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Gio cleared his throat and the strange hold Mary had on him disappeared. For a minute there, he’d forgotten about Gio’s presence.
“I’m a man of my word, Mary.” Gio put a hand on her shoulder, and Hector immediately tensed up. He didn’t like seeing another man touching her. Fuck, he was in so much trouble. “By the end of the week, you’ll be married. Hector might have declined, but that doesn’t mean his men will. Any sane man wouldn’t,” he said pointedly. “Since Hector knows his men the best, I’m sure he’ll have no problem helping you pick one.” His eyes held a challenge.
Help the woman he’d been lusting after get hitched to another man?
“No problem at all,” he snapped.
Sounds like a fucking picnic.
CHAPTER 6
MARY
The next morning, after Britney’s funeral, and a detour to Japan Town, Mary strode into Diaz Security headquarters. Hector’s private security firm was on the outskirts of town. It basically was a big square building at the end of a dirt road. Behind it, lots and lots of acres of green.
She got a few curious looks when she entered the building, holding up two bags.
“Can I help you?” A cute-looking pixie girl looked at her from behind the reception desk.
“Hi, I’m Mary. I’m here to see Hector.”
The girl’s eye widened. “Ah, so you’re Mary.TheMary? The Mary I sent all those files to yesterday.”
A blush crept up her cheeks. “Yep, that’s me. ‘How to Tinder a ring on my finger in a few days’ Mary.”
A chuckle followed. “I’m Jessica, but everyone calls me Jess. I’m the office manager slash receptionist slash secretary here. If you need anything, just give me a call.”
Mary decided she liked the girl. She held up a bag. “Would you like—”
A gasp. “Is that from Yasukochi’s?”
“Yep.” She’d figured she only got one chance to make a good first impression.
“Please tell me it’s their coffee crunch cake.”
Mary cocked her brow in a ‘what do you think’ gesture.
Jess snatched one of the bags in the blink of an eye. “Oh, and you have bagels in here as well. I think I love you.”
And that’s how you make friends for life.
If only a certain grouchy wolf would be so easy to capture.
“The big boss is in his office, most likely brooding.”
“He does like to brood, doesn’t he?”
“Uh-huh. His office is at the end of the hall. Once you’ve passed the boxing ring and treadmills, it’s on your left.”
Inside, it was a mostly open space, with a gym in the back. On one side, there were desks, lined up with computers. There was a busy, but pleasant vibe in the room that she just wanted to soak up.
Britney’s funeral had been a sad happening. Not only because she had died so young, but also because only a handful of people had attended. One of which, of course, was Zoe with Mrs. Wilson. The second Zoe had spotted her, her tiny legs had taken off to hug her. There was nothing like it; holding a child in your arm, taking in her innocent scent, looking into her trusting eyes. How could she not do everything in her power to keep her safe?
There were men working out everywhere. She was glad to spot a familiar face in the boxing ring; Achilles.
When he saw her, he jumped out of the ring and walked up to her, a smile on his face.
“Hi there, beautiful. What you got there?”