Page 52 of Unwritten Rules

He changed topics. “How’s that little new—not aunt—fuck buddy of yours Mr. Vaughn said not to touch?”

How was she? I’d give anything to know what my little Blondie was like in bed. Soft skin against mine, those sweet lips screaming my name, and every part of her melting in my hands? Soon, I’d get there and memorize every inch of her with my eyes, hands, and mouth. She just needed to let me in long enough to realize I’m not what she thinks I am.

“Bratty.” I shoved a fry in my mouth.

“Aren’t they all? Anyway, I got confirmation on the Haines team running surveillance on her. She’s the one that they’ve been looking out for in their rise to power. Don’t ask me how I know, just trust me on the intel.”

I waited silently for him to continue.

“This is where you say, ‘Great job, Reaper!’ and give me brownie points.”

I kicked him instead.

“Feisty. I like it. Next time, make it harder, daddy. Jason and his people—or girlfriend lady—have been keeping a close eye on her since she left whatever family member she was holed up with until she was eighteen. I did more recon onthatinfo and found out viaourintel that this aunt of hers forged some paperwork and put you and your grandfather in some deep shit. Montgomery Group is scrambling at the legal nightmare and digging into who may have been a rat on that end of things. Someone decided to play chess with their hostile takeover.”

My fists over-clenched and my burger fell apart in my hands. “So, she’s also involved in the shit we’ve been fighting for the last however many years?”

He didn’t seem too bothered as he funneled onion rings into his mouth. “Yeah, pretty much. Except, from what it looks like to me, she doesn’t even know the game she’s a part of. She’s more like a cute little deer just prancing around until the hunter takes his shot.”

Great.

“Then why didn’t the Dictator want me near her?”

He shrugged. “That’s not a question for me, boss. I putmyneck out to get you this info. Do me a favor and don’t let me get cut this time.”

The tone in his voice said he was serious for once, and it made me wonder how many times he’d been burned before. I knew nothing of his past, but the fact that hehides his facetells me it’s probably not a great one. “I doubt he’d even listen to me; even if I told him the words he wanted to hear verbatim.”

“When are you bringing that little girlfriend of yours back around?” My coffee cup got a refill from Martha while she gave me a stern look. As if I’d made Fallon run for the hills after I brought her here.

Reaper looked me up and down, his eyes a little curious. “She’s your girlfriend-not-aunt-fuckbuddy now?”

“Yourwhat now?” Jesus, one of these days Reapers lack of filter might give Martha a heart attack.

I waved off Reaper's comment. “She didn’t run for the hills if that’s what you’re asking.”

Everyone seemed to have a vested interest in Fallon. The innocent little rich girl that seemed to hold the key to everything was at the very center of a large elite game. I wondered if she knew how important she really was.

I wanted to show her.

“If you bring this Belushi around her, she might. You, Mister Mask, need to mind your manners.” A scolding from Martha. No man was safe from one—not even Reaper.

He held up his napkin to wave his white flag. “Sorry Miss Martha, I’ll mind my tongue.”

She cleared up the table and we concurred that we had no idea what happened at the warehouse earlier. The information we got was just to observe a business transaction and report back with who did what and who might be involved.

“We need to figure out who that driver was,” I said, settling into my seat and starting the car.

Reaper strapped in and gave me an unsettling look. “Let me tell you about what else I found out that I couldn’t talk about in the diner.”