by Jax Hart
“Fuck off. You’re a piece of shit and I pity whatever woman came here with you.”
Instead he pulled me closer, “I loved that dirty mouth of yours. It sucked cock so well. Remember that? Fuck, I'm hard right now remembering you. No one else fucks like you, Selina. You’re such a hot-blooded, dirty girl.
I was a fool. How did I ever fall for him? That’s right. He played me. Showered me with flowers and love notes. Took me on expensive dates and I fell for it all and landed in the middle of his bed.
I bent my head forward then knocked it back, hitting him squarely in his nose. “Fuck! You bitch!” His snarl turned heads. Blood squirted out. Cameras flashed.
And I had done it again.
Only this time with Preston.
I rushed into the bathroom, but I didn’t hide. I was not a woman who hid, from anyone or anything.
Preston was gone when I exited, but hushed whispers followed me until I reached Rafael’s side. He tried to hold my hand again, but I picked up a glass of champagne and held it with both hands.
My night was ruined.
I stared at all the glamorous women who would fit him better than me. Women who belonged in his world. I no longer felt sexy in my borrowed dress and shoes. I felt like a girl playing dress-up and everyone knew it.
“Rafael.”
He stiffened beside me as he turned. “Father.”
“A word.”
He glanced at me and wrapped an arm around my waist. “It’s not a good time.”
He dismissed the distinguished looking older man and escorted me out. “You looked like you were ready to go anyway?”
I nodded and took out my phone while we waited for his car. My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I scrolled through the latest headlines on social media.
“Rags to Riches?”
“Rafe’s new girlfriend dated Preston Pierce.”
“Preston Pierce claims to have shagged Selina.”
#ShaggedSelina was born. Men I’d never even met started claiming they did me six ways from Sunday.
Rafael grabbed my phone from my shaking hands. His face was hot, his mouth clenched as he read.
“I’ll sue every last one of them. I’ll own Preston Pierce’s firm by the close of the bell tomorrow. Then, I’ll fire him.”
Hot tears streamed down my face.
It was out and nothing Rafael could do would fix it.
I was nothing but a whore… a slut.
He held my crestfallen face in his hands. “Don’t. They’re not worth it. Fuck! I’m so sorry that this happened. I usually brush off what they say about me, but I won’t let this go. I swear to you, Selina. I’m going to bury this.”
He held me close to his chest and instructed his driver to take us to his house.
“No. Please. I just want to go home. I-I need to be alone.”
“I can’t. I won’t leave you there.”
“Please. It’s what I need.”
“What if you’re what I need?” He asked, seconds before drawing my shaking lips to his and kissing me with such a tender passion, I almost believed in love again.
Almost.
“Thank you,” I whispered, as I stroked the side of his handsome face. “I almost believed tonight. But we come from different worlds and I just want to sink back into mine. I’m nobody there and I’d rather be that, than what I am in yours.
“You don’t even know what you could be in my world. Giving up so easily? That’s not you.”
“I’m not stupid, Rafael. I know when to quit.”
“So that’s it?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
His jaw clenched. “I’m going to break that fucker’s nose and fire him.”
I almost giggled.
Almost.
But I didn’t.
“Goodbye, Rafe.” I didn’t even wait for the car to fully stop. I yanked open the door and escaped, knowing how Cinderella must have felt when she ran and left her prince behind.
CHAPTER TEN
I didn't go home.
I went to the office, called my PI, my PA, and everyone else I could use to dredge up dirt on Preston Pierce.
I was going to bury the motherfucker.
And then I was going to rescue my reluctant princess and throw her in my tower so she couldn’t run away from me again.
I worked until four a.m. then I went home to shower and change. I was keyed up on adrenaline and caffeine. My phone was going crazy. My name and Selina’s were in every New York City gossip column. It was time to phone a friend.
“Rafe.”
“Make it go away.”
“Pierce, too?”
“No. I’ll handle him.”
“It’s done.”
We both hung up. Johnny did shit old school with fists and knuckle rings. Every fucker who commented that they banged my girl was going to get bloody and never utter another bad word about her again; in print or in person.
My PA knocked on my door. “Boss? You’re father’s here. He called an emergency meeting with the board. I just found out about it.”
I left a dent in my desk where my fist landed.
He was looking for this. Waiting for it. I often wondered if he gave me the company hoping I’d fail so he could take it back. If it was all part of some sick plan.
“Where is he?”
“In the conference room.”
“Clear it. I’ll need a moment alone.”
I strode to the bank of elevators, every muscle in my body ready to go to war. If that fucker thought he was going to take one more thing from me, he was dead wrong.
“There he is… my son.”
I folded my arms across my chest and leaned against the door. “What’s this about?”
“You know, what it’s about,” he hissed. “I gave you plenty of warnings.”
I waved my hand. “It’s all bullshit. The business has never been better. I’ve increased revenues more than you ever did in a year.”
“I’m warning you— get rid of the girl. I won't have it. I won't have my son involved with someone like her.”
“You don’t even know her.”
“I don’t need to. She’ll spread her legs for anybody. She's filthy. Unfit just like your mother.”
I kicked off the door and picked him up by the collar of his shirt and dragged him to the bank of windows. “I’ll throw you through them, so help me God. You are going to support me as CEO and fall the fuck in line or I’ll tell everyone what a bigoted, racist, piece of shit you are. I’ll expose you as a fraud and bury you. So, fucking back off.”
His face was red, but he knew I had him beat.
“Are we clear, Padre?”
He nodded and I let him go. I threw open the door and addressed the curious faces waiting in the hall. “The meeting’s been cancelled.”
One fucker down.
Pierce was next.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Selina? Come on, open up.”
She was ignoring all my calls and texts.
Pierce’s work visa was revoked after I fired his ass… he wasn’t even on the same continent as my girl.
I was slaying demons left and right.
And yet, my princess still refused me.
Like an idiot, I even walked some of her routes, stopped in dog parks, but she was never there.
“I’m not giving up!”
Just as I was about to leave the door swung wide. She looked stunning in her short shorts, T-shirt and red Converses.
“Go away.”
“Nope.”
“Seriously, I mean it. You’re toxic. Even if you don’t mean to be, okay?”
“You don’t believe that?”
“I do. And if I didn’t before—I sure as hell do after your father visited me.”
“When?” Smoke came from my nostrils.
“Earlier this week.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“Don’t bother. Don’t do anything for me, okay? Anything but forget I ever exis
ted.”
She slammed the door in my face, and I wondered if she was right. Maybe leaving her alone was the best thing I could do for her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I closed my diary and slipped it under my mattress. It was another Saturday night. Christine was gone again, and I was sick of hiding from the world.
I texted Christine:
I’m bored. Where are you?
Tribeca. Come meet?
Text me the address.
Wear something sexy… Roque Salvatore is here.
Who?
***eyeroll***
I got dressed, choosing something from her closet since I had nothing fancy to wear. I chose one of her silk T-strap dresses. It hugged my curves and was tight, but I felt sexy. I loved feeling sexy but hated that men took it for a green light to paradise. Just because I look DTF, doesn’t mean I am. Just as I grabbed my clutch a loud rap came from the front door. Ever since I blew up the Internet again, the guards have been outside my door 24/7.
“Miss De La Cruz. Come. I have orders to drive you to Timber. Anthony’s shift is over. I’m on duty.”
I peered at this one. He was mob, too. That much was very clear, but he didn’t wear the designer cut suits the New York mob was known for. He wore a black T-shirt tucked into worn in jeans with a black leather belt and his forearms were covered in ink. His hair was cut short.
“You’re a cop. Aren’t you?”
He pulled up both pant legs. Guns were holstered at each ankle. “I’ve got two more strapped to me.”
I eyed him up and down. “Where?” He was all sculpted muscles.
“Come closer and I’ll show you…”
“I’ll pass.”
He smirked and followed me as I walked down the stairs and pushed open the outside door.
“In,” he grunted, pointing a finger to the black SUV idling at the curb.
“Yeah… I don’t think so.”
“Afraid?”
“Very. And I’m not dumb enough to get into some mob guy’s SUV.”
“Franco.” He bowed and opened the back door, waiting. “Get in, sweetheart. Please. I’d hate to piss the boss off by putting my hands on you.”
I took out my cell and texted Christine. She replied back, vouching for this Franco guy. Tonight, was as much of a rescue mission as it was for me to get out of our small apartment. Christine was a pain in my ass, and I was still pissed at her for being the first one to reveal who I was on social media, but I needed to save her from getting in too deep with Johnny Lamatti.
“Fine,” I snapped. “But I have something dangerous under my dress, too.”
“I bet you do,” he winked, eyeing my thighs as the borrowed dress I wore rode up when I sat.
He shut the door firmly before rounding the car and getting behind the wheel. “Buckle up, princess. You’re in for quite a night.”
“I’m nobody’s princess,” I muttered, as I stared at the tall glass buildings rolling by as if it was my first night in New York.
He didn’t answer and soon we stopped. He opened my door and I tried to act nonchalant as a path formed, lined with bodyguards, that led me inside. It was a restaurant and bar.
Classy.
Unique.
Timber… Everything was tall. The ceilings, the live evergreens in massive pots, and some even had buried roots, somehow. Wooden beams ran the length of the room and had wooden antler-like chandeliers hanging from them.
I was led through to a private room. The men stood from the table as I entered. Christine was next to Johnny, her hand tucked in his. I hardly recognized her. Her hair was blown out in loose waves; her makeup, flawless. She was dressed in at least ten grand of designer clothes and accessories. I haven’t seen her for days and in that time, she’s become somebody else. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“Daddy took you shopping, already?”
The words flew from my mouth before I could stop them. Johnny’s hand tightened on her arm. His jaw flexed.
A boom of laughter erupted to my right, shifting my gaze.
Holy fuck.
It was the crazy hot men I spotted outside the club where I ran into Rafe a few weeks ago. Up close, he was even more… everything!
The man smiled, but I was not fooled, he was as dangerous as they come. His light blue eyes were lasers as they moved over me, despite the playful quirk of his lips. His suit was jet black, but his tie matched his eyes…pure baby blue and light teal— like the Caribbean Sea as it stretches out deeper into the ocean.
“Allow me.” He held a chair back, indicating I should sit. “We’ve already eaten, but my chef will make anything at your request.” I was in another world. Although, mere miles from my apartment, it felt as if I had traveled somewhere else entirely.
I sat and met Johnny’s stare. My fingers danced along the handle of a steak knife placed to my left. I never broke eye contact with him. It was an epic stare down. His cheeks turned crimson. His eyes smoldered. I felt Christine kick me under the table. Sure, it was probably dumb to bait him and, on his turf, no less, but he instantly disliked me the second I entered the room and my comments only made everything worse. Nothing makes me burn hotter than when shit like this happens.
I raised my eyebrow.
“Baby, your friend needs to go.” He spoke to Christine without taking is eyes off mine.
“But I just got here.” I smiled sweetly and turned to the waitress hovering nearby. I ordered a filet mignon and a glass of merlot. “And her name isn’t baby,” I snorted.
His hand made a fist. “Do you know who I am?”
I rolled my eyes, “Not this again.”
He looked confused as much as angry. The man next to me almost laughed into his drink. He moved his chair closer to mine, his breath moved strands of my hair as he spoke very close to my ear. “Careful. I won’t let him touch you, but tread lightly and don’t make him your enemy.”
“Or what?” I turned my head, our faces centimeters apart. “He’ll feed me to the fishes?”
“Worse. He’ll sell you to the Russians.”
I thought he was joking, but his mesmerizing eyes were serious.
I picked up my wine, swallowing it all. Johnny sat back, and snapped his fingers, indicating my glass should be refilled. “I’ll cut you some slack, for Christine’s sake, just this once. Don’t ever speak to me like that again, capisce?”
“You’re domineering attitude towards women is completely archaic.”
He shrugged, “Women like it.”
“Sure, they do.” I rolled my eyes.
“She isn’t complaining.” He turned Christine’s arm over and stroked the inside of her wrist. It was sexy. The way he played with that soft spot of skin. Showing the table just how he probably stroked her somewhere else.
“He likes you.”
“No, he doesn’t.” I turned to meet the enigmatic man who, for some mysterious reason, looked like he just ate the canary.
“I wasn’t talking about him.”
The door to the room opened. Maybe the expensive wine went straight to my head, but I had become a character in a play I didn’t remember auditioning for as Rafael strode in. His eyes were a dark storm at sea. His skin was tight over his chiseled face.
“Roque. Johnny… Selina.” He bit the first two names out, and then practically whispered mine.
“What is going on?” I asked, confused that all these men knew one another and that my roommate had somehow gotten herself involved with Johnny.
“That’s exactly what I’d like to know.”
“Easy, Rafe. I knew she was yours.”
“Whoa. Hold up a damn second—first of all, I am not his. Never was. Never will be. Now, what in the hell is going on here? How do the three of you know each other?” My eyes darted from man to man, all of them dark and dangerous. One a notorious criminal.
“Roque.” Rafael looked like he was about to lose his shit. He was grinding his teeth and had both fists curled as he came to stand behind m
y chair. Bodyguards moved forward but the man called Roque, waved them off.
“What the hell is going on? I thought I was meeting my roommate for a night out, not to get caught up in some mafia drama. Or roped in by you, again. How many times do I have to tell you, it's over… finito. DONE!”
Rafael moved my chair back and held out a hand. “Join me for dinner in another room?”
“Why? I rather like it right here.” I swirled my wine, and nodded over towards Roque, while watching Rafael become so angry flames danced in his eyes.
“Rafe.” Roque warned.
He stared at me, “Fuck this, Selina. I don’t want you anywhere near these two. Let’s go.”
“She’s Selina?” Johnny stared at me as if I was the missing puzzle piece that just snapped into place.
I tossed back my second cup of wine. “I already told you, I don’t want anything to do with you and your fucked-up life! How many languages can I say it in? Do I need to rent an airplane, and have it written across the skyline? I. AM NOT INTO YOU.”
Roque laughed as he sipped his drink and I could tell it took everything he had not to spew it over his expensive suit.
Raphael's face darkened. He was pissed. I emasculated him in front of everyone. “Selina…,” he hissed, yanking my arm and pulling me from my seat. “You have no idea what you are doing. We need to leave. Now.”
“Or what?” I raised my eyebrows, “Johnny over there will make me a Russian sex slave?”
Rafael’s eyes smoldered, his hand on my arm almost bruising.
Johnny threw down his napkin, “It’s best if you leave. Now.”
I looked at Christine, my eyes pleading at her to intervene. But she said nothing. Did nothing. I felt betrayed, hurt, and alone. The three things I’m most afraid of.
“You know what? Fuck this! Fuck all of you. I don’t need any of this. Good luck, Christine. I hope you don’t end up in pieces at the bottom of the Hudson. And you—I wish I never met you. You’re a self-absorbed, playboy prick who ruined me because you couldn’t accept my ‘no.’ Are you happy now? Are we even? I’m a joke. The biggest joke in all of New York!”
