Chapter 2
Adelina thought about them now. Even lying here on the damn examining table after the X-ray the doctor insisted that she have. She iced her hand last night, after pulling herself from the lust-induced fog she was in while caring for Flynn. She dreamt about the way his lips felt against her ear, and how gorgeous his chest was as she helped him into bed. So easily she could have had her way with him. Hell, she could have done a lot more, and he wouldn’t have remembered a damn thing. When she took off his shirt, and trailed her fingers across his hard muscles. She saw his pants tent up. That both surprised her and complimented her. Then, of course, she had the whole “devil on one shoulder and angel on the other” conversation. That was hell to get through.
The little devil said, cop a feel. The angel told her to step away. It wasn’t right, and how would she feel if she were drunk and had Jett or Flynn carrying her to bed? Of course, in that moment, she wished something like that would happen to her. But these men didn’t see her in that light. She was the manager of their club. A friend. Someone they trusted. Nothing more. What did these other women have that she didn’t have? I won’t throw myself at them.
Her heart ached and her belly tightened. That wasn’t her. She wasn’t that kind of woman. Adelina despised women who threw themselves at men. Especially at Flynn and Jett. In particular, Tess. That conniving, no-good, little tramp. She actually thought her plan could work. Tess actually planned to trap Flynn into a relationship by getting pregnant. God, that really pisses me off.
Adelina clenched her teeth and when she clenched her hands into fists, the pain made her gasp. She felt the tears reach her eyes. She thought for sure she had broken it when she slugged Tess. She didn’t feel the least bit upset about slugging the woman, or breaking her eighty-thousand-dollar new nose. She provoked Adelina. Tess blatantly told her friend her intentions with Flynn, in front of Adelina, and then had the nerve to shove Adelina away from Flynn and call her used goods.
Me, fucking used goods? I don’t think so. So what that every damn person around thinks that I’m sleeping with my bosses. I wish. No, scratch that. I can’t deal with this crap any longer. They don’t care for me in that way. They don’t want me like I want them. They don’t dream of touching me, holding me in their arms, and taking me together, like I dream of them doing. God, I’m sick of this. I’m sick and tired of waiting around for them to grow up, to do commitments or damn it, to just do me. How many women am I going to have to beat off of them? And if Flynn wasn’t so drunk, would he have willingly gone to bed with Tess?
“Miss. Parker, I have the results from the X-ray and the good news is that your hand, knuckles, and fingers are not broken. They are badly bruised and sprained, including your wrist. I’d like to wrap it up and have you wear a sling for a week or so.” The doctor returned, interrupting her thoughts.
“A sling? No can do. That will never work for me.”
He moved closer. He was a very attractive man, at least ten years older than her, and assertive. But he was nothing like Flynn and Jett. Those two just instantly did something to her. Something that made her become speechless and feel aroused.
“Where do you work?” he asked, and she adjusted her blouse as it slid lower off her shoulder. She was wearing a nice camisole underneath, and a pair of dark skinny jeans. She hated having to come to the hospital, but the small clinic’s X-ray machine had been broken. She walked the four blocks to here and now dreaded having to walk back.
“I work at a night club. I’m a manager. The Phantom, ever heard of it?”
He raised one eye up and then looked her over. “Nice establishment. I’ve been there a bunch of times. I didn’t think the owners tolerated bar fights.”
She chuckled.
“It wasn’t a bar fight. Well, I guess you could call it that since we were near the bar. I was just trying to protect my friend.”
“From a man?” he asked as he began wrapping her hand.
“Oh, no. My friend was the guy, and I was protecting him from a woman.”
He raised his eyebrow again at her. She felt her cheeks warm and she chuckled again.
“It’s a complicated story. But I had no choice once the woman attacked me.”
“She attacked you? Is that how you sustained this injury?”
“No. I sustained this injury when I decked her.”
Now the doctor chuckled as he continued to wrap her hand. “Well, how is she doing?”
“I do not know nor do I care, as long as she stays clear of my friend.”
“Well, it sounds like she would be stupid not to listen.”
Adelina smiled.
“Okay, so could you at least wear the sling when you can?”
“I’ll try. I don’t exactly want to be wearing this whole sling and bandage in case the woman comes back to the club. That would look bad.”
“I don’t think it’s possible for you to look bad, Adelina.” He smiled. He patted her hand and she felt her cheeks warm again. Even the doctor was flirting with her, yet she wasn’t interested.
“Thank you, Doc. I appreciate everything.”
Adelina stepped down and took the paperwork from him that she needed to bring to the front desk.
She headed out and worried about heading to work tonight. She really needed to get home to change. She didn’t know how she was going to explain this one. She didn’t know what to expect from Flynn and Jett. Well, she needed to start considering her options. She couldn’t wait around for them. She was twenty-four years old. They were nearly ten years older than her. She couldn’t stand by and watch these other women trying to bed them and play their sex games with them. It was getting to be too hard to handle. Maybe it was time to move on? Maybe she needed to start accepting some of these offers for dates.
She turned back toward the hospital, now a good two blocks away, but she could still see the tall brick building, and the long sidewalk leading up to it. Maybe she should have flirted with the doctor?
As she turned back around and continued walking, she smacked right into someone. That someone had very large hands and was tall.
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry,” she blurted out as he held her steady. She instinctively held her bad hand against her chest.
“I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to knock into you. I’m trying to find Third and Lexington,” he told her with a very thick accent. She locked gazes with him. He was about five feet nine or so, and very handsome. He wore dress pants and a designer dress shirt, and held a briefcase in his hand. He looked like a businessman.
“That’s okay. I guess we both weren’t paying attention. Did you say Lexington and Third?” she asked as she held his gaze. He stared at her with piercing brown eyes, and a well-chiseled face. The man must be into working out, because even his face looked toned.
“Yes, I did.” He smiled at her. She had a funny feeling in her belly. It was so odd. She couldn’t tell if it were instincts warning her or enticing her. It was faint.
“That’s three blocks back that way, and then take a right, one block and—”
He looked a bit confused, and he seemed very nice as she repeated the directions two more times and he looked like he wasn’t sure. He told her the name of the place he needed to get to and it was a mere two blocks from where her place was. His accent and his bright white smile were very appealing. She felt something, but she wasn’t sure what it was. Her head had been wrapped around Flynn and Jett for far too long.
“Listen, I’m heading that way. Just follow me,” she said, and he smiled.
“Now that’s an idea. My name is Raymond.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Adelina.” She reached out her good hand, which he shook gently.
“What happened to your hand and wrist?” he asked as they started walking together.
“I got into a bar fight.”
She glanced back up at him and he looked surprised as well as interested. “Really?”
“No. Someone tried to hit me so I ducked and hi
t them back.”
“Wow. I hope the other person is worse off.”
“Me, too.”
“Well, I promise not to try anything funny,” he stated, raising one hand up palm forward. She laughed.
“You have a great accent. Where are you from?”
“I am originally from Brazil. I have a place here in Manhattan.”
“Yeah, there’s nothing like New York. I’ve never been to Brazil, but I hear the beaches are gorgeous.”
“The people are, too, but I’d say you had them beat,” he told her, and when she looked at him, he held her gaze, and her heart raced. The man was suave, and very sexy.
She smiled and looked forward again.
“It’s not far now,” she whispered.
She couldn’t help but wonder if this was another opportunity for her to take a chance and move on with her life. She missed the opportunity to flirt with the doctor, her mind still on Jett and Flynn. She needed to stop this. She needed to put them behind her. It just wasn’t meant to be.
So she turned toward Raymond, one very sexy, attractive man with an accent to die for.
They talked as they walked, and Adelina thought he was very nice, and also very firm in his tone. She liked a take-charge kind of man, but also a caring one. Raymond seemed to fit the bill fine. If only she would stop thinking about Jett and Flynn.
He told her about the company he worked for. Something to do with imports and technology.
“So where do you work?” he asked, and when she named the place, he was impressed. She told him about being the manager and about how she sustained the injury. Minus the part about being jealous over Tess trying to get knocked up by Flynn and the fact that she was completely jealous.
“Don’t feel bad about it, Adelina. You were protecting yourself. A beautiful woman like you should be pampered and not placed into such situations. What did your boyfriend say about it?” he asked. She felt her cheeks warm. This guy was good at flirting. What a way to find out if she were single or not.
“Oh, no problem there, I don’t have one.”
“Really? Then the guy you were protecting isn’t your boyfriend?”
How perceptive. This man was almost creepy, but in a totally turn-her-on kind of way. She took a deep breath and released it.
“He never was my boyfriend. He’s just a good friend.”
“Are you certain?” he asked with a large smile.
“Yes, really. So here is where we part ways. You have to take this street one block down and then make a right. You’ll see the building in front of you.”
“What nights did you say that you work at The Phantom?” he asked with a small, warm smile that reached his eyes.
“Every night except for Sundays and Mondays. The place is closed.”
“Well, maybe I’ll stop in one night after work. The guys in the office like to let off some steam on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
“Sure. Stop in and be sure to say hello,” she said.
Then they shook hands, which he held hers a little longer than normal, and they smiled before parting ways.
As Adelina began walking away, she turned to look at Raymond just as he turned to look at her. They both smiled, and she suddenly hoped that Raymond would show up at the club. If she were going to put Flynn and Jett behind her, then she needed to start dating again and working toward a future of happiness.
As she felt her phone vibrate, she realized she hadn’t turned up the volume again since entering the hospital. She glanced down and saw the three calls from work. Flynn, Jett, and Murph.
She was going to be late tonight, and that was a first for Adelina. She texted Murph back and told him she would be late. He texted back the words “Holy shit, is everything okay?” She laughed and sent along a smiley face. She’d deal with him as soon as she arrived in an hour.
* * * *
Raymond answered his phone as he walked around the corner and out of sight of Adelina. The woman was gorgeous. Her personality pleased him, and he suddenly had a change of plans for her.
“Yes,” he answered, recognizing Sergio’s number.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Just a little recon. I found the manager of The Phantom. Just so happened to be in the area when she left the hospital.”
“The hospital? What happened to her?”
“Nothing. She was protecting Flynn Greyson.”
Sergio chuckled. “Say that again.”
“Sergio, it’s a long story, but the gist of it is that she isn’t seeing either man. But due to your surveillance of the premises the last three weeks, she’s definitely loyal to them and knowledgeable of their business. She’s very beautiful and her body is to die for. You were right to let me know about her. You said she will be back to the bar in a few weeks?”
“Or sooner if you like, sir.”
Raymond chuckled. “I’m thinking about getting to know her sooner. I won’t let her know who I am though. If this whole deal goes over well, and the takeover by my associates, then I can leave with a grand prize.”
“You’d better watch your ass. Jett and Flynn Greyson don’t keep anyone that close. So if the chick is in on their deals and business transactions, then she’s trouble. Those two won’t let you near her.”
“She decked a woman. I’d say Adelina was feminist enough to handle her own decisions and retaliate against anyone who told her what to do or who to date. Especially her two bosses. Besides, her reasons for needing money are noble, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I suppose so. Why not just tap that ass and be done with her? It could be part of the last ten thousand she owes?”
“Because, as you noticed yourself, the woman is quite beautiful, and classy. Plus, it would bring me immense pleasure to know that I took her right out from underneath Jett’s and Flynn’s noses. They don’t even know who I am.”
“Yet. You’ve got balls, sir. And well, those two are going down and so is their uncle. I have some news on him as well. We’ve got some people on the inside. Vick is going down sooner than later. There’s a hit scheduled on one of his deliveries tonight. Victor won’t have the financial backing of anyone after this.”
“Good. Explain it to me when I get back to the penthouse. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
Raymond hung up the phone and got into his car. If things went well, Adelina would never even know what initiated his interest in her. Plus once Jett and Flynn were dead, it wouldn’t matter anyway. Raymond would own her. Body, mind, and soul. She would look perfect by his side in Brazil. He chuckled as he said the word aloud and in the fake Brazilian accent. He loved it there. That might just be the first place he would take her when he owned her.
Chapter 3
Adelina arrived to work late. Jett, Flynn, and all their buddies were in the back room engaging in their annual poker night. She had some time to prepare for their reaction to her wrapped hand and her being late. Truth was, she could have gotten here on time, but one look into Bryer’s eyes as she saw him return from kindergarten and she knew he needed her. They snuggled on the couch after eating cookies and milk and he told her all about him feeling weak, and having a hard time playing the kickball game. She felt so sad for him, but told him that every day he was getting stronger, and that he was a survivor. She loved Bryer with all her heart. And she loved her sister, too, who had looked exhausted and in need of a breather.
Adelina sent her out for some ice cream for tonight, and Adelina promised Bryer that she would have some with him tomorrow when he returned home from school.
She swallowed hard as she corrected a drink order bill from the bar that one of the new waitresses screwed up.
“Hey, have they seen you yet?” Murph asked, sounding very concerned. He had totally freaked out when she first arrived and saw her hand wrapped.
She stretched out her arm, feeling the ache and knowing that she would be forced to wear the sling when she wasn’t at work.
“No. They’ve bee
n in the back, why?”
He raised his eyebrows at her as he wiped the inside of a brandy glass with a bar towel.
“They tried to make me tell them what happened between you and Tess.” She shot a look at him.
“Don’t worry. I fucking lied and said I had no idea, but whatever it was, I’d never seen Adelina so pissed.”
“Are you sure you didn’t budge?” she asked, knowing how intimidating Jett and Flynn were.
“Lying about knowing saved my ass. Plus, you asked me not to repeat it. I respected your wishes even though I bet if you told them that, they would make a move finally.”
She raised her hand up palm forward. “Please don’t. I’m over it all now. I have to move on. If I didn’t need the money so badly, I’d resign from my position here and look elsewhere.” She instantly thought about Raymond. She wondered if he would show up this week. Wouldn’t that help to get her mind off what she really wanted?
“Hey, you met someone?”
“No,” she blurted out quickly which only made her answer sound more suspicious. Murph raised his eyebrows at her.
“Who is it?”
“No one.”
“Oh, come on. I told you about Dena,” he whispered.
“Yeah, and if she knew the way you like to flirt, she may begin to have some trust issues.”
“Honey, I’m a fucking bartender. I need to flirt to make tips. It’s a rough job.”
She laughed. “Sure it is. All those fake boobs hanging over the bar whispering drink orders in your ear. I get it,” she teased him.
She turned to walk away, and he stared at her ass.
“Any time you want to bend over the bar, you let me know.”
She opened her mouth in shock, and then Murph’s eyes widened. He quickly turned around and went back to serving drinks.
Adelina didn’t have to turn around to know who was there. It was one of them. She just knew it.
As she slowly turned and looked up into Flynn’s eyes, he looked downright pissed off. Then came Jett, and he looked none the happier.
“Our office. Now,” he told her.
Phantom's Destruction or Destiny [Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 5 ] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
