Street King Read online

  “She is.”

  “Where are your parents now?” she asked.

  “Both dead.”

  “I’m so sorry.” He saw the smile on her lips fall. “That was so wrong of me to ask.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “My parents are gone now as well,” she said. “It sucks.”

  He couldn’t relate to her love of her parents. His parents’ deaths were very different.

  “So, your work dilemma. I’ve got a job opening up working close with me at one of my nightclubs.”

  “Dirty?”

  “No. Not Dirty. Sin, it’s called.”

  “Emily said you had more than one nightclub.”

  “It’s a little farther out than your apartment. I can arrange for transportation. It’s within my financial department, and you’ll be able to acquire the skills you need for whatever you hope to become.”

  “I want to help struggling families with their finances. My parents were given really bad advice, and I don’t want anyone else to have that happen to them.”

  “That is very … noble.”

  “It bugged me when I went through their belongings. They kept a record of the advice and then of course of their money being badly invested. It … annoyed me.”

  He had yet to hear her swear. Even on camera she never said “piss,” “fuck,” “shit.” It was always “ouch,” “sugar,” “damn.’ This was just another part of her he found so refreshing.

  “What would I have to do?” she asked.

  “You’d oversee the profit and loss. See where the money is best invested, where I need to make changes. I’m starting small at the nightclub to help you gain experience. The further up the chain you go, the more detail you’ll get.”

  He saw she was tempted, and he wasn’t surprised. This was the deal of a lifetime. A rare experience opportunity that he’d not been able to put in place after she graduated but could now have her as close to him as he wanted.

  Sin was his main base. The nightclub was his first real investment when he got out of the fighting ring. He’d made a name for himself, and he’d put all of his energy into Sin. Then the first pimp came along. Malone was the pimp’s name. He’d come into his club without an invite and started to make demands. He wanted over fifty percent of the club’s profit and a place for his girls to take customers. That had been the only time Malone entered his property. He’d never left it.

  Killing Malone hadn’t given West any kind of pleasure. If anything, it had started an all-out war within the city. One he’d been determined to win, which was why he was where he was now.

  He gave a rundown of the list of benefits she’d receive working with him. From health care to free dental and of course a staff discount at any of his properties.

  “You’re driving a hard bargain.”

  “I don’t understand why you feel the need to think about it? It’s a pretty good offer.”

  “It’s not just pretty good. It’s the best offer. I don’t get it though. I tend to believe if it’s too good to be true, it often is.”

  “You don’t like my job offer?”

  “What’s the catch, West?” she said. “I’m not an idiot. I’m young, I know, but I’m not a fool. Tell me what’s going on here.”

  He liked that she had reservations and a clear instinct that something wasn’t right.

  I’ve been watching you for five years and you’re mine. I’ve declared you’re mine, and one night soon you’re going to be in my bed, riding my cock.

  “Can’t you just believe that I like you?” he asked. He held his hands out in surrender. “Not all of us guys are bad.”

  He was just plain lying now.

  He wanted her any way he could have her.

  “Fine. You’re right. I shouldn’t doubt you at all. You’ve been really sweet and considerate. I’d love to take the job. I’ve got a week’s notice to submit at my old place.”

  “You’re sure they can’t overlook that, you know, considering?”

  “Considering what?” she asked.

  Shit.

  “Considering that you’ve only just graduated and it wasn’t a perfect fit? You mentioned that something had happened in your previous job.”

  “There’s a lot I’ve got to do. I’ve got to hand in my notice and also speak to the people in charge of my placement,” she said. “I know it sounds complicated, but this was part of the scholarship agreement.”

  “How about you give me the phone number? I’ll call them. Make the arrangements and you won’t have to worry about any of that.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  He pulled out a pen and a card from inside his jacket pocket.

  What she didn’t know was that he was the scholarship. Through a shell company, he’d put everything in place that also included that little catch for her to work where he placed her. He’d thought it was a rather good idea on his part at the time.

  “I don’t know if they’ll accept this from you.”

  “You won’t know until you try.”

  “You’re really making this easy for me,” she said, laughing.

  “You only live once. Clearly, working at the other place wasn’t doing anything for you.”

  “You’re right. You’re so right. I hated it, and after everything I really just want a fresh, clean break.” She took the card and wrote down the number, not that he needed it.

  He took the card, stared at the number and smiled. “I’m sure everything will be easy to arrange.”

  “Will I be working with Emily?”

  “No, she is based in another part of my company.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “No, of course not. It’s your business, and you can do what you like with whomever you like.” She tucked some hair behind her ears again.

  The wild length was driving her crazy, but he wouldn’t have her cutting it. He wanted to live out a few fantasies with that hair.

  Martha came back out carrying two plates of breakfast waffles. “Enjoy.” She gave his arm a squeeze. Martha was the only person from his past as a boy that was still living. After he made a name for himself, he’d gone back to the apartments that had once been his home and been so fucking horrified. The building was a crumbling mess, but no one would move the people who lived there.

  He’d taken Martha, who’d been fighting illness, housed her, and together they’d opened up this waffle shop. It hadn’t been easy in the beginning, but between the two of them, they’d been able to make it work.

  Watching Hannah dive into her waffles, he would make sure it worked with her as well.

  ****

  One week later

  Hannah couldn’t believe how quickly her life had changed in the past couple of days. Not only were her scholarship people happy for the change, they welcomed it. The company she’d been working for prior to Lawrence’s attack were accepting of her termination immediately.

  Then of course working at Sin proved to be really enjoyable. There was always a car waiting for her to take her to work, and if West wasn’t available, someone would be there to take her home. She didn’t have to worry about catching a cab or the bus or waiting for Emily. Her colleagues were amazing. Sin was on the main floor while on the three floors above it were offices. From what she understood on her first day, West Gallo had many different businesses, and this was his first-ever club. The one that started it all and since then, he’d expanded but kept his base within one building. She worked on the top floor with West and six other employees. Two of them were in finance, another two were investment, and another two in insurance. The second floor was HR, and the first floor was something else that she couldn’t remember.

  She’d been so completely floored by his operation that she’d missed some of the introduction. The first floor hadn’t needed her though so that wasn’t a huge deal. She’d been included in HR as well as finance because her skill set went in two directions because she wa
nted to help people.

  HR provided her that element.

  Finance helped her within the company, but it wasn’t exactly what she wanted to do. Helping a businessman in this way wasn’t how she imagined her life would be.

  Still, the pay and health benefits were a plus, especially just after graduation. She could get the experience she needed from a working standpoint, and when the time was right, either use West’s company to help her grow or leave and start her own financial consulting firm. That was where her true dream was.

  At the end of her first week, she actually felt good, positive even about the progress she’d made. The work was challenging and not boring. The hours were manageable without feeling tedious either.

  The only problem was West.

  Not that he was any problem; far from it.

  Everyone who worked in the building, including the nightclub staff, were constantly voicing their praise of him. She saw clearly that he was well-loved as an employer. Emily spoke of him often as well. Thinking about her best friend wasn’t easy. The past week they’d not spent much time together, and when they passed, Emily wasn’t happy.

  “How are you doing?” West asked, coming out of his office to stand with her at the copy machine.

  They were alone as everyone else had gone out to lunch. She liked to bring her own and had already been snacking on it.

  “I’m doing great.” Glancing over at him, she couldn’t help but check out the way he looked in a sexy hot suit. This was a black one, and she couldn’t make her mind up if she preferred him in black or grey. They both looked so good on him. “Everyone here is really nice.”

  She didn’t have the first clue what to say to him.

  This was the only problem she had.

  Conversations with men were not easy for her.

  “How have you been?” she asked.

  Her cheeks were on fire so she had to be blushing.

  “Busy as always. Taking care of business is never easy.”

  “Can I ask you a personal question?” She hated doing this, but thinking about Emily helped her to not think about her own attraction to the man before her.

  “Sure.”

  “Have you and Emily dated?”

  “Your friend Emily?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.” His voice was firm, direct.

  “Oh, I just … I think she has a bit of a crush on you.” She inwardly cringed, hoping that she hadn’t just gotten her best friend into trouble.

  “I have never nor will I ever have any romantic feelings for her. I don’t see her that way.”

  “Of course. I mean, this is just me. I’m so sorry. Please don’t say anything.” She turned toward him, her hands out in surrender.

  “Did she give you any reason to believe anything is going on?”

  “No, no, of course not.”

  “I don’t like this, Hannah.”

  “I swear. She never has. I just thought, you know, that you both might have had a thing.” Now she was wishing more than anything that she’d kept her mouth shut. This was why she didn’t do well around men. Especially not men that were making her so damn horny and she still hadn’t thrown those blasted books out that didn’t help the situation. One look at his rough hands and it made her ache in ways she’d never experienced before.

  Biting her lip, she avoided looking at his hands and instead stared into his intense blue eyes. So bright, so beautiful, so clear.

  “Please, don’t say anything.”

  He stepped up close to her, the scent of his musky cologne invading her senses. Her nipples tightened, and her pussy went slick. She wanted nothing more than to have him take her over. To have his way, to show her what it meant to be taken by a man. Being a virgin was a complete and total drag. She’d love nothing more than to have him take it from her.

  “There’s only one woman I want, and I’m looking right at her.”

  Time froze as she stared at him. They barely knew each other. He held her captive in his gaze, and she didn’t have a clue what to do or what to say.

  One week they’d known each other, and it wasn’t like they’d spent any real time together.

  “I … erm, I…” She hated it when she couldn’t think what to say. She was a grown woman, for Christ’s sake. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about you go on a date with me tonight?”

  “Is that allowed?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be allowed?”

  “You know?” He shook his head. “Dating in the office? Isn’t that wrong?”

  “I’m the boss, Hannah. For you I can make an exception.”

  She tucked some hair behind her ear just for something to do. Anything other than this feeling that was currently consuming her.

  She wanted to say yes so badly, but part of her held back and she didn’t understand it. West had been nothing but nice to her. This job, the transport, even the company, it had all been wonderful. He made her laugh, and his jokes were goofy.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping a little closer.

  Hannah didn’t even realize that he could get closer. They were already standing right in front of each other.

  “Nothing. I’d love to go on a date with you.” She ignored that screaming need to not go with him. “When would you like to pick me up tonight?”

  “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

  “I want to warn you that I’ve not been on many successful dates. The few I’ve been on something weird happened.”

  He leaned against the copier, arms folded.

  She wondered if she’d ever see all of his ink.

  “What happened?”

  “It would all start out well, and I think I must have done something wrong.”

  “Why would anything have to be weird about you?” he asked.

  “It happened on all the dates. I’m not kidding, nor am I crazy.” She held her hands up in surrender. “I couldn’t even tell you what I did wrong. Only that they were fine, happy, and we were having a lot of fun, then boom, they change. They were real jerks as well.” She shrugged. “It’s one of the reasons I stopped going on dates. The sudden hot and cold was like whiplash, and believe me, I know what that feels like.” She pressed her lips together, knowing she was talking way too much. “What I’m trying to say is if you find me boring please tell me. I really like this job. A whole lot more than my last one.”

  He chuckled. “I doubt you could ever bore me.”

  “You’d be really surprised.” She clasped her hands together, needing something to do.

  Why are you still talking?

  Get a grip already.

  You’re going on a date, and you need to learn to shut your mouth.

  “Relax, Hannah. We’re going to have a good time.” He leaned in close and his lips brushed against her ear. “I promise.”

  Just as the elevator door pinged, letting them know they were not alone, West pulled away and made his way back to his office.

  She watched him go, somewhat taken aback by his sheer magnetism. What made him so different? She felt drawn to him.

  Even now she wanted to follow him, and that was crazy.

  Get your head out of your ass and get back to work.

  Taking the sheets of paper she’d copied, she sat at her desk and tried to focus on work, but it was no good. She found herself looking toward his office. West was either on the phone, pacing back and forth in his office, or sitting behind his desk.

  He filled all the spaces with his presence, commanded respect, and she saw his employees were loyal to him.

  The rest of the day went by without event. When it was time to leave, West didn’t come out of his office, and Rome was there to take her home.

  She grabbed her bag and jacket, leaving with his driver.

  West told her that he didn’t always use Rome and Cage, but they were loyal, hard-working men and didn’t mind taking her home.

  “Did you have a good day?” Rome asked.

  “Yes. It
was good.”

  Staring at numbers all day she found rather relaxing. She loved it when some number didn’t add up. There was nothing more she loved that getting a pad of notepaper and scrawling all over it to find out what was missing.

  “Good.”

  “Erm, I’m going on a date with West tonight.” Her cheeks were flaming as she said this.

  Rome nodded.

  The elevator opened, and they stepped out into the parking lot. Rome opened the car door. She was never allowed to ride up front with him, always in the back, which she hated. According to Rome it was the way it was done. She had to sit in the back or bring it up with West.

  So far, she’s just done what she’d been told rather than bring it up with him.

  Buckling her seatbelt, she waited for Rome to climb inside.

  “Are you looking forward to going on this date?”

  “Yes and no.”

  He chuckled.

  “That’s not very comforting.”

  “Women normally love to be wined and dined.”

  “Well, I’m not most women.”

  She heard him mumble under his breath. It sounded like he said, “clearly,” but she wasn’t sure.

  “Anyway, I’m a disaster with men. I struggle to talk to them.”

  “You’re doing pretty fine right now.”

  “I do something that messes up.”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  They were already out of the parking lot and on the way back to her apartment.

  “I don’t know. Whenever I’m with a guy it’s always going great. I wonder if I pick the wrong places to eat.”

  “Why?”

  “They always go to the bathroom. Maybe that’s it? They always go to the bathroom, and when they come back, they’re never the same again. Always saying horrible things. Do you think it could be the food?” she asked.

  Rome chuckled. “It could be. Not everyone likes Italian or Chinese. Or you’re really overthinking it and by the time they’ve got to the bathroom, they’ve realized you’re not going to put out.”

  “You mean have sex?” She wanted to make sure they were on the same page.

  “Yeah, fucking. It’s all the same. You’ve got to understand that a lot of guys are only interested in the pussy.”

  She had gotten semi-used to Rome’s blunt language. He made no apology for the way he talked. This past week, she’d found him oddly refreshing.