Page 105 of Joey

“Everything okay?” Ash asks.

“I need you to bring her home, right now.”

“Okay. And, um, what shall I tell her?”

I rub my temples. He’s one of the scariest men I know, but I guess even he doesn’t relish the thought of dealing with Joey after she’s told to do something she doesn’t want to do. And I don’t want him having to carry her out of there—because then I’d have to break every finger he touched her with. “Put her on for me.”

“Sure, boss.”

I wait for him to pass the phone to her. The sound of her voice puts a huge smile on my face. “You missing me?”

“Always, baby girl.”

She giggles. “Aw, you’re so sweet.” She’s obviously been drinking, which is only going to make this more difficult.

“I need you to listen to me, baby. You need to come home with Ash. Right now.”

“But Max…” she whines.

“Now, Joey.”

It must be the tone of my voice that makes her pay attention. “What’s happened? Is it Anya?” she says, sounding afraid.

“No. Everyone is fine, I promise. But I need you to come back to the house.”

“But we just made a fresh batch of margaritas.”

“Joey, if you don’t get your ass back here now, Ash will have to carry you to the car in your bathing suit. And you know if he does that, I’m going to have to fucking kill him for putting his hands on you. So get your ass dressed and get home.”

“You’re freaking me out.”

I suck in a breath. “I’ll explain later. Just get dressed and go straight home with Ash, okay?”

“Why can’t you come and get me? Where are you?” I hear the panic in her voice.

“Joey, for the love of god, do as you’re fucking told for once,” I snap. I don’t have time for her questions right now.

“Fine.” She sighs. “I’ll be home soon.”

“Put Ash back on.”

There’s another dramatic sigh from my girl before Ash is back on the phone. “Get her out of there and back home as fast as you can. And do it quietly. Don’t take your eyes off her for a second.”

“Okay, but—”

“But what?” I bark.

“She just got out of the pool. She’s in her bikini, boss.”

Fuck! I don’t want him watching her change. “Stand outside the room while she changes. No pit stops. No margaritas for the road. She gives you any hassle, you pick her up and carry her ass out of there. You understand me?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Good. Call me when she’s home.”

When I look up again, Vito has left the room and Dante is still staring at me. “She bitching about leaving the party?” he asks.

“She’ll get over it,” I say with a shrug. She can spend her whole goddamn life pissed at me if she wants to. I don’t care, as long as she’s safe.