Dangerous Love(13)
Sighing out a puff of smoke, he recognized he should stay far away from Mac. She was no good. The mere fact she’d been in the foster care system meant she’d be the clingy type. A kind of woman who’d want a commitment, love, a home with a white-picket fence and two point five children. Absolutely nothing he was willing or capable of providing for her.
Fuck. He’d never get her out of his one-track-mind until he claimed her body, grew tired of the same-old, same-old, then moved on. His MO worked well for him.
Snuffing out his cig, he shut down his laptop, shoved his feet into his boots and grabbed his car keys. He was due at the Murphy home in fifteen minutes. Time to answer for tossing Murphy’s two men out of his house.
***
When Derk stepped into the Murphy mansion, he was blasted in the shin by a two and a half year old little monster who clung to his leg like a leech. Why the hell hadn’t the mannies taken care of this awful habit yet? The kid started doing this months ago, and Mrs. Murphy had taken a header down the attic steps and received a gash to the back of her head. Talk about a dramatic scene. Derk could still see the gory scene of Courtney’s light blonde hair soaked with blood while Mr. Murphy held her in his arms as an ambulance was called. The open wound on her head had required staples. Stupid kid. A perfect reason why he never intended to reproduce.
“Daniel,” a feminine voice scolded. “Let go of his leg immediately.”
At least the kid listened. That was a change.
Daniel released his leg, took off running down the long hallway and disappeared into the kitchen that was located to the left. Courtney Murphy glided down the stairs, stunning in a pale blue shift dress.
“Sorry, Derk,” she said softly as she approached, leaned up and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. He respectfully kissed her in return. Now, Mrs. M, she was a woman. A woman a man could, would, and should lose his mind over. Nothing but class, charm, and loyal to a fault. She was the epitome of what was expected from a wife whose husband ruled the largest crime ring in the Northeast.
“Twerp is getting stronger,” he murmured.
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it. He’s becoming aggressive too. Last night I was wrestling around with him and he punched me in the mouth. Needless to say, Derrick isn’t happy, and poor Russ and Jarrett were on the receiving end of his ire.”
When he pulled back, it was then he noticed her swollen lip. Man, her two year old was really putting a beating on her. Someone better do something soon because the kid was out of control.
“He’s outside with Smith,” Courtney said, anticipating his next question.
“Thanks, Mrs. M.” He strolled down the long hallway, his boots echoing off the dark grey pristine ceramic tile floor. When he stepped onto the deck, Mr. Murphy, along with Derk’s usual partner-in-crime, Smith, glanced up.
“Derk.” Murphy nodded.
“Mr. Murphy.” He walked over and plopped down next to Smith. “Saw Mrs. M’s lip.”
Derk watched the man’s eyes flash black. “He’s only aggressive with Courtney. Caitlin he doesn’t touch. Without a doubt my daughter would hit back. She doesn’t tolerate much from her little brother. It’s as if he knows Court won’t do a damn thing about it.”
“What’s she supposed to do?” Derk challenged. Wasn’t it Murphy’s job to correct his son’s behavior?
Right before him, Derk watched Mr. Murphy’s features change to a sinister mask. Ooookay, maybe he pushed that comment a bit too far.
“Watch. Your. Self,” Murphy said, low and dangerously.
Normally Derk didn’t apologize. Never had. To anyone. Not his style. Of course he was rarely wrong to concede, and he refused to apologize for his personality trait of tell-it-like-he-saw-it. But he was able to recognize when he crossed a line. And he had this time. He held up his hands, leaned further back in the chair, and propped his long legs on the table. “I’m not saying a word. Just concerned for Mrs. M. Don’t like seeing her marked up.”
Murphy’s features transformed just as quickly to form a regardful study. He remained silent for a moment. Probably remembering Derk had been around when Mrs. Murphy had been beaten to bloody hell by a douche bag before she ever became Murphy property.
Murphy nodded and the subject was dropped. It was easy to get on the man’s good side. Though most people didn’t know how. Derk did. Respect and admire Courtney, who was Murphy’s beating heart. Well, that is if he had a heart. If Murphy did, Mrs. M must have it stashed away somewhere in a closet because Murphy was as cold as ice.
The three men went into business mode for about twenty minutes. Derk gave an update on the Joey situation, having recouped the money owed to Mr. Murphy’s Eastern territory leader. Today he was to accompany Murphy to a meeting for a deal that opened a door for the man to work his way into the South. Talk about reaching to the four corners of the country.