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N AVY

“Let me make myself perfectly clear, sir . My tits aren’t interested in purchasing a vehicle. Therefore, staring at them while you talk to me isn’t doing a damn thing for your sales quota. Eyes up here!”

The salesman’s eyes shot up to Dali’s and then over to me as he seemed to suddenly remember that she wasn’t alone.

“Oh! Excuse me,” the smarmy asshole said before he gave her a forced smile. “There was an insect on your shirt, but it flew off just as I was about to tell you it was there.”

Dali let out a loud sigh before she looked at me and said, “I’d rather go on a picnic with the Donner Party than buy a car from this asshole. I’m ready when you are.”

I barked out a laugh before I took her hand to walk out to my truck. We were only a few steps away from the sputtering salesman when I asked, “Want me to kick his ass for you?”

“I could kick his ass myself, but the thought of you going caveman . . . If I say yes, will you pick him up and throw him over that truck? It was cool when you did that to the jerk at the bar.”

I glanced over my shoulder and found the salesman watching us with wide eyes and said, “He’s probably small enough to make it over two trucks if I try really hard.”

Dali stopped and turned around to glare at the salesman before she made it a point to look directly at his crotch. She huffed and then laughed bitterly before she looked back to his face and said, “Unimpressive, I’m sure.”

I had to turn around so the man couldn’t see me biting my lip to stifle a laugh. Dali must have noticed because she grabbed my hand again and tugged me away, muttering under her breath the whole time.

Once we were in the truck, I asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to go back and rough him up a little?”

“It’s completely normal, even expected, for people to check out one another when they first meet .

. . do a head-to-toe scan, assess threats, and maybe take a second to appreciate what’s in front of you.

That’s human nature. But when they do this .

. .” Dali twisted her body and pushed up over the console so that her eyes were just inches from my chest before she said, “That’s out of line, and I refuse to put up with it.

” She started to move back toward her seat as she said, “I may be small, but my attitude and temper are not.”

Instead of letting her get settled, I hooked my hands underneath her arms and pulled her across the console until she was sprawled over me and resting on my left arm.

There wasn’t a lot of room between me and the steering wheel, but as Dali had just mentioned, she was a petite woman, and she fit just perfectly.

“I like that you’ve got snark and sass, and I also like that I can pick you up and put you where I want you.”

Dali smiled as she rested her hand on the side of my neck. She looked at me expectantly before she asked, “Are you gonna kiss me or not?”

“Do I have to do all the work?”

Dali giggled and then used her grip on my neck to pull herself up until her lips met mine. By the time she relaxed against my arm,we were both out of breath, and I was so turned on that my dick could pound nails. I knew she felt it on her hip when she smiled and asked, “You know what’s great?”

“Everything that happened in the last three minutes?”

Dali grinned before she said, “I’ve always hated how small I am and appreciated how big and strong you are in comparison. Now that I think of that in terms of . . . other things, I think our differences are going to make things very fun.”

I groaned as I let my head fall forward. Dali laughed again before she said, “How is your upper arm strength, Navy? Because I think if you stood and I hopped up into your arms and held on with my legs, you could . . .”

“Spontaneously combust right here in the parking lot?” I interrupted.

Dali squirmed against my cock before she said, “Or we could give them a show.”

I made an explosion noise before I leaned my head back against the headrest and said, “It’s probably illegal to drive with an erection like this since I’m almost positive there’s no blood going to my brain right now.”

Dali tried to sit up but struggled, so I helped her over the console before I reached down and readjusted my cock to a more comfortable position behind my zipper.

When I groaned again, she laughed and said, “Just so you know, you’re gonna have to take me on an official date before I give you so much as a glimpse of the good stuff. ”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

“Good,” Dali said primly as she fastened her seatbelt. “Now, let’s go find me a damn car.”

◆◆◆

Dad watched us walking toward him before he asked, “No luck today?”

“I met three car salesmen that all but refused to answer my questions because they were too busy sucking up to Anthony. Two of those three as well as two others couldn’t stop staring at my boobs, while another one tried to sell me a used car that ‘just needed a new carburetor to make it run like a dream.’”

“What kind of car were you looking at?”

“That was a five-year-old Jeep.”

Dad barked out a laugh before he asked, “Did he think that really had a carburetor, or did he think you would?”

“Both,” Dali grumbled before she said, “Screw it. I’m just going to buy a skateboard. At least I won’t have to pay for parking that way.”

Changing the subject, I asked, “How did the inspection go?”

“Just fine. We’re all set to open tomorrow.”

“That’s great! Did you let Karlie know?”

“I thought I’d let you make the calls while I sit here and talk to this pretty lady.”

I leaned down and kissed Dali on the cheek before I said, “Don’t let him trick you into trading me in for him. The newer model is always better.”

“There’s something to be said for age and experience,” Dali retorted before she turned and gave me a peck on the lips. “Now, run along while I complain to your dad about sexist car salesmen.”

“I hate to miss that, but I really should get to work,” I said over my shoulder as I made my way toward the office.

◆◆◆

DALI

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Clark’s hand as he told me about the improvements they’d made to Three Sheets over the last few days. The way he rubbed the pale circle on his finger where his ring used to be was heartbreaking.

I finally had to ask, “Did you lose your wedding ring?”

“Those fuckers stole it from me,” Clark said angrily. “There wasn’t a goddamn thing I could do but sit there and watch him slip it on his finger.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said softly as I reached over and put my hand on top of his.

Before Clark could respond, the door opened, blinding us with bright sunshine for a few seconds until it shut again. “Sorry, gentlemen. We’re not open for business until tomorrow.”

The three men kept walking toward the table where we were sitting. The one in front was impeccably dressed, and it was easy to see that he was in charge by the way he handled himself.

“It’s business I’d like to talk about,” the man said as he helped himself to a seat at our table. He looked around before he said, “I heard you had some trouble recently.”

“Where did you hear that?” Clark asked angrily.

“Word gets around.”

“And what business is it of yours?”

“I’m here to offer you some help to make sure nothing like that happens again.”

Clark’s hand fisted beneath mine, so I squeezed it before I cleared my throat and measured my tone to sound meek and unassuming.

“That’s so generous of you, sir! I don’t want anything like that to happen again.

I was so scared when I found out we’d been robbed and the police didn’t have any leads. ”

“And they’re not going to,” the man said dismissively, never even looking my way.

I smiled hesitantly at the goons standing behind their boss’s chair. A brief once-over gave me key details that I knew the police would be able to use to help identify the men, including specifics about their hand tattoos.

Clark was still tense as he leaned back in his chair and eyed the man across from him as he asked, “And what exactly is the price for this protection you’re offering?”

“Not much at all. We’re neighbors and should watch out for each other.”

“How much?”

“Twenty percent of the daily take and access to your building when necessary.”

Clark scoffed. “And if I tell you to take your offer and shove it up your ass?”

“Well, I would guess that your business and maybe even your home would become a target for the same unsavory characters once they find out you’re unprotected.”

“Can I get you a drink?” I asked quietly as I stood up.

“We should toast to our agreement.”

“I didn’t agree to anything,” Clark snapped.

“Tequila,” the man ordered before he gave Clark a half-smile. “It seems I may need something to take the edge off while I talk some sense into Mr. Andrews.”

“Are you hitting up every business you had your boys rob?” Clark asked.

“Now, why in the world would you think my men would do such a thing?”

“Who the fuck are you?” I heard Clark ask as I walked away.

“My friends call me Diablo.”

“I’m not your fucking friend.”

I listened to the men talking, their voices barely civil as Clark tried to hold his temper in check. I pretended to look around, just in case the other men were watching, and then put my hands up and let them drop before I went through the swinging doors that led into the kitchen.

The second the doors closed behind me, I turned to the left and made sure no one could see me moving around from the bar area before I reached up and grabbed two slim knives off the magnetic strip on the wall.

I knew from experience that Rafael kept them razor sharp, so I was careful when I slipped them into the waistband of my shorts and then darted toward the office at the back of the kitchen.

I skidded around the corner and bumped into the wall before I hurried into the office where Rafael was talking to Navy.

“There are three men out front. Two of them are armed and the third one may be too. Two of the men have tattoos on their hands. They’re trying to shake Clark down for protection.

” There was a moment of stunned silence as they stared at me in shock before I rushed to say, “They don’t know you’re back here, and they think I’m as weak as a kitten.

Stay put as backup, and let me go back out to your dad. ”

“Fuck that,” Rafael said as he veered toward the safe.

“Rafael, take the trash out and check for scouts. Get the make, model, and plate of whatever they’re driving. Maybe pretend you're crippled so no one sees you as a threat.”

“Fuck!” Rafael growled before he walked out into the kitchen.

“Are the cameras on?”

“Yes,” Navy said as he walked back around the desk and touched the mouse. The monitor lit up, and I saw that there were at least nine camera angles both inside and outside the bar.

“I’m going back out,” I told him as I turned to leave.

“Dali . . .”

“Don’t even think about telling me to stay here, Anthony,” I snapped as I walked off. “Keep your eyes on the cameras and come in with guns blazing if necessary. I’ll cover Clark until then.”

“Dali!”

I pulled open the refrigerator and grabbed a lime before I took an innocent-looking paring knife off the wall.

I schooled my expression and tried to regulate my breathing as I walked through the swinging doors but jumped when I found one of the men standing next to them.

I gave him a timid smile before I held up the fruit and said, “I haven’t had to slice a lime in almost a week now! ”

The man never looked at my face - he was too busy leering at me, his eyes never coming up farther than my chest. I wanted to stab him just for that alone, but I managed to resist and started making the drink the pompous ass had ordered.

I slid the shot glass of tequila, complete with a salted rim and a slice of fresh lime, in front of him, but he didn’t say a word. He just kept staring at Clark while Clark glared at him.

“I’m generous enough to give you a few days to consider my offer, Mr. Andrews.” The man took the shot and then gently set it on the table. “I understand this bar has been in your family for a while now. It belonged to your wife, correct?”

“Get the fuck out,” Clark hissed.

“You’re opening tomorrow, so I’ll give you a week to come up with your first payment.”

“And if I don’t?”

The man stood up before he shrugged. “That would be very upsetting to me but even more upsetting for you, I’m sure.”

“I guess we’ll fucking see, won’t we?”

I watched the man turn and walk out of the bar as if he didn’t have a care in the world, and his two goons followed closely behind. The second the door closed after them, I sprinted across the bar and slowly turned the deadbolt, hoping that they couldn’t hear it lock from outside.

By the time I turned to go back to the table, Navy and Rafael were walking out from the kitchen where I assumed they’d been watching and listening to the video feed.

“What. The. Fuck?” I asked angrily.

“The robbery and attack was first, and then came the shakedown,” Navy answered.

“What’s the next step?” I asked.

Navy smiled, but it wasn’t the cheerful, easygoing smile I’d always known him to pass out so freely. No, this smile was cunning and predatory. His jaw tightened before he growled, “We call in reinforcements and kill every fucking one of them.”