Chapter 137Katie's POV“The purple one and the blue one,” I say, leaning over the counter and pointing to the swimsuits displayed on the mannequins.“All right,” the woman behind the counter says. “I thought I had them displayed in the front. “Let me get you one of each. Anything else?” she asks.“I’m looking for a summer dress and some shorts.”“Everything is over there,” she says, pointing to the left.“Okay. I’ll be right back.”I peruse the clothing racks and end up with a red dress with narrow straps that tie on my shoulders, white shorts, two cropped tops, and flip-flops.“Are you an employee?” the woman asks while ringing up my items.I hesitate for a moment.“Uh… Yes. But I don’t have the badge with me.”“No problem.”She gives me the employee discount, and I’m happy about it.Despite all that, I opt against the blue swimming suit since I still consider it a splurge, and I walk out of the boutique with a shopping bag and a lot of cash in my pocket.There were forty-one hundre
Chapter 138Cephus’ POVI watch her find pleasure in everything that doesn’t hurt her.Things can’t get shittier than that.But the more dangerous your life is, the more intense the moments of peace are.I know that. I live like that. And that is about the only thing we have in common.Although there may be more.“There’s no problem,” I murmur when the leather couch squeaks as they slide into their seats behind me.Reluctantly, I take my eyes away from the beautiful woman and her tiny swimsuit and turn around.Gianni locks my eyes first.“Got something for yourself that might pull your mind away from the Russians, Boss?”Smiling, I lower myself in my seat.“You’re looking for trouble,” I joke.“What did I miss?” Vito asks.“It’s nothing new,” Gianni offers. “He likes that woman.”I gesture dismissively.“There’s nothing to like.”They go quiet, and there’s no way they believe me.When I lift my gaze, they both flash knowing smiles.“I don’t want to hear a word. She could be the bigges
Chapter 138Cephus’ POVI watch her find pleasure in everything that doesn’t hurt her.Things can’t get shittier than that.But the more dangerous your life is, the more intense the moments of peace are.I know that. I live like that. And that is about the only thing we have in common.Although there may be more.“There’s no problem,” I murmur when the leather couch squeaks as they slide into their seats behind me.Reluctantly, I take my eyes away from the beautiful woman and her tiny swimsuit and turn around.Gianni locks my eyes first.“Got something for yourself that might pull your mind away from the Russians, Boss?”Smiling, I lower myself in my seat.“You’re looking for trouble,” I joke.“What did I miss?” Vito asks.“It’s nothing new,” Gianni offers. “He likes that woman.”I gesture dismissively.“There’s nothing to like.”They go quiet, and there’s no way they believe me.When I lift my gaze, they both flash knowing smiles.“I don’t want to hear a word. She could be the bigges
Chapter 140Katie's POVI have a feeling he purposely evades my eyes, and he might be doing it because he has something to hide.I’m curious, so I keep my stare glued to his face.He edges closer and finally brings his eyes to me.They narrow against the sun and hold a look that's different than what I routinely see on him.“Things all right?” I ask when he pulls an armchair closer like we’re about to talk.“Yeah, yeah…” he says, although a shred of tension is woven in his voice.My eyes slide to his chest since his shirt is open at the neckline.His skin is smooth over his pecs.“I saw you talking on the phone. Is everything all right?” he asks, gesturing at my phone.“Yes. Everything is fine.”“Your sister?”“She’s fine, too.”My voice is less upbeat this time, and my eyes trail away from his.“Are you sure?”“Yes. She misses me. And I miss her too,” I say, bringing my eyes back to him, and I catch him looking at my body.Suddenly, my swimsuit feels too small, covering too little, a
Chapter 141Katie's POVI put a lot of effort into making sure I look fantastic tonight.Maybe it’s because I’m still wrestling with frustration.Maybe it’s because I’m still horny.And maybe it’s because I want to regain my dignity.It’s not like I made a move on him––frankly, I wouldn’t know how to pursue men––but his comment was more than telling.It stung a little. I must say.I haven’t even tried to do that with high school boys.That part of my life has never happened.Have I thought about having sex, losing my V-card, and all that crap?Quite a few times, but it just didn’t feel right.When the other girls were having sex, I was trying to stay alive.So yes, it has never been a priority of mine.Can anyone blame me? No. I don’t think so.I’m still confused when it comes to Cephus Salla and the things he does to my body. Sometimes without even touching me.But I’m not confused when it comes to the dress I want to wear tonight.The black dress he’d picked for the other nightlies
Chapter 142Cephus’ POVWhen I go to the casino, time stops, people freeze, and the animation fades, everything becomes a muted scene with no life in it.I used to get all the eyes in the room when I walked in.I get them now, too, but not before they take her in first.Katie has no idea what’s going on.Her cheeks are flushed. Maybe it’s from the sun today, or maybe it’s from walking next to me.Her hair and eyes steal the show.I’ve never seen someone more magnetic in my life, and I’ve seen women covered with glitter, clad in sequined costumes, wearing feathers and tiaras.I run the kind of business where magnetism is instrumental in making money.People like to be distracted, see magnificent things, and fully experience them.That’s what makes this even more fascinating.The way she draws people’s eyes to herself without even knowing is astounding.Even I’m distracted by her dress.Not only that.I couldn’t think straight the entire day.The image of her almost naked in that lounge
Chapter 143Cephus’ POVI’m doing my due diligence to prevent it, and then I get this kind of shit?Why?I’m paying the right people not to have FBI agents at my door.Vito looks at me without answering.“I can’t get in touch with my people right now. I don’t know who’s ratted us out or why.”Yes, it could be the FBI agents who are on my payroll. Maybe they have become susceptible to blackmail.Or maybe there is a new player in town, overbidding me. Offering more.This is not about the money, after all. I have money. I’ve already given them too damn much, but I could up that sum.This is about power.“That Boris guy…” Vito says, his voice trailing off as he unbuttons his jacket and slides into an armchair.“Yeah… I know.” I mutter, reaching inside the drawer and going for my pack of cigarettes.I retrieved one and put it between my lips.Fire goes through my veins, and I’m so tense I could easily break someone’s neck.I crash into my seat and light my cigarette.“I knew it was all a d
Chapter 144Cephus’ POVShe looks normal, although there’s nothing normal about her roaming around.And she knows that.I look at the time stamp.This happened a few moments ago.“She’s gone,” I say, pushing up and yanking my suit jacket off the back of my chair before putting it on.“Where are you going?” Vito asks.“I’m going after her.”“Where?”“I don’t know,” I say, shrugging and sliding my pack of cigarettes into my pocket.I fucking hate this shit.I take it out and push it back into the drawer.They look at me when I lift my gaze.“I don’t need you.”“Are you serious, Boss?”“Yes. I fucking am. There is so much going on right now that me going after that fucking girl matters to no one.”With that, they stay behind while I head straight to my suite.* * *First, I check her room.There are things in my head. Things I couldn’t say out loud.So, I want to make sure I was right about her and didn’t lose my touch.I walk in and make a beeline for her room without as much as glancin