Page 32 of Devious Corruption

I added more weight to whatever she was already carrying by pushing more about her brothers. And I don’t even need her help in the matter. I have the information I needed, but my push to make her give it to me has shoved her to the edge.

And then, to make it worse, I made her feel unwelcome. Unwanted. Exactly like Nicolette accused me.

And for what? Because the woman hasn’t left my thoughts since the moment I met her. Because no matter how annoyed she makes me, how frustrated I get with her attitude and pushing back at me, I still can’t stop thinking about her.

About what I would do if I got her.

Fuck.

“Stay away from Jaxon.” I gently nudge her away from the car, so I take a look inside.

This thing has to be twenty-five years old. There’s a tear in the seat of the driver’s chair and the gear shiftingletters have worn off. It shouldn’t be hard to pick the lock on this thing. I’m half amazed it hasn’t been broken into before.

Not that anyone would steal the thing. There’s a rust ring around the back tire well as thick as my hand, and a crack in the rear bumper.

“Do you ever stop being bossy? Why would you care who I talk with?” She leans her hip against the car and folds her arms over her chest.

A position that only enhances my view of the generous swell of her breasts as her arms push them up. I check the weather stripping on the window. It’ll be an easy task.

“I’m not bossy.” I pull out my phone and send a direct text for what I’ll need to get the door open. The fastest way would be to break the window, but the car is old enough that a slim Jim will do the trick fast and easy.

“Whatever,” she mutters and rolls to press her ass against the car and pulls out her phone.

“I’ll have the door open in a few minutes.” I lean my hip against the door. “Now, tell me why you’re leaving the party so soon.”

She looks up from her phone, her eyebrows raising.

“Why?”

“Because I asked.”

“No.” She sighs. “You didn’t ask. You ordered.”

I grit my teeth, remembering I promised Nicolette to curb my asshole tendencies with Maxine. At least while Nicolette was still in town.

“Why did you leave the party so soon?” I make sure to temper my voice, posing the demand as a question.

“I’m tired.” She lies.

I lean into her, noticing the thin line of eyeliner has been wiped away beneath her left eye. A smudge of it still remains in the corner. The woman was obviously upset when she left.

“Were any of my men inappropriate?” I’ll have their teeth if they so much as spoke out of turn to her.

“No.” Her brows pull together. “No one spoke to me. Like I said, I’m tired. I had a long day, and I have an early shift tomorrow and I still need to find my brothers.”

“What do you mean, find them?” My own men lost track of them twelve hours ago, but surely they’ve been in contact with their sister. Especially with the heat they’ve put on her.

“I mean, I need to get a hold of them. By tomorrow.” She adds the time frame with a mocking voice, a direct attack on me. “Or you know…or else.”

“You really know nothing about what they’re up to?” It shouldn’t be surprising. Nicolette, if pressed, wouldn’t be able to answer any questions about my business.

In my case, it’s to keep her safe from the darkness of my line of work. To keep her clean of the dirt I wade through to make a place in this world. For Maxine, her brothers don’t care about keeping her safe.

If they did, they wouldn’t have left that fucking Glock laying around her apartment. They wouldn’t be dealing in the arms business with the Armenians. Andthey sure as fuck wouldn’t be leaving her high and dry knowing I’m looking for answers and have her at my disposal.

No, they don’t give a fuck about her safety. But it’s obvious she will do whatever she can to protect them.

“I’m not stupid. I know they’re not doing anything legal. I know they steal and get into trouble instead of getting jobs. I know that, but I don’t think they’re anything for you to be worried about.”