and I hated it.
I also didn’t need his permission.
“There’s something else I could use your help with.” Michael’s gaze flicked at me, his eyes burning. “Liana keeps ditching her bodyguards to go out alone.”
A thrill of heat seared my spine.
“She’s pulling an Anthony.” Michael rubbed his forehead. “This girl. I swear to God. I hope my daughter’s not this much trouble when she gets older.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Talk to her. Make her see sense.”
All I wanted was an excuse to be near her again.
Michael clawed the arm of his chair. He looked on the verge of giving me a warning. He hated asking me for help.
I smiled. “Leave it to me.”
“Cool,” he said, suddenly stony. “And Vinn?”
“Yeah?”
“Hands off my goddamned sister.”
I wiped the smile off my face.
Too late, buddy.
Five
Liana
It was a trick of the light.
Vinn couldn’t be standing in the middle of a rowdy college bar. He hated crowds. And people. He was allergic to fun, too. Pink and blue lights flashed across a wide jaw and full mouth that pulled into a kingly frown. Vinn scanned the crowd with a laser-like focus until his gaze stopped on me.
Gotcha.
I glared at him, convinced the Vinn-lookalike would vanish into smoke. He didn’t hang out in places other than Italian cafés and the bars and restaurants he owned. Of course, he’d also never dragged me into dark rooms, bared my ass, and spanked me.
The whole incident made me burn with an unwelcome blush. Was he trying to punish me? Did he want me turned on and flustered? What was his angle?
Vinn’s over-the-top behavior had to be a fluke. He’d been angry. The power had gone to his head. He got carried away. We both did.
It meant nothing.
I pushed it from my mind, but that was hard, considering I woke to bruises on my ass. In the days that followed, they burned with the acute sensation of Vinn’s handprint.
I’d ignored Michael’s probing texts. As much as I’d have loved to see Vinn get his due justice, Michael would go overboard and kill him. I hated Vinn, but I didn’t want him dead.
Vinn’s blank stare hardened as it fell on the man beside me. His menace seemed to pour into James, a boat-shoe-wearing moron who’d gained admission into Bourton with a resumé of bullshit jobs like Wellness Advocate.
“What’s with that dude?” James grumbled, sipping his beer. “He’s, like, staring at me.”
“Who knows what’s wrong with him.”
“Come at me, you little bitch,” James muttered at Vinn, who made his way toward us. “You want some?”
“I’d love to watch you fight him.”
James grinned, not catching on.
Watching James and Vinn club each other to death would be nice, but I knew better. The former Marine wouldn’t break a sweat subduing James. The fight would end swiftly, or Vinn would drag it out to be cruel. Vinn’s merciless expression suggested he was down for torture.
I needed to head this off.
“Holy shit. Is that—is that your Vinny?” Queenie’s face broke into an ecstatic grin as he stomped in our direction. “You weren’t kidding. He’s a freaking babe.”
“Keep that to yourself,” I whispered. “His head’s so swollen it might explode.”
“Which one?” she slurred. ”He has a big dick, right? I’m right. I can’t even see you through his blinding Big Dick Energy.”
That reminded me of the thigh I’d grabbed, which actually was his long, impossibly thick cock. I’d traced the mushroom shape before making the connection.
My toes curled. I said nothing, but Queenie seemed to guess the truth from my flushed cheeks.
She knocked her glass against mine. “Awesome.” Then she slugged my arm. “I’m so mad at you. You’re seeing him, and you didn’t tell me? Bitch.”
“We’re not dating.”
“Bullshit! He’s here for you.” Queenie launched from the couch and headed off Vinn before I caught her. “Hi, Vincent!”
“Vinn,” he barked. “Never Vincent.”
She took his hands, forgetting everything I’d told her about his personality. “This is like meeting a celebrity. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Vinn yanked from her grip, scowling. “Who the hell are you?”
“Queenie! Liana’s ride-or-die girl.” Queenie whirled, glaring at me. “You haven’t mentioned me?”
“We’re not dating! Jesus H.”
Vinn beckoned me with a finger. “We need to talk.”
“What part of I never want to see you again do you not understand?”
“I’m not done with you.”
Queenie’s drunk ass still hadn’t put it together that we weren’t a couple. She beamed at me. “He’s feisty.”
I pointed at the exit, ignoring her. “Door’s there.”
“I know where the fucking door is,” he barked, my sarcasm flying over his head. “I