Page 90 of Scandalous Kingpin
I was slightly overwhelmed with everything, but suddenly my sister’s words filtered in.Life’s too short to hold grudges. I knew Louisa was right. After weeks of emotional turmoil, I was exhausted, and Juliette was right here in front of me, offering an olive branch.
A slightly desperate look in her eyes told me she meant it, begging me to accept her apology.
A small sob rose in my throat and my resolve crumbled. I fell into her arms. We cried, hugging each other while dampness soaked our cheeks.
Things weren’t solved and they might never go back to the way they were, but this step felt like a move in the right direction.
Chapter Forty
PRIEST
Isat in the office of my penthouse in Philadelphia, nursing a bottle of alcohol, and smoking which I gave up the day I tied the knot with Ivy. I kept watching the security monitors. Certain screens showed surveillance footage of Ireland, and on another, footage of when I first touched Ivy in the hallway of my club played. I’d watched it on repeat for the past two hours.
And all the while I waited for my purchase of Lisbon Telecommunications to go through so I’d have access to the surveillance of Lisbon where Ivy currently was.
I threw my head back as images from that night flew through my mind.
Upon learning the call I received was phony, I returned to the club, irritated and ready to make someone pay for the fuckup. As I stepped inside, hordes of people parted like the Red Sea and others scattered like chickens.
I made my way to the private corridor that led to my office when I came to a slow stop. I narrowed my eyes on the woman who’d captured my interest mere weeks ago when she andher friends strutted into my brother’s casino in Chicago and wreaked havoc.
I strolled toward her silently, and the moment she spotted me, she went still. Despite her nervousness, the little minx didn’t run. Instead, she continued staring at me, likely aware of the fact that I had her cornered.
Despite our height difference, she looked me straight in the eyes. High cheekbones, petite nose, and full lips, almond-shaped hazel eyes, exquisite body and skin that would tempt a saint, never mind a devil.
Lucky for her, I was a broken man, and tonight I was in the mood to teach her a lesson.
The delicate skin of her throat worked up and down as she swallowed. The motion made the viselike grip in my chest tighten, stealing my fucking breath.
A subtle blush ran up her neck and she cleared her throat. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Forget about pleasantries.” I grunted, inhaling her scent. She nodded, almost as if in a trance. “Now look at me.”
She lifted her head, staring up at me with those beautiful eyes as I sunk to my knees and tasted her. It was game over right there and then. She would forever be imprinted in my mind and my heart.
I just didn’t know it then.
A beeping sound pulled me from my reverie and images of Lisbon finally filtered in. I typed in her sister’s address—being a good hacker had its advantages–and the barrage of footage filtered in, making it difficult to process anything. It wasn’t until I saw her that my brain cells slowed down.
Long red curls. Yellow dress. She was a vision.
I leaned in, hungry to see every line of her body, my heart heavy. I didn’t think it was possible to miss someone so much.Surprisingly, all the shit that was coming out in therapy was helping with every aspect of my lifeexcept formy love life.
I scoffed softly. If it could even be called alovelife with this constant presence of ache in my heart.
Occasionally—okay, every second of the day—it made me contemplate kidnapping Ivy. I could bring her back by force and wait patiently for her to come around to the idea of us, but the thought of causing her more pain was bothersome.
Fuck, therapy really had softened me.
It might be over for her, but it would never be over for me. I couldn’t think without her near—her smell, her smile, the feel of her hands on me. I missed it like the desert missed the rain.
My throat tightened.
I slammed my fist against the table and reveled in the shock that reverberated up my arm.
I returned my attention to the screen, watching Ivy disappear into the house, her brothers and Kingston right behind her.
“At least there wasn’t another catfight.” Emory showed up out of nowhere, distracting me. It was temporary, but it was better than nothing.
