Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,394

so he knows me. And with the list I gave him, I’m hoping the process is quicker.

I pull up at his office to find him standing on the curb. Parking the car, I get out and embrace him.

He smiles, his eyes crinkling. “Are you ready to go look at your dream home?”

“You’re that confident?”

“Come on, I’m not known in these parts as LA’s finest real estate broker for nothing. Plus, I have the added benefit of knowing you.”

He guides me to his treasured Rolls-Royce. Climbing in, I secure my seat belt, my smile so bright I can’t contain it. Ever since I decided to live life on my terms, I feel almost lighter for the first time in I don’t know how long.

13

Jett Reed

It’s 4:00 a.m., no sane person should be up at this time of the day. But I am. After a night of tossing, turning, and cursing, I had to get up. Running helps clear my mind—on a normal day.

But seeing Sofia again yesterday, feeling her body flush against mine on the back of my bike, was tough. Knowing she belongs to another man, even harder. She avoided talking about why she abruptly left my place, which was weird. I wanted to take her to the diner again, but I didn’t want to torture myself any longer than I had to. After riding around, I dropped her off at the gates to her estate. She lifted to her toes and said she’ll miss me, her eyes glossy as she turned around and walked out of my life.

Shit.

I pound the footpath harder, needing to get her out of my head.

She’s so far out of my league, even if she was single. Driving her luxury car last night to her exclusive gated estate drilled that in. Our paths should have never crossed. Like in the movie Titanic, she would have been Rose and I would have been Jack.

Most men will never have the chance to drive in that kind of luxury. Hell, I never thought I would either. I drove like a grandma, though, not wanting anything to happen to her precious Bentley. Plus, her scent was all over the car and it was driving me crazy. Ryder gave me shit about my driving all the way back home.

Running faster to chase Sofia out of my system, I do a double loop of my normal running track.

I’m in the shop by five-thirty, and fuck if Declan’s words don’t bite me in the ass. A coffee machine for down here is now at the top of the list to buy. That’s if I get through this morning on one measly cup.

Turning the radio on, I set myself up and get to work; it’s going to be a long ass day.

Around seven, I hear voices outside. Someone must be early dropping off a bike or car. Normally, we don’t open the shop and take possession of the cars until eight, when we officially open, but since I’m here, I may as well let them in.

I walk through the door near reception and am greeted by four people snapping pictures.

“Declan.”

“Declan, care to comment?”

“Declan, did you frame Sofia? Are you blackmailing the Winters family?”

“What the fuck is going on here?” I say over their voices.

“Is it true, Mr. Reed, that you are leaking a sex tape of you and Sofia?”

“Is it true she’s joining your motorcycle club and abandoning her inheritance and hotel empire for you?”

I take in what they are saying. What are they are asking? Why are they calling me Declan? And a sex tape? I have all these questions and more running through my head.

“Look”—I put my hands up to shut them up—“you’re trespassing on private property, and I want you out of here right now.” They all start talking at once, but I turn around, my hand on the door handle. “You fuckers have five minutes and then I’m calling the cops to get rid of you.” Not looking back, I lock the door and storm into my office, switching on the computer and wishing like hell I had a coffee machine, needing another hit of caffeine.

This has to do with yesterday's stunt. But what they’re saying about a sex tape is crazy.

When my computer starts, I Google Sofia and am hit with photos of her in Declan’s arms from yesterday, plus all these links to a secret sex tape with the President of the Black Hawks MC, Declan Reed.

Oh. My. Lord.

As if my day wasn’t bad enough, and it’s