Prologue
Dom
DomBecca
I crack my knuckles and stretch out my arms while looking out over the football stadium from my suite. I fucking love that this is my office. But then again, when you do what I do, your “office” can be anywhere. I snatch my scotch from the bar and tell Johnny to grab our lunch. Taking a seat on the sectional, I grab my phone to look at my schedule. My first drop off should be here soon.
I’m so fucking nervous. I click my phone on and see I have fifteen minutes to find the bookie’s suite. I grab my purse tighter, holding the Coach Hobo closer to my side. I’ve got 12k in cash under a scarf and the idea that I’m going to be mugged and then killed by the bookie is making my blood rush with adrenaline and anxiety. I can’t believe Rick would put me in this position. Shit. I’m such a bitch. I swallow the lump in my throat and square my shoulders to keep the tears pricking the back of my eyes from surfacing. Now is not the time to think about Rick. And it’s not like he asked me to do this. His problems keep coming after me and I wanted to cover my bases.
The knock at the door seems hesitant and that makes a deep, rough chuckle rumble in my hard chest. Whoever’s behind it is scared and I live for that fear. They’re right to be scared. I didn’t get where I am today by being kind and understanding. Fuck that. I’m a ruthless prick and I know it. My chest hollows for a fraction of a second, but I shut that shit down ASAP. I’m a tough fucker and I’m not going to let some pussy emotions make me weak. Some days I wish I didn’t have to be such a cruel asshole. I don’t like fucking guys up, breaking their legs and hands or whatever body part they pick – if I let them choose. But they know what they’re signing up for when they do business with me. Damn shame they don’t have a doctorate degree in statistics from Stanford, like me. A devilish grin pulls at my lips. If you’re gonna be making bets with me, you better be ready to pay up.
I wipe the cold sweat from my hands and onto my skirt, ball my small fist tighter and knock on the door a little harder. I wonder if the people walking by know why I’m here. I swallow thickly, feeling like a dirty criminal. My eyes dart to an older woman with kind eyes and grey-speckled hair pushing a caterer’s cart. I’m sure she knows. I’m sure everyone who looks at me knows I’m up to no good.
My eyes glance from left to right as I wait impatiently. Sarah’s waiting outside and I have to pick up my son from soccer practice soon. I lick my lower lip as the nerves creep up. I’ll just pretend this isn’t real. Just hand them the money and walk away. Back to real life. Back to my assistant and move on with my normal, non-threatening, every day life.
I take my time getting to the door. No matter how much money they owe me, or how much they’ve won, they need to know that I do everything whenever the fuck I please. If they have to wait, they have to wait. But I sure as shit don’t wait for them. I open the door and my cold, hard heart pumps with hot blood and desire.
A petite woman in fuck-me pink heels and a grey dress that clings to her curves and ends just above her knees is staring back at me with wide, frightened hazel eyes. Her breasts rise and fall, peeking out of the modest neckline. Her black cardigan is covering up too much of her chest and I barely resist the urge to push it off her shoulders. My eyes travel along her body in obvious appreciation before stopping at her purse. She’s clinging to it like it’s her life line. My jaw ticks, what’s a woman like her doing making bets with a guy like me? Johnny handles most of that shit now. We aren’t supposed to take bets from women. I don’t like it. I’m definitely going to have to ask him about her.
The door opens and I nervously peek up at the gorgeous man looking down at me through my dark, thick lashes. The lines around his eyes means he’s every bit the man he looks, but his devilish white-toothed grin gives him a boyish charm meant to fool women like me. He’s fucking hot in a black three-piece suit that’s obviously tailored to fit his large chiseled frame perfectly. With that crisp, white button-down shirt and simple black tie you’d think he was a young CEO, but his muscular body, piercing blue eyes and messy brunet hair that’s long enough to grab, makes him a sex god. Lust and power radiate from his broad chest as his eyes travel down my body. He looks like a man who knows how to destroy you.
A wave of desire shoots through me when my eyes meet his heated stare. My breathing hitches and I swallow down my distress with my treacherous body. I’ll just give him the money Rick owed him and get the fuck out of here. At the reminder of why I’m standing in his doorway, I push my purse towards him.