Virtue & Vengeance

by Tabatha Vargo

  My eyes jumped to his, and I wrapped my hand around my neck, hoping he wouldn’t see the pounding of my pulse.

  “I told you I have no idea who that man was. Whoever said he was looking for me was obviously mistaken.”

  I wanted to believe that he took my word for it, but I could see it in his face; he knew I was lying.

  “Fine. You can stay with me tonight,” he said, turning away and heading for the front door. “Go get your things; I’ll wait.”

  “What?” I stood with my hands on my hips with my feet planted firmly on the kitchen floor.

  He turned. “You’ll stay with me tonight. At Empire.”

  My cheeks burned just thinking of what everyone would think if I walked into Empire Sevens with Zander. Especially if I went with him up to his top floor area.

  “I’m not staying with you in your top floor room or whatever it is, Zander.”

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s not just a room, Eden. It’s the penthouse. It’s my home.”

  “Regardless, I’m not sleeping with you.” I folded my arms over my chest.

  He moved toward me again. “I think I’ve already told you I don’t sleep with anyone, Eden, but I never said anything about us… fucking.”

  My entire body went up in flames for so many reasons. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said tightly.

  He shrugged, and his hands moved to his jacket. “Fine.”

  Then he tugged on his jacket, pulling it down his arms and off of his body.

  I frowned. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m going to stay here then.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  He ignored me. “Do you have anything to eat? I didn’t get to have dinner, and I’m starving.”

  “And you can eat, as soon as you go home.”

  He moved past me and into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge. “Do you ever eat here? There’s nothing in this fridge.”

  He shut it and then reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell.

  “Who are you calling?”

  He held up a finger toward me. “Yes, this is Mr. Hale. I want two orders of my usual. Yes. Also, I’m not at Empire. Please have Jared deliver it to Kennedy Vaughn’s condo.” Then he hung up and turned toward me. “Dinner will be here in fifteen minutes.”

  “Call them back right now and cancel, Zander. I’m not joking.”

  He moved around me, went back into the living room, kicked his shoes off, and then picked up the remote, turning on the TV.

  I wanted to be outraged, but more than anything, I felt an odd stirring in the pit of my stomach seeing Zander in such a relaxed state. Since the moment I met him, he’d been like a machine, always barking orders and intimidating everyone around him.

  Seeing him barefoot and switching through the channels as he waited for dinner, he was like an entirely different man.

  It was a side to him I’d never seen.

  “Do you even know how to work a remote?”

  His back was to me, but I could hear his frown in his words. “Of course, I do.”

  I hid my smile as I walked toward him, taking the remote from his hands and sitting on the couch.

  “You can eat your dinner, watch a movie, and then you’re going home.”

  He sat next to me on the couch, his arm going behind me to rest on the back of it. His thigh rubbed against mine, the smooth material of his pants caressed my bare thigh “Whatever you say, angel.”

  I scooted away from him. “You stay on your side of the couch, and I’ll stay on mine.”

  He chuckled but didn’t move to get closer to me.

  I attempted to watch the movie I put on, but all I could think about was the large man sitting next to me. I thought about how much I wanted to climb onto his lap and how he wouldn’t stop me if I did.

  I felt nervous, my stomach twisted, and my leg bounced up and down as I sat stiffly in my spot. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the grin Zander tried to hide as his fingers moved back and forth over his top lip. I wanted to reach out and punch him, but then the doorbell rang, and I almost screamed.

  Zander leaned forward. “It’s just the food, angel. Calm down.”

  He got up and moved toward the door, pulling it open and greeting Jared. I hated that he had food delivered here by someone I knew and worked with.

  Jared would most likely be going back to Empire to tell everyone that Zander Hale had answered the door barefooted while being alone with the new girl.

  Once he returned to the couch, he handed over a container of food.

  I took it and sat it on the coffee table in front of the couch.

  “You should’ve let me get the door,” I snapped. “Or better yet, you shouldn’t have ordered food from your Casino and had it delivered to my aunt’s condo.”

  “Who cares?”

  “I care, Zander. You forget I work there and people talk. I don’t need people whispering about me sleeping with my boss.”

  “I’ll make sure no one says a damn thing. Now eat.”

  “No, Zander. See, that’s what I’m talking about. I don’t need you threatening or saying anything to anyone.”

  “I don’t know what you want from me, Eden.”

  I wanted him to stop being so damn sexy. But there was no way I could tell him that. His ego was massive enough already.

  “I just want you to eat your food and leave.”

  I stood from the couch and prepared to take my food to the kitchen counter, but he stopped me by getting in my space. He was so close to me that I had to look up to keep eye contact.

  “Is that really what you want, angel? You want me to leave?”

  I bit my lip and cursed myself for not saying yes, but the truth was I didn’t want him to leave.

  I felt safer with him there.

  “You sleep on the couch,” I said, trying to sound still as angry as possible.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He grinned.

  Then his fingers were under my chin. Before I could say anything, he leaned down and kissed me softly. When he pulled away, he turned, and I wanted to cling to his arm and beg him to take me right there at that moment, but I didn’t.

  If Zander wanted me again, I was going to make him work for it. Even if that meant torturing myself in the process.

  9

  ZANDER

  SHE WAS LYING TO ME.

  I didn’t like that.

  I watched her from afar as she moved through the tables. Her shoulders were stiff, and she was always looking around as if she were waiting for something to happen at any second.

  Something had her on edge all the time. Fear laced her expression. And I had a strong feeling that it had everything to do with the stranger from my lobby.

  Was he a danger to her?

  The fact was, I would kill him if he even considered touching her.

  In addition to her blatant lies, my feelings got twisted every time I was around her.

  Sure, I wanted to protect her, but I also wanted to hold her.

  Feel her.

  Consume her.

  All while raging against her at the same time.

  The fact was, she was making me fucking crazy, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take before I snapped at someone or something.

  I drove across town, and when I stopped at the red light, I plunged my fingers into my thick hair and tugged a little to remind myself I was in control.

  I was always in control.

  At least that was how it used to be before Eden stepped into Empire Sevens and knocked me off my throne.

  By the time I made it across town and into Dr. Dempson’s office I was fuming with anger at myself.

  As soon as she opened the door, I stepped inside and went straight to the large window on the far side of her office to look out at the people passing.

  “Zander, please come in,” she said with humor in her voice as she shut the door behind me.

  “I can’t deal with this shit,” I said to the w
indow in front of me.

  “Why don’t you have a seat and we’ll talk through it.”

  I listened, unbuttoning my jacket as I moved across the room and took a seat.

  “I’ve seen you more in the last month than I have since we started sessions. This woman is getting to you, isn’t she?”

  “That’s an understatement,” I said, raking my fingers through my already mussed hair. “I find myself in the most bizarre situations, and she’s lying to me. I hate a fucking liar.”

  I knew what I was saying wasn’t making any sense to Dr. Dempson, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was saying it out loud to someone who wouldn’t judge me.

  “And her fucking innocent ways are driving up the wall. Then there’s the strange man in the lobby, and now I feel like she’s in danger. I’ll kill someone if they touch her.”

  I couldn’t sit.

  I stood and made my way to the window again, feeling like a caged tiger.

  “And what makes you think she’s in danger?”

  I explained the situation, filling her in on the dirty fuck in the lobby and the way Eden had been acting lately. I even admitted to having her followed just in case.

  “Does she know she’s being followed?”

  “No.”

  “Then maybe that’s why she’s acting strangely and seems afraid. Maybe she knows she’s being followed and doesn’t know you have something to do with it.”

  I shook my head. “No. My guys are discreet.”

  “That might be so, but everyone can sense when eyes are on them. If she’s already in some sort of danger, your guys watching her constantly could intensify that feeling.”

  Shit.

  She was right.

  But that didn’t mean I was calling the men off.

  “Well, she better get used to it because as long as I feel like she’s unsafe, they’re watching over her when I can’t.”

  “I have a question for you, Zander. It’s a serious one.”

  I turned, my eyes landing on her and giving her my full attention.

  “Are you in love with this woman?”

  I paused, feeling as though she had taken an ice pick to my heart.

  Surely I’d misheard her.

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s a perfectly logical question considering your actions lately. It’s a simple yes or no answer. Are you in love with her?”

  I snorted, feeling anxious and itchy by her questions.

  “Absolutely not. I don’t do love. Never have and never will. I care about Kennedy, and she’s Kennedy’s niece. That’s the only reason I give a shit. Once Kennedy’s back in town I’m done.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  Was I sure?

  Yes.

  I was definitely sure.

  “I’m fucking positive.”

  Love?

  I fucking think not.

  AFTER HAULING ASS out of Dr. Dempsey’s office, I found myself at Kennedy’s door yet again. I was mad as fuck at myself for going there, but she had a pull that I could no longer deny.

  It was the addict in me.

  He couldn’t get enough.

  She rolled her eyes when she opened the door and then walked away leaving the door open for me to enter.

  “Happy to see me?” I asked as I closed the door behind me, knowing she was fed up with my showing up unannounced.

  “Nope,” she said as she took a seat on the couch and began thumbing through a magazine as if I weren’t there.

  I almost believed her.

  If it weren’t for the tiny tug at the corner of her mouth hinting at a smile, I would have.

  “When are you going to learn that lying to me is a waste of your time?”

  “About the time that you learn coming here and checking up on me every day is a waste of yours.”

  “Touché.”

  Setting the magazine to the side, she ran her fingers through her hair and pushed it out of her face with a sigh. “What do you want from me, Zander?”

  I could name so many things, but at that moment, nothing but her body came to mind.

  I wanted to be near her.

  I wanted to be inside of her.

  I wanted it all.

  Then an idea came to me.

  I had to attend a charity event the following Saturday, and I would be there most of the night. That meant I couldn’t check on Eden at all that night.

  Sure, my guys were watching her, but it wasn’t the same.

  And sure she was supposed to work that night, but I was the boss which meant I could make sure she had the night off.

  “Do you own a nice dress?” I asked.

  She frowned. “Define nice.”

  “Expensive nice.”

  “I don’t wear dresses often and when I do it’s usually summer dresses. Does that answer your question?”

  I smirked.

  I loved that smart mouth of hers. “There’s a charity ball this weekend. I want you to go with me.”

  Her mouth popped open in shock. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Yeah, but is that supposed to be your way of asking me on a date?”

  I chuckled. “Hell no. I don’t date.”

  “Then what was it?”

  “That was me telling you I won’t be around to keep an eye on you, so I’m taking you with me to the event.”

  It was a lie.

  Sure, I wanted her safe, but I wanted her at my side just as much.

  She shook her head. “No. I’ll be fine. I’ll be at work so stop worrying about me.”

  “As long as you continue to lie to me, I’ll continue to worry.” I tossed my billfold on the counter and started toward the door. “Buy yourself a ball gown. You’re going.”

  I heard the slap of her small feet on the marble flooring as she flew across the room toward me. When I turned toward her, she shoved my billfold into my chest.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “You are.”

  “I have to work.”

  “And I’m your boss, and I say you don’t have to work.”

  “Oh my God you’re so annoying! What will people think?”

  “They’ll think I’m the fucking boss and I have the final say.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. Take your money.”

  I’d enough with the bullshit. Although I had to admit that her strong will and her refusal of me was a turn on, I wasn’t willing to back down on this one.

  I wanted her there.

  Therefore, she would be going.

  “Either you’re ready when I come to pick you up on Saturday, or you can expect an impromptu visit from Officer Johnson with a nice pair of shiny handcuffs. It’s either the charity event with me or a night locked behind bars safely. Got it?”

  Then I turned and left her with her mouth hanging open in shock.

  I was a fucking asshole, but I was an asshole who was going to get what he wanted.

  10

  EDEN

  I WASN’T GOING to any charity event with Zander Hale.

  It wasn’t going to happen.

  I would spend the night locked behind bars for no reason before I caved and went anywhere with him.

  Actually no.

  Even worse.

  Over my dead body would I be attending anything with him.

  The last thing I needed was for my coworkers to find out Zander and I were whatever we were. Already I was getting a bit of special treatment and had overheard a few girls complaining. If they found out I went to a charity event with Zander instead of working my shift, I was sure there would be hell to pay.

  So, no.

  I definitely wasn’t going with him.

  I repeated those words to myself for twenty-four hours straight. Then I repeated them again a day later when I found myself in a store purchasing a gown with the money he had left behind for me.

  It was silvery blue and hugged my body like a glove. The slit down the thig
h was a bit revealing, but only if I lifted my leg, which I didn’t plan on doing at all. Crystals were lining the sweetheart neckline, and a bit more lined the waist.

  It was gorgeous.

  The lady behind the front counter rang it up, and when she told me the total, I almost fainted as I handed over the cash. It was enough to buy myself a used car.

  If I’d been smart, I would have hit a reasonable boutique instead of the expensive store Zander had suggested. I could have pocketed most of the dress money and bought myself a cheap ride. I would be far out of town before he even realized.

  But I hadn’t done that, and deep inside I knew it was because Zander was holding my heart hostage in Las Vegas.

  After dropping my purchase off at home, I went to work and finished my shift. Afterward, I grabbed a quick bite to eat at Sinful Sevens, the restaurant inside Empire Sevens, then I went home and got a shower.

  The plan was to relax for the rest of the night, but once I heard the tap at the door, I knew there would be no relaxing. Zander coming over was becoming a new constant, and as much as I complained to him about it, I was starting to enjoy it. At least I was when he didn’t instigate an argument with me.

  I waited for him to unlock the door and come inside, but when he didn’t and instead knocked again, I went to the door and pulled it open without checking to see who it was. I knew it was him. It was always him.

  Opening the door without checking wasn’t the smartest move, but the fact was I was starting to think I saw things when I thought I saw Allen. It had been a while and nothing.

  Allen was never a patient man. If he were in Vegas, I would have known it already. I wasn’t sure who was at Empire Sevens asking for me, but I was sure it wasn’t Allen.

  Zander stood in the doorway looking back at me. His hair was disheveled as if he had, had a rough night and his jacket was tossed over his shoulder. He looked incredibly sexy, and he knew it. It was written in the cocky expression lining his handsome face.

  “Oh look. It’s Zander again. Lucky me,” I said sarcastically before turning away from the door and leaving it open for him.

  “You’re welcome, angel.”

  He came inside and closed the door behind him. Tossing his jacket onto the countertop in the kitchen, he followed me into the living room and dropped onto the couch beside me.