My Cruel Lover (Wicked Poison #3) - T.L. Smith Page 0,44

clean, and not a trace of her remains anywhere.

My head hits the counter as I lay my hands on it, wondering why I am feeling like this.

While I am leaning over and thinking, the front door opens, and in walks Rylee. She eyes me as she walks straight over. “What is going on with you two?”

She couldn’t have known about last night.

“Shandy?” I ask.

She rolls her eyes almost to the back of her head. “Of course. She is my best friend. Now, tell me, do I have to watch for anything? Is this a smart move?” she questions. “She works for you, and more than that, she also has a son.”

“She was out at dinner last night with Noah and Anderson’s father.”

“Anderson wants to see Oliver, and she doesn’t want him to. Anderson’s father hired Noah to get something more permanent in place, as what they have isn’t working.”

That makes sense.

“She has a kid, Beckham,” Rylee says again. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

“No. But I don’t need you to tell me either. If that’s the only reason you’re here, then you need to leave.”

“You sound like August. He told me to stay out of it, but I care for both of you. And, well, after Paige …” I grind my teeth at her words, “… you haven’t wanted anyone since her. It’s been six years, Beckham.”

“I’ve been with multiple women,” I bite back, stepping away to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of juice. “Do you want their numbers?”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. You haven’t had any kind of relationship with any of them. They are nothing more than fuck buddies.”

“That’s by choice, or should I say … my damn choice,” I tell her.

“No, it’s not. It’s because you can’t handle anything more. And that’s fine, it is your damn choice … but remember one thing, if you keep going with Jacinta, you will need to be careful. Feelings might develop, things might change.”

“Don’t you have a kid to raise?” I bark.

“Yeah, yeah.” She waves her hand at me. “If Shandy asks to go with you to one of Archie’s parties, tell her no. I’ve heard about them, and she for sure does not need to go to that.”

“Maybe I should take August.” I smirk.

She stands taller and points her finger right in my face. “You will do no such thing, brother.” She turns and walks to the door, then looks over her shoulder directly at me. “I’m blocking your number today. Call tomorrow.” She walks out and shuts the door.

I check my phone and see Archie has sent me the time for the party.

“She’s a pretty little blonde thing, don’t you think?” I look in the direction he’s pointing.

“Go then …”

He nudges me. “For you, Beckham … not me. You need it more than me.”

Bringing the glass up to my lips, I take a small sip while I watch everyone and then reply, “I’m fine.”

“Unless you are fucking that sweet ass from your office, you aren’t.”

Ignoring his comment, I scan the room. I’ve been to a few of Archie’s parties. He holds them mainly for his criminal clients. It’s somewhere they can do what they want and fuck who they want under the protection of his home.

He lives out of town, and his driveway is basically its own street, complete with security cameras, so he knows if anyone is coming down it, and that includes the police.

This gives them enough time to make sure people can leave easily via the back way out of the property. Everything is perfectly timed, so if there are any issues, everything goes like clockwork.

“What about that brunette?” He nods to another girl who’s walking around wearing nothing but body paint.

When I look more closely, she has handprints slapped all over her body in bright red and pink paint. I raise an eyebrow when I glance back at him. “Archie, fuck off.”

He throws his head back and laughs. No one annoys him. They know better. He throws these little soirées to gain their trust. He needs their confidence so they will delegate business his way, and while his mandate might be one of confidence, Archie needs to ensure these people know their anonymity is of paramount importance to him.

It’s one of the reasons Rylee would never want August to attend.

Everyone who attends these events belongs in prison, and August has already been inside. Therefore, if something did go wrong, he would be thrown back inside, and that’s not