Page 95 of Bad Boy Next Door
I frowned.
“Then shut the fuck up.”
“That asshole grabbed her ass.” My grip on the chair tightened. “Another second, he’d have stuck his fingers in her… in her pussy.” The word sounded wrong. I’d never minded using it before, but now, saying it to Stan about the woman I loved, it seemed wrong, a violation. But I had to use language he’d understand.
“Come on, Nick.” Stan leaned back in his chair and spread his legs wide. “Girls willing to get on that stage, they know the score. Most of them arebeggingfor it.”
My fingers nearly pushed through the back of the chair, but I kept my anger focused on the metal chair, not Stan.
“That’s not fair,” I said. “Or true. Have you ever eventalkedto the dancers?”
“Oh.” Stan smirked. “I’ve done way more than justtalkto most of ‘em.” His hand grabbed his crotch in case I’d missed his oh-so-subtle innuendo.
Jade would never let Stan touch her, never mind fuck her—I knew that—but that didn’t make it okay that he’d harassed the others. I’d come in here ready to do battle for Jade, but couldn’t remember why.
Sadness washed over me. And shame.
I was part of it. Over the past two years, I’d done what I could to keep the girls safe. And except for a few consensual hook-ups, I’d never touched any of the girls before Jade. But I was complicit. By not stopping Stan, I’d been an accomplice to unfair policies, sexual harassment, maybe rape.
My attempt to go legit was a joke. My brothers were right. My job wasn’t legit. This place turned my stomach.
“I quit.” I backed away from Stan. “Keep my last paycheck. I am so done with this fucking place.”
Stan rose from the chair. “What the hell! You can’t quit.”
“Watch me.” I turned toward the door.
“Wait,” said the woman on the couch.
I stopped short at her commanding voice and turned toward her.
Dressed in a tight black dress and high heels, one leg crossed over the other, she stretched her arm along the back of the sofa. Her head tilted, and the light from a table lamp caught her face, her chin-length black hair, bright red lips, and dark glasses. She looked like she owned the whole world. Owned me.
“What?” I asked to break the long pause.
“You can’t quit,” she said. “I won’t allow it.”
“And who the fuck are you?” She might be all fancy, but that didn’t mean she could boss me around.
“I’m your boss, Nick. Nicola Rensetti.”
My chin snapped up. The other Nick. The one who’d arranged Jade’s dad’s deal.
“Well,boss,” I said. “Nice to finally meet you. I quit.” I reached for the doorknob.
“Good luck finding a new place to live,” she said. “I’ve heard the San Francisco rental market has been rising somewhat.”
I almost laughed at her understatement. This woman knew the power she held over the Shady Oaks tenants. Our rent was miles under market. But I could find another place to live. Or move in with one of my brothers, or Jade.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Nick.” Her long-nailed fingers drummed the sofa’s leather. “Can I offer you some advice?”
I grunted.
“It’s not smart to be rude to your employer.”
“I already quit.” I shook my head. “You’re not my employer anymore.”
