“I’ll be right back. Won’t take more than five minutes. I promise.” He nodded and stepped around the group, his stride confident as he headed toward the exit.
Once he passed through the pin-tucked velvet doors, he exhaled, grateful for the brief space to think.
He didn’t have time for games.
Yet his focus had unravelled, his mind consumed by nothing but her.
Before he’d boarded the jet, their texts had been a whirlwind of heat, flirtation, and desire—so damn hot they bordered on kinky.
Shannon had him worked up like a bronco, restless and ready to explode. Now she’d dropped off and he had no clue why.
Scrolling through his contacts, he tapped her name and hit dial. Her phone rang, then went to voicemail again, for the tenth time.
He swore under his breath, rage bubbling in his chest as he headed toward the bar, his mood tighter than ever.
His jaw clenched so hard it almost locked when he stormed back to the group of men.
“Sorted?” Marcus asked, narrowing his green eyes.
Jamie dropped his phone onto the table and shirked out of his tailored suit jacket. “Not yet. I’ll handle it.”
Marcus arched an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
Jamie shot his brother a withering look and nodded. The frustration in his gaze was unmistakable, a silent plea for Marcus to shut the fuck up and keep things professional.
“So, what do you have for us, Finka?” Jamie asked, his tone abrupt. “We submitted that planning permit like a fucking century ago.”
Marcus cleared his throat, a subtle warning. One of Finka’s men straightened, his lips tight in a firm line.
“Jamie, I’ve heard you’re an asshole, but if we’re gonna do business, you need to show some respect.”
Jamie’s eyes flicked to his phone, a flash of irritation crossing his features. He pressed the home button, checking his battery, even though he’d charged it to full before leaving the suite.
“Are you even listening to me, you cocky fuck?” Finka growled, his patience thinning.
Jamie steepled his fingers, his gaze drilling into Finka. “Yeah, I heard your little bitchy yap all the way over here. We flew out here to get this done and you're dragging your fucking knuckles along the Vegas strip.”
Marcus’s chair scraped back as he rose to his feet. “Excuse us, gentlemen. My brother and I need a word in private.”
Jamie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew what was coming. It didn’t matter, though. He was finished with all the fucking games andbullshit.
Marcus would understand because Finka was a shady fucker who needed put in his place.
Standing, Jamie slid his phone into his pocket and shot Finka a look. “While we’re gone, why don’t you call your guy? Ask him what the holdup is. Find out how much it’ll take to get things moving, or you and I are done doing business together.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you today?” Marcus hissed once they were out of earshot.
“Nothing.” Jamie sat on a bar stool and ordered two whiskeys, straight no ice. “We’ve been doing this dance with Finka for long enough. He made a promise and now he’s holding out to see how much extra he can squeeze out of us. The guy’s a fucking rat.”
“Seriously, Jamie. He’s our contact. We need guys like him to get this project off the ground. Building a hotel out here is huge for us. And with a casino, it’ll be the biggest investment we’ve ever made… never mind developed. And you’re acting like a stroppy fucking teen with blue balls. Go fuck a pretty brunette or whatever it’s gonna take to get your mind back in the game. Or I’ll take over the deal from here.”
Jamie dragged a hand down the scruff on his jaw, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. “I’m not in the mood for tits and ass, Marcus.”
“What’s going on with you?”
Peering at his mobile phone for what seemed like the millionth time, Jamie’s irritation simmered just beneath the surface.
It had been way too long since her last message, andthe longer he stared at the blank screen, the more he obsessed over something he couldn’t control.
