by Faith Gibson
As if he knew she was there, he turned his head in her direction, his eyes never wavering from hers. Rocky felt as though he was undressing her with just a look, even though the look wasn’t sleazy. It was possessive. Wanting. A shiver ran down her spine, but she couldn’t divert her gaze. The pull was too great. Never in her life had Rocky felt something so strong. Not even the urge to shoot up had been as compelling as the need to go to him and give herself over to him. The cigarette she’d just lit remained untouched, the ashes growing longer as the fire eased its way toward the filter. Sinclair tilted his head to the side and said, “Banyan’s here.” Only then did he turn away from her. Rocky took a shaky drag on what little was left of the cigarette before snuffing it out on the bottom of her tennis shoe.
Chapter Twelve
Rocky made her way back to the bathroom attached to the bedroom she was using and tossed the butt in the toilet, flushing it away. She washed her hands and gargled some mouthwash before going in search of the others. Finley’s house was large, but not so much so that she got lost. As she padded down the staircase, male voices echoed down the hallway where she remembered his office to be. When she stepped into the room, the three men stopped talking. Banyan inclined his head to Rocky and did some weird thing where he made a fist and placed it over his chest.
“Rocky, I’d like to introduce you to Banyan Sorensen. Banyan, Raq... Rocky Cartwright.” Sinclair caught himself before he used her real name. This was the first time Rocky had been standing close to Sinclair, so it was only then she realized how large of a man he was. Rocky was rather tall for a woman, but he had a good five or six inches on her. Ignoring the urge to stand next to Sinclair, Rocky stepped farther into the room and held her hand out to the tall blond. Banyan glanced at Sinclair before he took her hand. Something unspoken passed between the males, and Banyan briefly gripped her hand before backing away.
“Rocky, thank you for meeting with me so soon after your incident. How are you feeling?” Banyan asked, in a soft yet firm voice that belied his looks.
“Better. Thank you for helping get me to the hospital.”
“Please, it’s my honor to be of assistance. Would you care to have a seat so we can get down to business?” Banyan gestured to the chairs across from the large desk. Rocky sat down, and Banyan took the seat behind the desk. Sinclair stepped to the side of the room and leaned against the wall. Finley excused himself and took Vivian’s hand, leading her away. The door shut behind them, and the room closed in on her. She’d never been alone with two men such as these, and it made her uncomfortable. She sat on her hands to keep them from shaking.
Banyan leaned back in Finley’s chair and crossed a booted foot over his knee. “I understand the terms of the sale, and I’m agreeable to them all. The only question is whether or not you deem me worthy of leading your crew.”
Rocky felt Sinclair’s eyes on her, but she didn’t look his way. She cleared her throat, and said, “I would like for you to meet with the manager, Bridget. She’s the one you’ll be working closely with. If it wasn’t for her…”
Banyan held up his hand. “There’s no need to explain. You went through a rough patch, but now you’re here, putting your life back together. I commend you for your strength.”
Rocky didn’t know what to say. Did every one of Finley’s friends know about her past?
“I’m sorry if I upset you,” Banyan added. He glanced at Sinclair before continuing. “As Sin told you earlier, we’re a tightknit group. We protect those around us who we feel need it. We do not see you as weak, per se, but Blake Stansbury is a credible threat. Sin has brought several of us into the fold and explained the situation. Rest assured your past was only shared so those of us looking into the situation would know who and what we are dealing with. We like you, Miss Cartwright, and we hope you’ll be in our lives for many years to come. Now, back to the bar; when would be a good time for me to visit with Miss Jones?”
Rocky was flabbergasted. Banyan had just spoken basically the same words Sinclair had earlier, only she didn’t find herself getting defensive. She rather liked the blond, but not for any reason other than he seemed nice. Sinclair had yet to speak, and Rocky still refused to look his way. Oh, she wanted to. She wanted to know if his stare would affect her the same way it had outside. Hell, just him being in the same room was enough to make her skin crawl and not in a creepy way. She itched to reach out to him. Pull his head down so she could taste his lips and see if they were as soft as they looked. How could such a large man whose features were hard and chiseled have lips that appeared to be made from velvet?
“Rocky?” Banyan said softly. She had been looking at him but not looking at him. More like through him.
“I’ll need to call Bridget and see what’s convenient for her. I still haven’t spoken to the other employees, so I’ll want to do that first.”
“That’s understandable. If Bridget approves of me taking over, I would appreciate it if you would stay on for a while.”
Sinclair had remained silent until Banyan made that request. He didn’t protest verbally, but a low growl rumbled in his chest. Somehow, Rocky felt the vibration in her own body. She did look at him then, and his gaze was predatory. She swallowed hard, wanting to sink back in the chair. Rocky absolutely had no problem helping acquaint Banyan with the bar and her bookkeeping process, but she also had a feeling Sinclair didn’t want them together.
“Sin, Brother.” Banyan got Sinclair’s attention, and again, something silent passed between them. Sin pushed away from the wall and left the room.
“What was that about?” Rocky whispered.
Banyan’s eyes were bright with mirth, and his lip curled on one side. “It was me reminding Sinclair I am spoken for.”
“I bet your girlfriend’s beautiful.”
“She is a he, and he is the most exquisite of any creature on this earth.” Banyan’s bright smile turned sad. There was a story there, but Rocky wasn’t one to pry. Of course his boyfriend would be gorgeous. Banyan Sorensen was one of the most delicious men Rocky had ever seen, in real life or otherwise. As hot as he was, she wasn’t drawn to him the way she was Sinclair, and that was a problem.
“I understand Sinclair is brokering the deal, but I would like to ask that going forward, I only deal with you.” The less Rocky was around Sinclair, the less she would be tempted to do something stupid.
“I’m not sure…” Banyan was interrupted by a loud roar and a door slamming. Banyan briefly closed his eyes, seemingly trying to regain his composure. When he opened them, he continued, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Miss Cartwright. Sinclair is sort of my legal advisor, and as well-versed in business transactions as I am, I would prefer he be present with any and all dealings you and I might have.”
Rocky knew she was being railroaded, but she didn’t understand why. Why was it so important Sinclair be around? The sooner Banyan met with Bridget, the sooner Rocky could get the paperwork done and get on with her life. One that didn’t include Sinclair Stone.
“Fine. I’ll call Bridget and set up a meeting. Will you wait here?”
“Of course.” Banyan stood when Rocky did, his impeccable manners shining through.
Rocky left the office in search of Finley and Vivian. She needed to borrow a cell phone to call her manager. She found the two of them in a large den, side-by-side on a leather sofa playing a video game. Vivian obviously sucked at it, because every few seconds, Finley would set his controller down and point out the buttons Vivian needed to push. Jealousy eased its way through Rocky’s core. She had never sat next to a man doing something as mundane yet fun as playing video games. She’d never sat curled up next to the man she was dating watching a movie and eating popcorn. Other than the couple of times Blake had taken her to dinner, Rocky had never been on a proper date.
“Rocky?” Finley spoke softly, bringing her back to the present.
“I need to borrow your phone again.” After Banyan left, Rocky was going to go buy her own pho
ne.
“Sure thing, love.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it over. Rocky excused herself and headed to her bedroom.
After talking with Bridget, Rocky returned Finley’s phone to him and headed back toward the office. The windows in Finley’s house were floor to ceiling on the front and back of the house, affording a breathtaking view of green foliage, color flowers, and every now and then, various species of birds. The view currently taking Rocky’s breath was Sinclair. The man had stripped his shirt off and was hanging from a tree branch doing pull-ups. Rocky was mesmerized. How the hell had he reached the branch without a ladder? She stopped counting at a hundred and merely enjoyed the view. Like earlier on the patio, Sinclair’s eyes found hers. He stopped pulling himself up and hung there, staring.
“There you are…” Banyan said as he stepped up behind her. She was grateful to the man for interrupting, because she was only confusing the situation for Sinclair. She couldn’t stare longingly at him only to push him away. “I’ll be in the office,” Banyan added and walked away. Rocky turned to follow but not before Sinclair dropped to the ground.
Rocky gasped, afraid Sinclair was falling, but he landed on the balls of his feet as easily as a cat would. Instead of returning his gaze to her, he picked his shirt off the ground and tugged it over his head. Sinclair disappeared around the corner of the house, and Rocky remembered what she was supposed to be doing. When she entered the office, Banyan turned from the window he’d been looking out.
“Were you able to set up a meeting?”
“Yes. I’m going to the bar tomorrow afternoon to speak with the employees, but Bridget would rather meet with you tonight. Can you meet us there around six? The bar doesn’t start getting crowded until after eight, so you will have plenty of time to talk.”
“It will be my pleasure. Sinclair and I can drive you there, if you like.”
“That’s not necessary since I have my car back. Besides, I need to run some errands beforehand.”
Banyan cocked his head to the side as if listening to something Rocky couldn’t hear. His eyes met hers and he said, “Very well. I do appreciate you taking the time this afternoon to talk with me. Until this evening…” Banyan bowed his head and left the room. He had some strange behaviors and talked rather proper, but she liked him. She was sure Bridget would, too. Things were looking up, and in just a few days, Rocky might be on her way to a new life.
As she passed the den on her way to the bedroom, Sinclair’s voice called to her even though he wasn’t speaking to her. His voice was deep, yet soothing. She passed by the door but stopped and leaned against the wall so she could listen to the conversation. However, the voices ceased, and Rocky was afraid they’d noticed her when she walked past, so she pushed away from the wall and continued down the hallway. She didn’t want Sinclair to catch her again, and she was certain he would. It was like he had a homing device where she was concerned.
Rocky had promised Finley she would stay at his home for a few days, and she would be crazy not to keep her promise. His house was a mansion compared to the cracker box she lived in. Why not take advantage of the luxuries his house afforded? His fridge was stocked with actual breakfast items, not instant macaroni and cheese. The bathroom off her bedroom was heaven with a waterfall showerhead hanging in the middle of the large walk-in space. The view was spectacular with its manicured lawn boasting all sorts of trees and plants instead of overlooking a parking lot. The only thing missing was a swimming pool. Yeah, she would be more than happy to stay there, pretending she was on a semi-vacation while Finley and his friends investigated Blake.
She still didn’t understand their reasoning for them taking her into their fold even though they had all explained it to her, but the more she thought about it, the more she appreciated knowing someone was looking out for her. Other than Joel, it had been a long time since a man had her best interests at heart. She would take their generosity while it lasted, and then she would move on with her life and get reacquainted with the way things really were.
Rocky changed into her work clothes. She fully intended to work the bar that evening after Banyan met with Bridget. It might be one of the last times Rocky got to sling drinks. RC’s had been part of her life for so long, she would miss it when she was no longer part of it. She blinked back the tears that were forming and went into the bathroom to freshen up. Her hair was a hot mess. Having long wavy hair was a blessing most days, but some days it looked like rats had decided to take up residence there. She twisted it up into a messy bun and secured it on top of her head.
Next, she spread a little more foundation over her skin, mainly to hide the splotchiness. Before she met Blake, her skin had resembled porcelain, thanks to her mother’s genes. After she’d been hooked on drugs, her face lost its smooth complexion. Before Sin showed up, she had put on foundation and mascara. Now, she ran some gloss over her lips, telling herself it wasn’t in case she ran into Sin again. When she had danced at the club, Rocky had worn a lot of make-up to make her face glow in the spotlight. Now, she barely wore any, not wanting to look like the whore she’d been back then. She might not have sold her body to every man who came along, but she had sold herself to Blake for her next fix. In her eyes, it was the same thing.
Satisfied as much as she could be with the face staring back at her, Rocky left the bathroom, grabbed her purse, and went in search of Vivian. She found her friend on the same patio Sinclair had been staring at her from. Vivian was lounged on a recliner, a mixed drink in her hand. The weather wasn’t warm enough for sunbathing, but it was warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. “Hey Viv, I’m going to stop and get a new cell phone before I head out to the bar. You coming by tonight?”
Vivian set her drink down and shaded her eyes. “It seems Finley has decided a night out at RC’s is called for, so we both will be there. I know he’s using a date with me as an excuse to watch out for Blake, but either way, I get to hang out with him all night.” Vivian wiggled her eyebrows. Rocky had a feeling Viv was falling for the man. Rocky didn’t blame her, though. Finley was not only gorgeous, but a sweetheart as well. She hoped her best friend wasn’t getting in over her head.
“Okay, well I will see you later.” Rocky bent down and kissed Vivian on the cheek. When she got to her car, she was surprised to see Sinclair waiting for her.
“I know you don’t like me very much, but I do care about your safety. Please allow me to accompany you until you arrive safely at RC’s. At that point, I will fade into the background, and until the meeting with Bridget, you won’t know I’m around.”
Rocky seriously doubted his last statement. Her body was hyperaware of Sinclair. “Suit yourself,” she responded and climbed in her old car. When Sinclair lowered himself into a high-dollar sports car, Rocky could only stare. Vivian had said he drove a Lamborghini, but seeing him get behind the wheel of the shiny automobile was still a little shocking. She doubted he’d won it in a poker game from a mobster. Soon after she started seeing Blake, she found out how he “inherited” his Rolls Royce. She’d overheard a conversation he had with one of his bouncers, and it made her hesitant to believe anything else the man said. She should have listened to her gut. If she had, she never would have gotten strung out on drugs.
Rocky backed her car up until she was facing out and drove down the long driveway. Finley didn’t live in a highly populated area, but it was easy to navigate her way back to the main part of the city. Rocky kept her eyes on the rearview mirror as much as she did the road in front of her. Having Sinclair following her was nerve-wracking, but it was better than going out into the world alone where Blake could come at her again. Trying not to think about Sinclair and what he did to her, Rocky turned the radio up and let the music keep her mind occupied.
Alistair was planning to go to war with Rafael, and Kallisto had a feeling her father was in for a surprise. Now that the Stone Clan was finding their mates in humans, they had much more to live for than they had previously. They would stop at not
hing to protect their families and their homes.
Kallisto had pretended to lock herself in her office until her father left the compound. Only when he took off for Ithaca did she dare to come out and walk freely throughout the large villa. When she wasn’t eavesdropping on Alistair’s plans for war, she had been scouring the Internet for a replacement for Achilles, but finding an expert hacker was easier said than done. Most hackers didn’t put out online resumes for fear of being tagged by the government. What Kallisto did find was a contest of sorts calling for hackers to “break the code.” The first one to break through the security walls set up by the gaming company running the contest would be offered a substantial reward. Kallisto was doing her best to find out all she could about the contest. If she could get her hands on the winner, she would offer them double what the company was. The only trouble was Alistair had given her one week to find Achilles’ replacement.
As for her plan for helping Sergei, Kallisto chose two Gargoyles she knew she could trust. It was amazing how loyal they were to her when they knew how Alistair felt about humans. Kallisto had to be careful, though. She’d known Crane would go rogue, and she warned Sergei about the Goyle. He hadn’t listened, and now The Stone Society had Crane, and Sergei was in prison. She doubted she’d ever see either one of them again. If she could only get word to Drago, she’d have an ally in the States. Since Kallisto couldn’t risk returning to the States, she had no other choice but to call in a couple of Goyles to go in her place. She prayed they would do what they were supposed to and not let her down.
Julian was barely containing the beast. He had yet to find out where Katherine was being held, and he was ready to rip someone’s head off. If it wasn’t for Landon keeping things going, Rafael would have probably locked Julian in the Pen until he could get his shit together. Then again, Rafe had watched as his mate was taken from him. Kaya had been kidnapped by Vincent Alexander instead of the federal government. Julian almost wished he were going up against an insane Gargoyle. At least then he would be on more even ground.