Page 128 of Monster

I didn’t like it.

Not one fucking bit.

“What are they producing?”

Roman said, “Baby food.”

“Should we be worried?”

“I don’t know. Have you ever heard of the Blue Paragon?”

I shook my head.

“Apparently, this company is the one to look out for since their stocks and investments are growing near ninth figures annually.”

“And let me guess. They’re opening this baby food manufacturer.”

Roman nodded. “It’s all over the news. The governor is pretty excited because he thinks it will bring in a lot of job opportunities.”

I didn’t get into politics. Too many shiny assholes who only looked polished on the outside. I only got involved if I had to, like when there was a certain policy being considered that would help my business. Then I would hire a lobbyist and donate to whatever slimy assholes would make the policy happen, such as slacking on the rules and regulations regarding shipping goods overseas.

A new company coming in was none of my business unless it interfered with my business, and something about this manufacturer told me it would interfere with my business.

“I’ll have Kai look into it,” I said.

Roman nodded.

Hopefully, I was being fucking paranoid, and there wasn’t more shit raining down on us.

* * *

I was fuckingtired by the time I got home.

Emmy thought of me as this energetic monster who thrived at night, but sometimes even the monster got tired, and all I’d wanted to do all day was get home to her.

Briefly, I wondered if this was how it was with Roman and Ryleigh, but I quickly shook away the thought. I wasn’t as fucking gone for a girl as that poor fucker was, and I refused to admit Emmy had the same hold on me as Ryleigh did with Roman, to the point that he risked my wrath.

I walked into the dark and quiet house.

At this hour, I expected Emmy to have already had her dinner, and to be in bed, reading one of her books.

I climbed up the stairs quietly, making note of the lights on in my room. The door was cracked open a little. And sure enough, when I pushed the door, the sight of Emmy sitting on the bed and reading a book greeted me.

I stayed where I was, wondering why my chest felt light.

Things were fucking messy out there in this world. But here in this room, with her, everything was all it needed to be. She was right where she needed to be with me.

She looked up and gasped when she finally noticed me.

We should really work on her situational awareness, but I liked that she was comfortable enough in this house to keep her guard down.

“Jeez, perhaps you should make some sort of noise when you move so you don’t scare me,” she said, making me want to smile.

I walked into the room and started tugging on my clothes.

“Dominic? Are you okay?”

I didn’t answer her. By the time I made it to the bed, I was in only my black boxer briefs, and Emmy was looking at me like I was the tastiest treat in the world.

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