Page 35 of Precious Hazard

“This is goddamned New York!” I snap. “You can’t throw a stone without hitting something that someone has claimed as historically or architecturally significant to qualify for grants or tax breaks. But the heap of crap that stood here, wasn’t it. Check your records. It was assessed as a hazardous structure, and that’s why we were granted the demolition permit in the first place.”

“If that’s the case, Mr. DeVille, you have nothing to worry about,” Daniels states as his gaze lingers on Tara. “You’ll be able to resume work as soon as we’ve made the necessary confirmation.”

The urge to take this guy down and dig his eyes out floods me. Why is he looking at my woman like that? They’re definitely familiar and comfortable with each other. Friends, or something more?

So what? What if they were?Why the fuck do I even care? She’ll be my wife in name only. I need to remember that.

Grinding my molars, I swallow the need to punch the idiot.

“How long will that take?” I ask.

“No more than a month. Maybe two, since this is a bit of an unusual matter.”

“What?”

“Oh, come on, Sammy.” Tara laughs, patting him on his chest. “Can’t you push it a bit? I know you’ve got that magic. How about by the end of the week? For old times’ sake. Otherwise, I’m afraid DeVille might have a coronary.”

Daniels gives me a quick look before his attention is once more consumed by Tara. He seems to be swallowing her with his eyes. They have to be more than just old friends. Ex-lovers. I’m certain of it.

That realization is like a gut punch, knocking the wind out of me without any fucking warning.

“Sure, pumpkin.” He nods. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, Sammy. Really appreciate it. Please say hi to Mama Daniels for me, alright?”

Flash after flash of various ways I can maim the fucker occupy my mind while I glare atSammyas he and Tara say their goodbyes and promise to stay in touch. Oh, there won’t be any touches, literal or metaphorical. That, I can guarantee. Just before Daniels slides behind the wheel of his car, he glances back and gives Tara a wink. The direction of my thoughts turns to drawn-out torture and killing, so I step in front of Tara to block his view of her.

“Who was that man to you?” I somehow manage to sound like a human being rather than a snarling bull.

“An old friend.” Her strawberry scent hits me as she flips her hair over her shoulder. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Choosing to ignore her latter comment, I ask, “Just a friend?”

She arches an eyebrow and then simply walks around me, heading back to the BMW. We’re playing tit for tat, apparently.

“Mr. DeVille?” Tito asks, coming up to stand next to me. “This will significantly impact our timelines. We may need to—”

“Tito, I don’t want to discuss goddamned timelines right now,” I snap and trail after Tara.

Inside the spacious car, Tara has tucked herself back into her seat, nose once more stuck in her lady porn. I slide in beside her and signal to Riggo to get us moving again.

“Were you two lovers back in the day?” I ask.

“Who?”

“You and Sammy-boy.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is my business since you asked him to do me a favor. Favors require repayment, and I need to know to whom I’m indebted,” I insist, trying my damnedest to believe that’s the actual reason for my question.

“You don’t owe Sam anything. I simply allowed him to reciprocate something I did for him years ago. He gets this done, and we’re even.”

“What did you do?”

Her damn book is hiding most of her face, but I still notice her rolling her eyes at me. “We went to high school together. Sammy’s dad had a terminal illness, and none of theavailable medications helped with his pain. So I… um… brought something back for him from my trip to the Netherlands.”

I snatch the book out of her hand. “You smuggled drugs across the border for some guy? Are you fucking insane?”

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