“No.”
“’Cause you know you have to tell me, right?”
People watch too many movies.
Her voice lowered so the others couldn’t hear. “If Sun sent you?—”
“Your son didn’t send me.”
She shook her head. “The other kind of sun.”
“Your daughter did,” I finished.
Her brows twitched, but she was quick to control it. “You must be mistaken, sugar.” Her laugh was dismissive as she glanced over at the group she clearly knew before fluffing her hair. “Do I look old enough to have a daughter?”
Yes.
No. Wait.
Fuck yes.
If she wasn’t a fucking bitch, I could see how Veronica Rogers might’ve been attractive at one point. Smoking, drinking, and the Vegas sun had damaged her skin. The heavy makeup, overly bleached hair, and that whole bitch thing didn’t help.
But the thing that aged her most was the calculating look in her eyes. I could practically see the dollar signs in her gaze as she scanned my expensive suit again, all while splitting her focus to watch for a better opportunity.
“I’m here about Mila,” I told her.
There was no flash of recognition. No concern. Nothing.
How the fuck did this selfish bitch birth my sunshine?
Someone approached behind us, and I didn’t have to look to know it was Cole.
“Like I said, you must be mistaken. I wish someone would send a fine man like you my way.” She forced a laugh that was supposed to be sexy as her gaze moved to Cole. “Either of you. Hell, both of you. If that’s something I can help you with, then we can talk. Otherwise, I better go.”
Before she could take off again—or make my dick crawl inside me in repulsion from her proposition—I grabbed her upper arm.
Fear blanched her face.
Good. She’s not a total fucking idiot.
“Who did you send after Mila?” I asked.
“Wow, you really can’t keep your hands off me, huh?” Veronica said loudly with another flirty laugh. She shuffled us farther from the audience before lowering her voice. “What’re you talking about? She came after me just because I borrowed a little money.”
“You stole her money and got her fired.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth like her daughter did. Rather than the cute as fuck shyness Mila had, Veronica’s blue eyes darted as she came up with her next move.
Excuse.
Lie.
I cut her off before she could start. “Don’t give me whatever bullshit you’re putting together right now. It’ll just piss me off worse, and that’s not something you’ll want.”
I would never hit a woman. But I had the time, money, skills, and connections to make her life hell. I would still do that for all the shit she’d put Mila through, but the bastards who’d hurt her were my priority.
“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. But you should know, Mila is a dramatic little liar. You can’t believe a thing she says. She’s playing you.”