Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
He would make the bet. Harry never saw a pull tab machine at a dive bar he could turn down.
Then he’d bellow and kick the machine when it inevitably ate his cash until they threw him out.
But I don’t remind him what a spoiled, raging demon he is. I don’t say anything.
My feet stay glued to the floor. My heart jitters in my chest like a trapped bird, desperate to break out of its tiny cage.
“I’m serious about the buyout, Harry. Frankly, you’re better off moving on. You must have other projects?”
“Serious.” He snorts loudly. “Yeah, sure you are. So am I. C’mon, why don’t you let me in so we can sit down and talk like civilized people?”
Oh my God.
I can’t help my face turning red.
But finally, when I can take a step forward, I block his path more firmly, staring him down in his dead green eyes. The only way he’s getting in here is if he shoves me to the floor.
Which I wouldn’t put past him.
But then I can nab him for assault and maybe breaking and entering. It’s a quiet neighborhood. Someone will call the cops if I scream.
Only, he just falls back, throwing his hands up. “Fine, we’ll have it your way. But listen to me, LeeLee, and listen good.”
I wince.
Out of all his pet names, that one’s the worst. I can’t hide the disgust contorting my face.
“I’ve heard enough,” I throw back. “If you want the clinic, make another bid and let Dr. Ezzie decide. Isn’t that how this works?”
“Fuck no. You might know animals, but you don’t know real estate.” He smirks. “Just hear me out—five years of your salary in exchange for dropping your offer. That’s six figures, easy. You can walk away and go back to Mommy in Port Townsend. You never were a big-city girl at heart.”
Until now, I always thought vibrating with anger was just a phrase. But suddenly I’m living it.
Is this man for real?
“Go to hell,” I bite off, putting every ounce of venom I have into staring back. “Also, it’s a little late for professionalism or whatever. This is personal, Harry, and you made it that way. You’re not taking my career too.”
“Too?” He lifts a brow, and his ugly smirk widens.
He knows exactly what I mean.
“You’re not going to get your way this time,” I say. “You’re not turning Pawsome Hearts into another ugly, overprice commercial turd that sits vacant when MicroDick Incorporated lays off half its Bellevue workforce thanks to AI.”
Any trace of amusement leaves his face as it firms into a vicious scowl.
“Funny you should say that. And funny that you’ve got the funds to buy me out now. We both know you’re shit with money, LeeLee. You could never afford lunch without bumming a few bucks off me after you left my place, less mouthy and satisfied. Say,” he growls, slamming his hand on the doorframe next to my head. “I wonder who’s fucking you now? Is that the real problem? Seeing how you’ve got microdick on the brain and all.”
“Harry, get out. Leave me alone,” I hiss.
I am so entirely ready to scratch his face.
Screw the consequences.
“It reeks. That’s all I’m saying. Or maybe that’s just you after a long day of blood and cat piss. Whatever you’re doing—and I know you’re doing something—your story fucking sucks. You wouldn’t live in this shithole house if you had the coin to live somewhere decent. So where did the windfall come from, huh?”
Brady flashes in my mind.
The way we teamed up in front of Nancy. The way he turned feral at the end, the delicious scrape of his teeth and his stubble.
Jesus, I can’t let him down.
I can’t let this brute threaten a man who’s the only reason why I have a chance to save Pawsome Hearts at all.
If Harry acts on his threats, we’ll both be so neck deep in crap, we won’t be able to breathe.
I can’t let him find out.
“Your boss might not be able to do her homework, but I will. I’m going to dig real fucking deep, LeeLee. I’m going to find the real story,” he taunts, leering in, drowning me in that wretched cologne until I gag. “What are you hiding, I wonder?”
“Last chance,” I whisper harshly. “If you don’t leave now, I’m calling the cops.”
His smirk widens until it’s too big for his face.
“You won’t. We both know you’d be wasting precious city resources, pulling cops away from real crime. I haven’t done shit. I’m not hurting you. And I’m not dragging you out by the hair and chucking you in a drainage ditch. Shit, LeeLee. We know each other. You had my dick in your mouth.”
I can’t breathe.
The implied threat in his voice chokes off the righteous fury in my throat.
“It’s sad, really. I thought you’d get over it eventually. Looks like you didn’t.” He reaches out, trailing his finger along my jaw. I slap his hand away. “Hell, for a while, I thought we’d be friends again someday.”