He looked around, shaking his head. “I hope you’re not paying too much to live here.”
“That’s none of your business,” I quipped. Quite suddenly, I got an overwhelming feeling that I was making a mistake.
Why am I bringing him upstairs? I thought.
The elevator door slid open. He stepped in before me. Right then and there, I considered asking him to leave.
“Come on,” he said. “What floor?”
“The eleventh,” I said hesitantly, a bad feeling in my gut.
“Ooh, nice views. You got a balcony?”
“No, not really. There’s some railing and about half-an-inch of space that they advertise as a balcony, but it’s not functional.”
“Damn, that’s messed up. We’re gonna have to get you out of here, aren’t we?”
I smiled nervously as the elevator door closed and we ascended.
I vowed to just ask him a few questions and then send him on his way. Easy as cake.
But cake really wasn’t that easy at all, as far as I was concerned. The last two I’d made had come out flat and tasteless.
“You okay?” he asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“Yeah,” I said, nodding my head a little too vigorously.
“Thanks again for this story. It’ll give the business some legitimacy, you know?”
Legitimacy? That’s an odd thing to want for a new business…
The elevator dinged right before the door slid open. He stepped out in front of me once again. Staring at him, all I could think about was how I should have been with Warren instead right now.
“Where you at?” he asked. “I never made it up to your apartment when we were dating.”
“This way. And we went on one date,” I reminded him as I walked toward my door.
“That’s still dating in my book.”
When we reached my apartment, I unlocked the door and slipped inside before him. He followed closely behind, looking around and whistling.
“Not as shabby as I thought.”
“Glad you approve,” I said sarcastically.
“Not really, but it’s okay for you, I guess.”
I shook my head and walked across the living room. At the couch, I sat down and opened the lid of my laptop. He wandered over and sat beside me, a little too close for comfort.
When I moved over, he did the same. I turned, ready to yell at him. But before I had the chance, he leaned over and kissed me on the lips, roughly sticking his tongue in my mouth.
“Stop!” I said, pulling back, disgusted.
“Really?”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I thought you and Kim were down to share me? That’s why you introduced me to her, right? I fuck her, then you. Then we three get together.”
“What? No!” I stood up and pointed to the door. “You need to go.”
“You know what? I don’t need this shit from you.” He got to his feet, towering over me. “You’re fucking nuts.”
“Get the fuck out of my apartment before I call the cops!”
“Whoa, hold on.” He raised his arms in the air. “Calm down. No need to get them involved.”
I glared at him, shaking because I knew how easy it would be for him to overpower me.
“Fuck you, bitch,” he said over his shoulder as he headed to the door.
Still shaking, I stared after him, positively revolted.
What the hell was wrong with me for thinking a guy like Melvin was even worth any of my time?
And even worse, knowing what a creep he could be, why had I tried to push him off on my best friend?
I felt like scum. I needed to call Kim because under no circumstances could she go out with him again. She needed to know the truth about him, and I didn’t care how great their first date had allegedly been. I felt bile in the back of my throat, knowing that any other time, Kim would have called me by now.
I hoped she was okay…
“You can forget your story,” I spat, just as he was about to leave out the door.
He stopped and turned around. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He shook his head. “Warren was right about you.”
I blinked. “What did Warren say about me?” I asked, instantly regretting letting the words come out of my mouth.
Melvin smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” He then turned and walked out of my apartment, slamming the door behind him.
I grabbed my phone and called Kim. She answered on the third ring.
“What the hell?” I screamed.
“Rose? What’s going on?”
“Melvin just made a move on me, that’s what’s going on!”
“Melvin? Are you at his apartment?”
“No, he came to mine, asking me to do a story on him.”
“You don’t do those kinds of stories anymore.”
“I know.”
“So why did you invite him over?”
“I didn’t invite him!” I said, fuming. “He just showed up, talking about how he fucked you and wanted to fuck us both at the same time.” Silence filled the air between us. “Kim? You still there?”
“I’m here,” she said quietly.
My heart dropped to my stomach. I knew that tone. “Tell me…” I said, my voice suddenly strained.
“I was drunk last night and I didn’t think he would remember…”
“Remember what?”
“It’s funny, really. You’ll laugh about it someday.”
“I’m not laughing right now,” I said. “Tell me.”
“I might have suggested we try a threesome sometime…”
“Kim…”
“I was drunk. I swear I didn’t think he would remember.”
My anger mounted for a moment. I’d been completely prepared to hear the worst. Out of everything Kim could have told me, that hadn’t been what I was expecting.
But then I remembered it was all my fault for pairing her with him in the first place. I sighed, and my anger began to subside.
“Rose?” she said on the other end.
“I’m here,” I said. “We should get him back.”
“What do you mean?”
“For thinking we would do something like that with him.”
“I meant get him back how?”
“Oh. I’m not sure. Maybe make him think I’m going to do a story on him, and then write up something awful and tell him it’s posted online when really we just have it on a private website where no one but him can see it…”
“I have no idea what the hell you just said, but I’m in.”
A smile spread across my face. “Great. Let’s go get a drink and come up with a strategy.”
“You’re not busy? I thought you would be with Warren tonight.”
I sighed again. “Yeah, me too. He hasn’t called me though.”
“Well, you should call him.”
“No. I don’t want to mess this one up by pushing too hard.”
“If you say so. Anyway, I’m on my way over.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
I ended the call and sat back on the couch, wondering why Warren hadn’t called me or even texted. None of it made any sense, but a prank on Melvin would help keep me occupied.
CHAPTER 26
Rose
By the next morning, Warren still hadn’t called me, and there was no way I would break down and call him first. I didn’t even remember why we had gotten into an argument, but that didn’t matter anymore. Besides, he’d been the one to come over with the vendetta, so he would have to call me first, or we would never talk again. End of story.
My mind resolute on how to handle Warren, I went back to thinking about the prank I wanted to do on Melvin. Kim and I had our plan all worked out. Last night after she came over, I called Melvin and pretended to apologize for my rash behavior. I continued with a small phone interview and promised to meet him to finish up in person. Kim would follow behind me as I finished interviewing him. Then, I would
finalize the piece and turn the screen for him to give it a read.
And then, right on cue, he would lose it.
During all of this, Kim would film his reaction. Near the end, she would pop out and surprise him from behind. Then we would both laugh our asses off.
We planned to use the recording against him—he would have to either leave us alone, or we would share it with the world. It would be his call, really. And at the end of the day, we’d have some fun teaching him a valuable lesson—don’t fuck with women.
I arrived at the address he had given me. The neighborhood was so nice that I wondered how the hell was he going to afford an office in this part of the city.
Did he have secret money or something?
Out of breath, Kim walked up and put her hand on my shoulder.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I had to run the last few blocks because I left late,” she panted.
“Well, I’m going inside so I won’t be late. You can follow me in a few minutes after you catch your breath. Remember, stay back until the end. I’ll give you the sign.”
“Yeah, yeah. You call him a small-penis-mother-fucker and I jump out, hoping he shits himself. Then I’ll show him the video.”
“This is the best plan ever,” I said, giggling.
“I feel like we’re in college again.”
“Right?” I smiled. “I’ll see you in a few.”
As she waited outside, still breathing heavily, I went into the ten-story building. The top floor was supposedly where he was opening his security company.
None of his story made sense to me though. That was one of the reasons I didn’t feel too bad about pranking him. He needed to be taught a lesson.
When I reached the top floor, I stepped out of the elevator and glanced to the left and then to the right, looking for him.
He was straight ahead, standing near the floor to ceiling windows at the other end of a big, open area.
I took a deep breath and walked over, plastering a smile onto my face.
Kim is coming soon, I reminded myself, so just keep cool.
But another voice in my head asked the ominous question: What if he gets angry and hits me?
I swallowed nervously, realizing too late that this was all potentially a very bad idea.
What the hell is your problem, Rose? When will you learn to stop being such a short-sighted idiot? I chastised myself.
My short-sightedness was a fatal flaw that would surely be the death of me one day.
He spun around and smiled, stretching out his arms as if he wanted a hug. I stopped a good twenty-feet away from him, careful to keep the smile on my face.
“Damn, you look good,” he said. The little black dress I was wearing had always been a favorite with men.
“You’re looking pretty fit yourself,” I said.
“Look, about yesterday…” he prefaced.
“Don’t worry about it,” I interrupted, waving my hand dismissively. “Water under the bridge. You ready to do this?” I walked over to the only desk and set up my laptop.
“Yeah,” he said. “Sorry I don’t have it furnished yet, but I thought it would help you finish the story.”
“Okay,” I said, pulling up the already prepped Word file. “Just a few final questions.”
“Hold on. Can I say something first?”
I glanced over at the elevators and then back at him. “Sure. Yeah. Go ahead.”
“Why are you doing this story? Is this some type of trick? You seemed pretty certain you would have nothing to do with me after yesterday.”
Damn, is he smarter than I thought? I worried.
“Trick? No, not at all. A story on a former Savage Soldier doing good in the big city will get my journalism career back in gear. Colorado is my hometown too, you know that. I want to do this story. Trust me.”
“All right. I’ll trust you,” he said, although he stared at me warily.
“Okay,” I said, my fingers positioned on the keyboard. “I still need the name of your business.”
“We haven’t decided yet, right Melvin?” Warren asked from behind me.
What the hell?
I spun around and saw him staring at me with his massive arms crossed over his chest. “Warren? What are you doing here?”
“I’d like to ask you the same question.”
“Now, now,” Melvin said.
Warren and I both turned to him. “Shut up!” we said at the same time before looking back at each other.
“Why don’t you tell him the truth, Rose?” Melvin said. “We’re here to fuck.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, whipping my head around toward him.
“You know, baby. My cock.” He grabbed his nuts and lifted them.
Warren rushed forward, ready to punch him, but I stepped in between the two of them.
“Hold on,” I said.
“She wanted to put her hands all over me, bro, but I said no.”
“What the hell are you smoking, Melvin?” I said angrily. I turned to Warren. “You don’t believe this asshole, do you?”
“Who served with you in the Stan, man?” Melvin puffed up his chest. “Me.”
Warren turned his attention from Melvin, back to me.
I pleaded to him with my eyes, silently begging him to believe me.
“I’m leaving,” he said, taking a step back.
“Wait.” Melvin stepped forward. “Fuck her. Let’s do this business deal. Once you’re in, you can’t get out. Remember?”
“I’m leaving,” Warren said, spinning around and walking toward the elevator.
At that precise moment, Kim popped out, pointing at Melvin. “She show you the article, mother fucker?”
Warren walked around her and into the elevator. I rushed behind him, but the door closed just as I arrived.
“What’s wrong?” Kim asked, as clueless as ever.
“Ugh,” I sighed, stomping my foot as if that would help.
“You two crazy bitches need to get out of here,” Melvin said, walking toward us.
“Come on.” I grabbed Kim’s hand and hurried for the stairwell.
“You bitches!” Melvin yelled after us.
We went down two flights before getting out and hopping on another elevator.
“What the hell was that all about?” Kim asked. “What happened?”
“Warren showed up!”
“The other guy from Afghanistan?”
“Yeah,” I said, staring straight ahead.
“Oh, shit.”
“Exactly.”
“Why did he—?”
“I don’t know. And it doesn’t matter. We don’t need either of them.”
“But Warren didn’t seem so bad.”
I took a deep breath. “Yeah, but we keep getting caught up in these stupid games. I’m not sure he actually cares about me.”
“Well, he doesn’t know you as well as I do.” Kim put her arm around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder for a moment. “You’re worth the chase.”
“Let’s just forget about them both for a while,” I said. “Go back to my apartment and enjoy the rest of the weekend before we have to go back to work.”
Kim released me from the hug. “Now that sounds like a good fool-proof plan.”
CHAPTER 27
Warren
I left the office building with my mind racing. When I got to the corner and turned, I noticed the man who had followed me earlier. He wasn’t wearing the beard this time, but I knew it was him.
What the fuck does he want? I wondered as I increased my pace, ready to evade him again. I figured that if I slipped into a bar for a few drinks, he would never find me.
I sped up even more, my heart still pounding. At the next alley, I turned sharply and took off running. When I reached the end, an unmarked four-door sedan pulled out and slammed on the brakes, almost hitting me.
Two men jumped out.
I craned my neck to peer behind me. Th
e man who had been following was at the opposite end of the alley, heading toward me.
Fuck.
I looked back at the other two who had guns drawn. “What the fuck do you guys want?” I shouted. “Didn’t Melvin tell you I was out for good?”
The two men looked at each other briefly then back to me.
“Talk to me, mother fuckers,” I said.
“You better watch your mouth,” the man walking up behind me said.
I turned to face him, ready to bolt the first chance I got.
“Take it easy. We just want to ask some questions,” he said.
“About what?” I asked, flexing my muscles.
“Afghanistan.” He turned to the other two men. “You two, back in the car,” he commanded.
They obeyed immediately without saying a word.
“What about Afghanistan?” I said. “That was a long time ago.”
“Relax. We don’t have enough proof to take you down in a court of law, at least not here in the States. But we know you were involved with the smuggling. Do you realize how much help you gave the Chinese?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that all before. Believe me. We’re after Melvin. He’s working with someone posing as a journalist.”
“A woman?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“She’s not involved.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do, okay?”
“Are you connected to her?”
“I said she’s not involved. Keep her out of this.”
“Relax, big guy. I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
We locked eyes, neither of us backing down or looking away.
“We want you to help us take down Melvin. Your name will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Hell, we might even throw in an extra incentive for your cooperation.”
I stared at him for a moment longer. “I’ll consider it.”
“You better do it fast. We don’t have a lot of time.”
“Can I go now?”
He stepped aside and waved with his arms. I walked by him and back to the main street. After walking around for half-an-hour to make sure they weren’t following me, I headed back to Rose’s apartment.
We needed to talk.
Lawless Hero: A Bad Boy Military Romance (Savage Soldiers Book 4) Page 10