Page 13 of Stolen Sun

“Then you failed to lock up after the final check?” I ask.

“Please, Mr. Adams, there’s been a misunderstanding. A mistake.”

I’m done listening to this bullshit. I’ve been in a shitty mood all afternoon after I got the phone call about this. I deliver a gut punch, and he doubles over to the floor. My guys let him fall, so I kick him hard in the side, feeling at least one rib break.Good.

“Mr. Sanchez, you’re fired, obviously. My friends here are going to help you out with delivering a message back to your family: Velocity isn’t interested in transporting your drugs,” I tell him.

He continues to beg for a chance to explain, which we all ignore.

I nod to Zander and leave them to finish without me. Walking back down the dark hall to the banquet room, I’m satisfied that his screams can’t be heard once I’m halfway back to the door.

Running shipments has its risks. I take all precautions to prevent hijackings and freeloaders, but it still happens occasionally. I usually stay with Zander until we’re done with the scum who try me, but I can’t have bloody knucklestonight. If I play my cards right over the next few hours, I could check two items off my to do list.

Claire is waiting for me when I step out of the hall. I stand beside her for a moment to tuck the beast back down deep inside, taking some deep breaths as she checks my suit. Hosting an event requires me to be in a decent mood, which Sanchez was on the verge of ruining. Thankfully, Zander found him early enough to salvage the evening. When I’m ready, I nod to Claire, giving her the OK to adjust my tie and jacket.

“She’s exploring the silent auction area with her friend, sir,” she reports and hands me a whiskey on ice.

“Thank you, Claire,” I say and walk toward the silent auction to find the woman in the red dress.

On my way, I see Danny Price walking toward the restroom.Fucking perfect.No one else is around, so I follow in behind him and wait for him to pull his dick out before I slam his head into the wall.

“What the FUCK!” He hollers.

“Noel is mine,” I say through gritted teeth.

He turns around to see who is behind him, but I punch him in the nose just as his eyes widen in recognition.

“Fuck, man! I didn’t know! She turned me down anyway,” he rambles while wiping the blood off his face.

“You know now. Get the fuck out of here,” I warn.

He tucks himself back into his pants and leaves in a hurry.

Looking in the mirror, I smooth out my hair and suit again.

When I finally make it into the auction area, Noel and Kate are bidding on a set of skincare products. They seem to be enjoyingthemselves, so I keep my distance. I speak to a few of my clients while the girls walk around placing bids.

Fifteen minutes or so pass before the DJ makes an announcement letting everyone know to make their way back to the tables for dinner to be served. Noel and Kate wander through the rest of the auction tables in the direction of our table while a client continues to discuss contract details with me.

I return to the table just as servers come into view holding trays of appetizers. Noel’s back is to me, which is exposed in her dress. She’s breathtaking from any angle.

Taking the seat beside her, I dip my head so that my lips hover over her ear. “Enjoying yourself?”

A secretive smile spreads across her face. “I am, actually. If you put in a good word with the auctioneer to help me win that Hermes bag, I’d really enjoy that too.”

She turns to look at me, our lips only inches apart. The smile on her beautiful face fades, and her breath catches when she realizes I’m not going to back away.That’s right, sunshine. You won’t get away this time.

I give her a crooked smile before glancing down at her parted lips. She’s close enough that I could take them, but taking from her is the last thing I want. She’s going togiveeverything to me because she is going toneedeverything from me. She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth as though that could stop me if I didn’t already have other plans for her.

“You can hide it…for now,” I tell her, thumbing the sliver I can still see.

The flash in her eyes from my words, from my touch, is like a flare sent into the night sky beckoning me to do it anyway. To give us both what we wanted so many years ago.

Reminding myself where we are, I pull away from her. I have to adjust my hard cockunder the tablecloth, so it isn’t pressed into the zipper of my pants. From the corner of my eye, I see her wiggle in her seat at the same time. Before I can stop myself, I give the tiny hand she has resting on the table a squeeze. My silent promise to make it better, and soon.

Across the table, Roman Hyde raises his glass to me.So it begins.The woman next to him initiates the conversation between us all.

“Mr. Adams, my husband has told me a good bit about you; however, he failed to mention how handsome you are.” She looks over at Noel to say, “Bravo, my dear, he is quite delectable.”

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