Page 39 of Matrix

Chapter 10: Daisy

The inside of the clubhouse is much nicer than I expected. Several people, including a few scantily clad women, mill around. Some are playing pool, while others sit at the bar drinking. The bartender finishes cleaning the glass she’s working on and then looks up. As soon as she spots us, she puts the glass on a rack and wipes her hands. Tossing the towel aside, she circles the bar. Her legs are a mile long, and her eight-inch stilettos don’t do a damn thing to slow her down. Her huge, braless chest sways wantonly as she approaches.

“Baby, you’re back.” She wraps her arms around Matrix’s waist and kisses him on the mouth. With tongue. I already want to kill her.

“Fuck off, Maggie.” He pries himself loose from the hussy’s grip and wraps his hand around my waist.

“Who’s this?” the girl demands.

“Daisy. She’s my old lady.” The way Matrix says it sounds so unrehearsed that I almost believe him. I know the truth. I’m nothing to him, but he’s very convincing. If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t question our relationship. Unfortunately, this chick doesn’t feel the same way.

“No way.” Her fiery red nails, more like talons, dig into her fists as she clenches her hands.

“Yep.” He leans down and gives me a passionate kiss. “As you can see, I’m taken. Where’s Carbon?”

Maggie doesn’t seem to believe him. She’s sizing me up, trying to assess something about me. I don’t know what she’s attempting to see, but whatever it is, she doesn’t like it.

“How’d you get your claws into him?” she asks.

“Claws?” I toss my hair over my shoulder and laugh.

“Unlike you, Daisy doesn’t have those. She’s as sweet as summer rain,” Matrix says, and the look of pure adoration in his eyes sends butterflies flitting through my belly. He’s a damn good actor. Maybe he missed his calling as an undercover agent. He’d make a good one.

“I’ll bet. Matrix, I really need to talk to you in private,” Maggie says.

“Anything you have to say can be said in front of my woman.”

She huffs before narrowing her gaze. “It’s just that there’s something I have to tell you. Something I don’t want anyone else to know.”

“Are you in some kind of trouble?” Matrix asks.

“Not exactly. I just thought that we could catch up for a while. Alone.” She slides her vicious gaze toward me. I’m sure I know exactly why she wants to get him away from me. This bitch is crazy. She can’t seem to take no for an answer.

“I really don’t have time for that. Go get Carbon for me.” His tone is firm.

“ButMatrix.”

Her whiney tone sets me off. We don’t have the luxury of being nice anymore. She can’t seem to take a hint, so nowI’vegot to deal with her stupid ass.

“Look, he’s not interested. He’s with me. I’m sure you’re someone’s favorite fuck-of-the-month, but Matrix is past that now. Right, babe?” I give him a look that says he’d better agree with me, or heads will roll.

“Of course, honey bunny.” He smirks.

“So, go fetch Carbon and stay the fuck out of our way. Got it?” I didn’t intend to raise my voice, but she brought this on herself.

“What a cunt,” Maggie mutters under her breath.

“What did you say?” Matrix towers over her. Even in those ridiculous heels, she’s nowhere near his height. He could squash her like a bug.

“You’re an asshole.” She turns on her stilettos and stomps off.

“She’s not wrong about that.” Matrix grins at me before lowering his voice. “Babe, that was hot. I can’t wait to strip you down and show you how hard you just made me.”

“Sounds fun, but I’m tired, and we still need to talk to the girls.”

An older woman, probably in her fifties, walks into the room. “Carbon sent me to show you to your rooms. I’m Alicia.”

“I don’t know if you remember me from the big Fourth of July party a few years ago—”