“Yeah,” he said, walking to the minibar and getting himself a bottle of water. “Her coming here was such a big deal that it had you acting differently. I wanted to see if she matched your stories.”
“Why?” Carter pushed, not satisfied with that answer.
“Like I said,” Vince raised the water to his lips while eyeing me, challenging me. “Just curious.”
Carter looked at me, seeing if I took the bait. Fuck knows I was trying not to. I was fighting against my body, which was adamant that I should break his jaw.
“You could’ve done that without mentally undressing her.”
Vincent lowered the bottle, brows lifted like he’d been caught. “She told you that?”
“She didn’t have to. I saw it.”
He didn’t deny it. Instead, he leaned against the desk like I wasn’t two seconds from dragging him across it.
“Come on,” Carter inserted himself, sensing the rapidly growing tension. “Let’s not start the pissing match. Theo has stated that he doesn’t want you talking to his girlfriend like that, Vince. And he said he was just curious, Theo. Though even I question if it was more to it than that.”
That earned a smirk from Vince, followed by another gulp of water.
“Is there any way to move forward now?” Carter pressed. Thank God I did this in front of him, cause I would have left this room in handcuffs otherwise.
I watched Vince. “Depends on him. Stay away from Carmen. I mean it.”
Vince tilted his head in amusement. “You ever think you’re alittleterritorial?”
“Yeah. You ever think you’re fucking reckless?”
We stared at each other for a long time, eyes fighting for dominance.
Of course, he backed down. “Fine. I won’t talk to her again.”
“No.” I finally stood. “You won’t go near her again. Because I don’t want you around her again.”
Vincent let out a short, humorless laugh. “You serious?”
“Dead fucking serious.”
The room went still again. Vincent’s mouth pressed into a thin line while Carter’s eyes ping-ponged between us.
Finally, Vince pushed off the desk. “Noted,capo. Message received.”
“Good. Dismissed,” I said with finality before returning to my seat.
He gathered his things and moved toward the door, but paused just before opening it.
“She’s impressive,” he said without looking back, “Don’t fuck it up.”
Then he was gone.
“Wow,” Carter whistled when the door closed. “I’ve never seen you two so worked up. She must be very special.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath before returning to my plans in front of me. “She is.”
“I wish I met her yesterday,” he commented. “Then I could understand the hype.”
I scoffed in a teasing tone, “I don’t need your curiosity in my girlfriend, too, Carter.”
He scoffed in return. “You know damn well my curiosity has never been women.”
