Page 145 of Wicked Angel
I shifted aside as a couple of people brushed past, heading outside.
When we were alone again, Summer said, “She’s always been into you, okay? You’ve got her wrapped around your finger, already. Or at least your…” She glanced down, briefly, making her point. Her eyes met mine again, with force. “Don’t use her, okay? I’m sure you can find someone else if that’s what you’re after.”
“Why would you assume I’m using her?”
“You’ve hired her to be your publicist and she’s not even a publicist.”
“She’s learning. I gave her an opportunity.”
“I’m sure.”
“Nice seeing you, Summer.” I went to brush past her, but she stepped in front of me.
“Look, Johnny. Elle won’t say these things to your face because she doesn’t want to embarrass Angeline. I have no such filter. I’d rather embarrass her than have her ripped apart by a man who has zero respect for women.”
Instantly, my blood went hot. “Back off, Summer. You don’t know shit about me or my life.”
“I know you use women, cheat on them and toss them away, and it’s not okay with me if you do that to her. She deserves better. She just went through a breakup. She’s vulnerable and if you prey on that just to get your dick wet, you can kiss any chance of working with my band or Elle’s goodbye. I mean it, Johnny.”
Yeah. I could see that.
Was that how Cary felt, too? And all her other bandmates?
“So, you’re threatening me now.”
“I’m telling you how it is.”
“I see how it is. You can’t make her stay away from me, and that pisses you off.”
She drew back a bit. Her husband, Ronan, the Players’ head of security, suddenly joined us, looming next to her. He read his wife’s mood and looked hard at me. “Everything okay?”
I ignored him. “She’s a grown woman, Summer. She’ll do what she wants.”
“Yes, she is. That doesn’t mean I can’t look out for her. You treat her like the angel she is, or we have a problem.”
I took a breath, assessing her. What first felt like an attack on me now struck me as what it really was. Summer had her claws out to protect Angeline. She saw me as a threat.
But I wasn’t a threat.
“I appreciate you looking out for her. You don’t need to worry about me, though. I know what an angel she is.”
Summer looked mildly shocked, no retort for that one.
“Have a nice night, Summer. Say hi to Cary for me.” I nodded at her husband and brushed past.
I headed upstairs, looking for Angeline, when I didn’t find her in the living room. I found her on the second floor, talking to Talia and Devi. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not; the wives of two of my best friends having a girl-to-girl with her.
Judging by the way they both looked at me, with marked suspicion, I was thinking not. Talia and Devi had both tolerated me, welcomed me into their homes; they’d been friendly, even. But it seemed the warm welcome had evaporated when I showed up in one of their homes with one of their esteemed girl crew.
“Hey, Johnny,” Angeline said softly. They’d all stopped their conversation as I approached.
“Hey, Angel. You find the washroom?”
“Yeah. It’s back there.” She gestured toward the end of the hall, where a door to a dark room stood ajar.
“Great.” I headed toward it, taking her by surprise when I caught her arm and pulled her with me. She followed me into the bathroom, where I flipped on a light and locked the door behind us.
“People… listening…” she stammered, already breathless as I pushed her back against the door.
