Page 31 of Vow of Revenge
I could make her beg me. “Sure. You have my word.”
Twisting away from me, she half smiled and kept her eyes on my dog. When the door closed behind her, I let out a long breath and kissed Champ on the head, right where her lips had been. Why the fuck I did it was of no consequence. I did random shit like that sometimes.
I lowered him to the floor and fixed his collar. Champ padded along at my heels, down the stairs and into the basement, then he sat and looked up at me when I lifted the fine chain in my fingertips. Luca had found it on the floor when he was cleaning earlier in the day. I told him to leave it on the bar, and now it was mine. A bargaining chip to see her again – on my terms.
I know I said I’d be in touch, but I didn’t say when.
Shoving Freya’s bracelet into my snug jeans pocket, I leapt up the stairs, two at a time. I had a burst of energy like a shot of adrenaline was coursing through me.
My mind went into autopilot. There were deals to be done and women to be fucked. I gave Champ his favourite toy and sent him to bed before I left.
* * *
As if I had planned it all myself, Marco and his little sister, Martha were waiting inside the gallery. Marco paced the open space and Martha strutted my way, chewing gum and sticking her tits in my face. I’m guessing she was probably twenty and definitely already broken in, given the sassy grin and knowing wink.
“Let me see what you’ve got.” I stared at her, then side stepped her completely and sauntered over to Marco. “I’m not in the market for ornaments.”
Marco’s curly hair was slicked back with a sheen of gloss, like nervous fingers had repeatedly dragged through it. The twitch in his eye gave away his need to sell.
Holding out his hand, he waited for my contact. “Thank you for coming, Kaleb. I’ve got a few things you’ll be interested in.”
I looked back over my shoulder. Martha. I’ll fuck Martha.
That thought pretty much turned into reality. It was all too easy. I shook on a deal, which let me add, was a fraction of the money I’d earn back. Then I took Martha to a downtown hotel and showed her how to behave. She was dirty and responsive to my orders, but her eyes were bland and boring. There wasn’t any substance beyond her good looks and promises. If I was honest with myself, I found the whole thing a chore.
Lying on the bed, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my web browser history.
“Who is that?” The annoying woman beside me rolled onto her side. She ran a tacky pink nail over the leather bands teaming up with my gold watch.
“None of your fucking business.” It was Freya Beaumont’s company profile picture at Glimmer Magazine and a few of her recent articles.
When I fucked Martha, I had Freya on my mind. After the deed was done, I decided to continue my research on the feisty Beaumont. I was going to be busy for the rest of the night, so Freya wouldn’t hear from me anytime soon. She’d have to wait for the bracelet nestled in my jeans, that were in a heap beside the used condom that I knotted and tossed to the floor.
Freya would have to wait for me.
“What an asshole. The guy told me he would look for my mother’s bracelet. Obviously, he didn’t bother.” It had been over a week since I showed up at Kaleb’s place, and still no word.
“Maybe he’s busy?” Syrah ladled our favourite curry onto a bed of rice. “Or he didn’t find it.”
I stuck a fork into the silver container and stabbed a chunk of chicken. “It was the only real thing I had left of her.” My mouth formed an O shape as the hot sauce burned the roof of my mouth.
Syrah slid my dinner across the breakfast bar. “I’m sorry, Freya. How about I buy you a new one.”
Metal scraped the fine china bowl, and I let out a loud sigh. “It’s okay. It wouldn’t be the same.”
The doorbell chimed. Syrah glanced at her phone. “It’s not Brett because he’s been messaging me all day, and I know he’s working late.”
I dropped off the stool. “It’s probably creepy Kenny from the fourth floor wanting us to buy more knock off toilet paper. I swear the guy steals them from his work.”
When I reached the door, Syrah shouted from the kitchen, “Maybe it’s your lover boy.” That thought hadn’t even crossed my mind until her laughter made me think twice.
There was no way he’d show up here – would he? Twisting the lock, I slowly opened the door and there he was. The sexy cologne of Kaleb De Courcy hit me first. It invaded my senses and his piercing blue eyes held me in a silent standoff. Dark strands were fixed into place with a sweep, and a layer of scruff shaded his angular jaw. His shoulder was propped against the doorframe and his leg crossed at the ankle. This time he wore a fresh white shirt that hugged his torso, with a few open buttons and sleeves precisely rolled to his elbows to make him look effortless and casual. I loved how the bright white set of the colour of his mocha skin and the leather bands that cuffed his wrists were sexy as hell. What he wore below his waist was unknown because I couldn’t stop myself from staring at his face.
“Freya.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “I have my cleaner hunting high and low for your bracelet.”
“You don’t have it?” My heart would’ve sunk if it wasn’t bouncing against my ribcage.
With a slight shake of his head, his shoulders lifted to his jaw. “Nope.” Then he pushed off the frame and slotted his hands into the pockets of his tight black jeans. He stood tall before me with an odd look on his gorgeous face. “You’ll be glad to know that we can still have a few drinks together. Let’s go.”
