REDEMPTION | MAFIA ROMANCE | SMUT

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

My eyes raked over her body. Her long, slender legs evoked pleasant memories. Alexa might be inexperienced, but she satisfied cravings in more ways than one.

Typically, after I sleep with a woman, I am anxious to escape.

Yet with Alexa, I was prepared to let her stay the night.

Brad's hand waved in my face. "Are you still with me, Bossman?"

Cherry and the client disappeared in different directions.

"Am I paying Cherry for tonight?" he asked, and I shook my head. "Here." He slapped the confiscated cash onto my palm. "I am driving to Gateway with Nate to collect cranes. Do you need anything before we go?"

"No," I said as Alexa and Josh went downstairs to start their shift. "Come to the office later."

Brad gave me a two-finger salute.

I stayed in the hallway long after everyone left.

I went to the office and imbibed alcohol for hours to forget.

It doesn't matter how much I try to fight it. I had to speak to Alexa. I need to know what happened last night.

Loud club music reiterated around the cavernous room together with humid smog and flashing strobe lights. Drunken bodies crammed the space. I waded through throngs of people and beelined the bustling bar. Pushing through the door, I strolled past the operating glasswashers outback and lingered at the threshold to watch energetic employees tend to customer demand.

Alexa is nowhere in sight.

I went to the closest cash register, opened the drawer and deducted tonight's takings.

"Mr Warren." Natalie used a tea towel to wipe alcohol spillage on her fingers. "Did you need something?"

My gaze flickered throughout the room. "Where's Josh?" I asked, knowing full well he's pegging cougars.

"Um..." she glanced over customers' heads. "I don't know, actually. He was here a minute ago."

Alexa re-appeared behind the bar. Zigzagging between co-workers, she set the crane of steamed glasses on the counter and restocked shelves.

Natalie mumbled indistinctly.

I looked at her. "What?"

Her fair eyebrows met in the middle. "I asked if you wanted me to go and find him?"

"Yes." Tucking fifty-pound notes into my trouser pocket, I closed the till drawer and approached the woman determined to avoid me.

Alexa replenished the wall-mounted liquor. My chest pressed to her back as I reached over her shoulder to grab the Jameson bottle. I caught the slight hitch of her breath over the loud music. "You are avoiding me."

Loose strands of dark hair framed her face. "No."

I stood beside her to pour a drink. "Why did you run last night?"

She sprayed disinfectant on alcohol spillage. "It would be arrogant to assume I had an overnight invitation, Mr Warren."

"Touché." Her dismissiveness chagrined me. "You could have let me drive you home, though."

Tossing a tea towel on the counter, she busied her hands by cleaning.

My jaw clenched. "Presumably, I upset you."

Her eyes jerked up.

"Correct?" I probed, and her cheeks hollowed. "Elaborate."

Alexa huffed in exasperation. "I had a lovely night, Mr Warren."