Page 20 of Brutal Sin

ChapterSix

Bryan hadhis hand in the safe, reaching for his keys, wallet, and cell, when the office door flung open, only to be slammed shut seconds later.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Shay came up behind him, a solidified form of indignation andfury.

“The Vault was getting way out of hand. It’s time I pulled everyone back into line. I’m not going to apologize for reminding them of the rules.”

“I’m not talking about that. I want to know why the hell you would make an example of Pamela when she did nothing wrong.”

He winced. That name. It fucking killed him. Every time. “Nothing wrong?” The question came through clenched teeth. “How about calling me a son-of-a-bitch for declining a hook-up?”

“I don’t care if she forcibly tried to give you an anal exam. You could’ve let her down gently. There was no need to make a fool out ofher.”

“Mind your own business, Shay.”

He didn’t regret a second of his anger tonight. Especially after he’d been stopped in the Vault stairwell and told about the group of women who had started placing bets on his sex life. That knowledge had been enough to send him nuclear.

The only saving grace was their luck at choosing him as a target. If another man, or woman, for that matter, had been treated this way, he would’ve gone postal longago.

“It is my business, seeing as though I was the one who convinced her to speak toyou.”

His chest tightened, the unmistakable beat of rage clogging his throat. “You told her to hassleme?”

“Hassle you?” She cocked her hips. “She didn’t even want to go near you. I had to talk her intoit.”

He should’ve known Shay was a part of this. Should’ve fucking known. “Then you’re to blame. Not me. I made it obvious I wasn’t interested. I barely said two words to her before walking away. She was the one who followed me. She’s the one who continued to act like I was a sure thing because, apparently, she got the wrong impression fromyou.”

Her posture shifted, the slightest sign of guilt.

Just because Ella wasn’t as forthright as the others who had called or texted, didn’t mean she wouldn’t be the next time the Vault opened. His announcement had been a caution to every patron who needed to be reminded that hints of rejection were to be taken as seriously as blatant refusals.

“And like I said downstairs, she’s not the only one.” He lobbed his cell toward her, the device fumbling in her fingers before coming to rest in her grip. “Check the messages. See just how many women from the Vault are trying to ride mydick.”

“I don’t—”

“Fuckinglook.” He didn’t care if she thought he was irredeemable. But he sure as shit wouldn’t have her thinking the women down there were all sweet and virtuous.

She raised a haughty brow and cocked a hip as she unlocked his screen and navigated to the texts. She scrolled and scrolled, her eyes skimming messages he knew were as vulgar as they were annoying.

“Your girl may not have been a serial offender. But it was only a matter oftime.”

“She’s not like that… Holy shit, I can’t believe Elise sent you a nude selfie.”

He nodded. Elise had a fine rack, but he would still delete the pic and place her firmly on his shit list. “One ofmany.”

She winced and handed over the phone. “It doesn’t mean you have the right to take your frustration out on Pamela. Her involvement was my fault.”

“Shay admitting guilt?” He pocketed his cell, along with his keys and wallet. “You must really like this woman.”

“I feel sorry for her. She’s too young to be a widow.”

He’d almost forgotten about the dead husband. Didn’t matter, though. The only thing worse than a pushy woman was a pushy woman with baggage. “She’s attractive, and new men continue to join the Vault. She’ll find someone to suit her soon enough.”

There was no doubt. Apart from her beauty, she was passionate and sexual. The top three checkboxes on any hot-blooded male’slist.

“And what about you?” Shay crossed her arms over her chest. “After your demeaning display, I think you’re going to find it hard to get laid in the Vault. Female solidarity can be a bitch.”

“Female solidarity can kiss my ass. It’s my club. If I want to wipe the slate clean of women members and start fresh, I will.” Culling members seemed like a damn goodidea.

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