Page 58 of Ripped Lace (Ripped Bratva)

I roll my eyes. She does remind me a lot of Charity.

Except I was prettier. And had much better fashion sense.

I can’t argue with that. Leona is wearing baggy jeans that look exceptionally comfortable and an oversized shirt with stains on the front.

“The eye candy?” I scoff. “If any of the guards in this place smile, their faces might crack.”

Leona laughs. “I was referring to the boss man,” she says. “If he weren’t so scary, I might have made a move.”

The jealousy I feel is instant. And I barely know what to do with it. I’m not experienced enough to know how to hide or control it. And I certainly don’t have the presence of mind to pretend as though I don’t care and just ignore the comment completely.

So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised when I blurt, “Has it escaped your notice that he’s married?”

She raises her eyebrows, but the smile stays plastered onto her face. “It’s not a real marriage, though, is it?” she asks. “I mean, you’ve been locked in this room for eons and he’s been moping around the house looking all hot and broody.”

My fingers tighten around Theo. Leona notices.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend,” she says. “I didn’t realize there was something real between the two of you. You said yourself it was all a scam.”

The thought of her relaying this conversation back to Phoenix makes me cringe inwardly. “There’s nothing between us,” I say repeating the words that he used on me not too long ago. “But it’s just…”

“Yeah?” she persists. She’s definitely enjoying herself.

“It’s the principle of the thing,” I reply, grasping for words. “You don’t go after a married man.”

She shrugs. “I don’t like to play by the rules,” she says. “I don’t think he does, either.”

I frown. Is she trying to goad me into a fight? It becomes more and more apparent from her smile that she’s trying to seek out trouble.

“Having fun with all this?” I demand, turning to the window.

She laughs. “Oh, tons, believe me. I’ve spent most of my time lately hanging with a chubby little guy who doesn’t say much in return. This is the longest adult conversation I’ve had in a while.”

“So you decide to mess with me?”

She shrugs. “I’m just kidding around.”

“Were you?”

She winks at me. “There’s no denying that the boss is drop dead gorgeous. And he’s got the whole alpha male, dominant streak that gets me going. But you don’t have to worry about me encroaching on your man—”

“He’s not my man,” I say hurriedly. Fully aware that I’m contradicting myself ten times over in this conversation.

“Mhmm. Sure thing.”

“I’m serious.”

She rolls her eyes. “I see the way you look at him,” she says. “It’s not exactly subtle, you know.”

My cheeks flame with embarrassment. If she noticed, how many other people had done the same?

“Why should you be ashamed of wanting him?” she continues. “Men never apologize for getting hard over some random girl who walks past them.”

I sit down opposite her and adjust Theo on my lap. “Theo looks good. Happy.”

“Are you changing the subject?”

“Absolutely.”

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