Page 23 of Straightened Out

“I don’t buy it,” he says, leaning forward. “Tell me you didn’t get that sweet ass into another situation.”

I smile.

So he didn’t forget my ass—good to know.

“My ass is just fine, thank you.”

He studies me for a moment, then nods.

“Keep it that way.”

Smacking his hands to his thighs, he rises from the couch.

“Where are you going?” I ask curiously.

“Home,” he replies, pausing to stand in front of me. “Something tells me I’m going to need all the rest I can get to survive this weekend.”

I smile up at him.

“Oh?”

Blowing out a breath, he shakes his head and fingers a strand of my hair.

“You are trouble, Bug,” he says huskily.

“No more trouble than you.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” he says, lowering his hand back to his side. “I’ll see you later. Dress nice.”

“Oh, I plan on it.”

Actually, I plan on torturing him with the sexiest black dress he’s ever seen.

It’s going to be a good night.

Chapter 7

Rocco Spinelli

Violet’s presence was a hiccup I didn’t need. I was fucking exhausted and still had to deal with my uncle, not to mention I was starting to worry about a possible retaliation attack from Pablo’s men. Even though Uncle Vic had assured me that wouldn’t happen, Joaquin had gotten in my head. The truth is Uncle Vic didn’t know much about Rodrigues. He wasn’t in tune with his operation the way Joaquin was, therefore, he really wasn’t in the position to make any guarantees.

I also wasn’t in any position to make birthday plans for Violet, and yet as soon as I left Joaquin’s apartment, that’s exactly what I did. I had Omar reserve a booth for us at the club and called in a favor to a local bakery.

Then I went home and took a shower. I was fucking whipped, so much so, that I didn’t bother getting dressed. I dragged my naked ass into my bed and tried to get some sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I pictured Violet’s. It didn’t take long for me to fantasize about that smart mouth of hers and how perfect it would look wrapped around my cock. Even after rubbing one out, I was still fucking hard and I realized there was no fucking way I was going to be able to adhere to my Uncle’s warning.

How could I cut her loose when I didn’t even have her… yet?

About an hour before our scheduled dinner with Uncle Vic, Joaquin called me to tell me Violet was tagging along to the restaurant. With everything going on, he didn’t feel comfortable leaving her at the penthouse and if I’m being frank, neither did I.

I walk into the restaurant and the hostess informs me that Joaquin and Violet are waiting for me at the bar. As soon as I turn the corner, my eyes scan the room and I immediately spot Violet. It appears that my Bug brought her A-game. Dressed in a skin-tight black dress with a very low-cut back, she’s got the attention of every man in the joint—including mine. I wonder if Uncle Vic would mind much if I skipped dinner and took her into the bathroom for a quick game of show and tell.

Clearing my throat, I ignore the tightness in my pants and step behind Violet as she leans over the bar and orders a drink.

“A dirty martini…extra dirty.”

“Just the way I like things,” I murmur as my eyes leisurely trail up her bare back. Her olive skin calls to every part of my body and I almost trail a finger down her spine, but out of the corner of my eye, I spot Joaquin glaring at me. Feigning indifference, I peel my eyes away from Violet’s silky skin and look to her brother, giving him an innocent shrug. There’s no sense in denying my wandering eye…so long as he doesn’t know the filthy thoughts accompanying it.

“Where did you come from?” Violet questions as she spins around on the stool. Ignoring her brother, I smirk at her and signal for the bartender. I order the birthday girl her dirty martini and two shots of bourbon for me and Joaquin, who rags on Violet about her dress.

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