasn’t. Not to me, not now. I was almost certain that Genevieve had targeted me for some reason I could only guess at. Maybe she worked for a rival gang or some other agency who wanted a piece of what I’d made. I had more enemies than I could count. A selection of whom would do anything to take me down.

My life was a balance of staying alive and running the business, and no pretty face was going to compromise either.

If I saw her here again, she’d take what was coming.

Even with my thoughts twisting into darkness, I still tapped out a message to one of the crew, ordering him to follow Genevieve home. Just to make sure she got there. The cops on her street would keep her safe after.

Alisha made a sound, bringing my focus back to her from my phone.

“I apologise again for Dixie. I’ll make it clear to all the new girls that you’re out of bounds. I was joking when I said it to her, but it worked. If it’s okay with you, I’ll tell them you’re mine.”

That odd expression intensified.

“Do what you need to,” I replied, but it was hard to even care.