desk. “I made friends with dangerous. We’re intimate now. We’re in bed together. The Beretta in my purse has real bullets. I paid for it with real money. In my club, we know the worth of a woman’s intellect. And fuck a fort, I want them to see who’s taking them down.”
Tobias grips me by the neck, his eyes roaming my face. “You want a pat on the back? You want my approval for making stupid moves?”
“It wasn’t a stupid move. It just wasn’t yours.” We’re so close now, anyone who came in would feel the whirring. Reaching back, I release his fingers one by one, and he allows it before I step away. “Rest assured, Mr. King, that was my last move for some time. I’ve been thinking a lot about my other dreams.”
He eyes the ring on my finger and turns before throwing open the door and marching over to his office. Confused, I watch him rip a box open before he flips his office light off. A second later, he comes back into my office and slams a bottle of Louis Latour onto my desk. “I guess congratulations are in order.”
I don’t bother to correct him. “Don’t suppose you have a corkscrew?”
He leans in, his tone lethal. “If you keep fucking with me, Cecelia, I’m going to make this hurt.”
I shrug. “Of course, you will.”
He turns and strides out of my office and out of sight. Sitting by my desk twisting the ring on my finger, I stare into his dark empty office. And the next day, it stays empty.
“Horner,” the jailor calls just as I finish out my fourth hour behind bars.
Ryan eyes me through a small window as I sign for my possessions and account for them in a plastic bag before I’m buzzed through another door. It’s only when we’re outside that his lecture begins.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, tugging my coat tightly around me.
“Don’t play stupid. You got arrested for going a hundred and three in a fifty and caught with nearly an ounce of weed. What do you call that?”
“A fantastic Thursday afternoon?”
“This isn’t funny!”
“Depends on who you’re asking.” I frown. “And that was some damn good weed. I guess I’ll have to go back to that deli.”
Ryan blinks at me like I just shot him.
“I was just feeling nostalgic.”
“Who in the hell are you?” He asks, eyeing me.
“Relax, you can get the charges dropped. They didn’t even fingerprint me. It was a power play. He wanted to send a message.”
“You mean—”
“Shhh,” I laugh, darting my eyes left and right. “Dare not say his name.”
“Cecelia, this isn’t funny. I looked into him. He owns half this town, including the hotel I’m staying at.”
“The police too. And I’m aware. And I asked you specifically not to do that.”
“So, you are aware Exodus Inc—”
“Very.”
“He’s a bigger player than Jerry was.”
“Operative word for Jerry being was,” I counter.
“I don’t trust him,” Ryan grabs my elbow and escorts me to the parking lot.
I sober. “Neither do I.”
“Then why are you poking this bear?”
“I told you, he owes me.”
“He had you thrown in jail. I don’t think you should plan on collecting.”
“I will. Don’t you see it’s working?”
“Yeah, I can see how you would think that,” he snaps sarcastically.
“Tobias is a different animal. But I need you to trust me.”
“This town is starting to freak me out.”
“Feeling eyes on you everywhere, huh?”
“It’s not funny.
“Oh, but it is. I’ve got him right where I want him.”
“Only if that’s annoyed.”
“Exactly.”
“I really hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do. Kind of.”
He sighs. “I can get the possession charge dropped, and the ticket reduced to something less criminal, but you aren’t getting your car back.”
I pause my walk. “What?”
“There was a van on the road, and so they accused you of street racing. They’re impounding your Audi for a minimum of thirty days. I may be able to wipe the charges, but small towns like this will suck you dry with penalties to make their quota.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine, that was fucking reckless. What are you doing?” He asks as he escorts me to his car. I go to take the keys, and he jerks his head. “Hell no. You’re lucky you got to keep your license.”
“Fine.” I sigh and get in when he opens the passenger door.
“This is not like you. What is happening here?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. Let’s just pay the fines, and I’ll figure a car out.”