House Rules(32)

“What the fuck are you doing here?” The deadly calm that had surrounded Miller only moments ago had disappeared.

There was no way I would let this man intimidate me. I crossed my arms over my chest, partly to cover what I didn’t think was his to see. Maybe it was stupid considering he’d most likely chosen the outfit for his employees, not to mention the hundreds of guys who’d seen me in it over the last week, but the difference was that the man standing across from me had seen me naked. He’d seen my flaws. Seen me at my most vulnerable.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

I knew I was playing with fire, but I wanted him to leave me alone so I could get back to work.

His eyes narrowed. “How in the hell did you get a job here?”

“Now that’s just insulting. I applied. It doesn’t take a much to wear almost nothing and shake my ass for tips.”

His nostrils flared and he took a step forward. I almost took a step back in response, but I held my ground. “I’m the only on who gets to see your ass.”

“I don’t think so. I was a one-night stand to keep you from killing the idiot I was dating, the same idiot who decided to get himself into debt with you. One night does not mean you own me.”

“I beg to differ,” he snapped.

“I’m going back to work.” I spun back toward the door.

He grabbed my arm as I went to move past him. “That’s not going to happen.”

My stomach churned as panic flooded my system. I needed this job. There wasn’t enough money left in my bank account for me to move again, and I refused to call it quits and go back home. That, and I had my pride. Failure wasn’t in my vocabulary. Keeping the job was the only way for me to stay afloat.

“Miller, please,” I begged. “I need the money.”

“Find a job where your ass isn’t on display.” He looked at me and then pulled out his cell, pressing a finger to the screen before snapping, “My office, now.”

I walked over and looked him straight in the eye. “Please. There’s nowhere else around I can make this kind of money without working more than one job. I had to get a new apartment when some guys came looking for Ray. They wanted more money. I was—”

Miller’s face hardened. “What did you say?” His voice was a low, deadly whisper.

I took an unconscious step back. With his brows drawn down over narrowed eyes, not to mention the rigid stance of his body, anyone would back away slowly and hope they weren’t his target. It became very clear that Miller was a man willing to take out anyone who stood in his way.

“Some men Ray owed money to came to the apartment, broke down my door to find him. I was so afraid that they’d hurt me, I packed that night and moved out the next day. But they trashed the place and the landlord kept my deposit. I had to clean out the little I had in my savings to get a new place.”

“Whose men were they?”

“I think they said Marcello something,”

“Motherfucker,” he snapped and began to pace. “Those assholes don’t stop until they have their money, no matter the cost. Should’ve borrowed the money from Ashton,” he said, the last part almost under his breath.

“Why would Ashton lend him the money?”

He glanced over his shoulder at me, one brow quirked. “Considering what I do, you don’t think my brother is just a simple restaurateur, do you?”

Everything clicked into place. I crossed my arms over my chest. “And Ashton wouldn’t want his money?”

“Of course he would. But Ashton only goes after the person that owes him the money, not people they care about.”

Fear trickled through me like ice in my veins. I’d thought I was free and clear of those guys but Miller’s last statement made me think differently, and it wasn’t a pleasant thought. “But I don’t give two shits about Ray.”

“You think that matters to them?” He didn’t wait for me to reply. “All that matters is that Ray gives two shits about you."

My breath came in pants, my heart racing like someone had just taken a whip to my ribcage. I swallowed, mentally running through the contents of my bank account, all the while knowing that if I didn’t have the money to move again, I certainly didn’t have the money to outrun these guys. If a player like Miller had heard of Marcello, he must be significant.

“Either way, I’ll get you set up in a new apartment.”

He reached into his pocket to pull out his phone again. His fingers flew over the screen at the same time I covered the hand holding the phone with mine own.

“I don’t need you to get me a place. I’m not a fan of handouts, or charity.” Growing up in a family where you were only given something with an expectation that something would be given in return, taking favors from anyone was one of my hard limits. Back then it was gifts from my stepfather in exchange for my silence, and even though I sincerely doubted that Miller would have even the slightest thing in common with that piece of shit, I wasn’t about to throw caution to the wind. Even if the thought of Ray’s business catching up with me made me want to vomit.”