Page 29 of Property of Fire

“Enlighten me.” I knew what all she did, but she didn’t need to know I knew.

“Considering I handle the payroll for everyone but myself. Do the hiring and firing. Make the schedule. Francie and me both handle the monthly inventory together and make sure the numbers aren’t wrong in any way. I make sure the cleaner is coming daily because there are some serious flakes out there. I also have to deal with all the usual paperwork that goes along with ensuring that money isn’t missing while paying bills?—”

“Baby, I know you handle a lot of shit at the bar.” I stop her before she can continue listing even more, ‘cause knowing her, she’ll keep going and going.

“Well, then you know I have to go the bar.” She huffs.

“I’ll take you after meeting with Scotch,” I tell her, pulling her in against me. “I’ve got to go find Brimstone and Flame. Once I finish that we’ll be meeting with Scotch. We’ll go to the bar afterward.”

“Why do I have to wait until after you meet with Scotch?” she demands, her voice filled with irritation, alerting me to the fact she’s not just annoyed. Something is definitely bothering her. “I thought it wasclub business.”

“It is,” I confirm and give her the rest. “It also has to do with business, including the bar, so you have to be there for part of the meet.”

“Fire, you should come play with us,” Kaley calls from across the room loudly.

“Yeah, Fire, you haven’t played with us in so long.” Janie giggles.

Evelin’s body grows tenser, and I have a feeling I know exactly what’s wrong with my woman.

“Now that you and me are together, Evelin, I’m not gonna do anything that jeopardizes that. You know that, right?” I ask, watching Evelin’s expression closely.

“Why do you say that?” she finally asks, but it’s not in the question that concerns me. It’s in her voice.

Dropping my hands from around her, I pull her with me down a small hall off the main room that goes to the kitchen. There’s no waiting for this conversation. With the way she’s tense right now, I won’t let her stew on it.

Once I know we’re both alone, I let her go and face her.

“All right, Eve, tell me what’s going on in your head.”

“You mean besides needing to get to work?” The way she tries to play it off and act like what we’ve got to talk about isn’t a big deal.

“What happened after you left my room?” I ask her.

“I got coffee.” She shrugs.

“You know what I’m talking about, baby, what did those bitches say to you?” I’m losing patience, and I’m trying not to.

“It’s nothing I haven’t heard before.” Evelin again plays it down.

“That was when you weren’t an ol’ lady. Now, you are. You’re my ol’ lady, baby, and they’ll fuck with your head because you have what they want and it pisses them off.”

“So, it’s okay for them to fuck with an ol’ lady’s head, say things like how they want your cock? That I wouldn’t be able to give you what you like? That you’ll still go to them when you want something? Tell me, did Kaley come in the room after I walked out?”

“Why the fuck would she come in the room?” I find myself surprised by this.

“It’s a question, did she?”

“No.”

“According to Chellie, Janie, and Same, which, by the way, what kind of name is that? Do I even want to know how she got it? I mean, what is she?—”

“What did they say to you?” I grind out, getting her back on topic.

“That she was probably riding your cock,” she snaps, nostrils flaring, her finger coming up to point at my chest. “I’m telling you now, I won’t share you.”

“That’s good, ‘cause I’m not about to share you either.” Moving quickly, I jerk her against me. “You can’t let those bitches fuck with your head.”

“It’s not like I want to listen to them.” She huffs.

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