Page 26 of Fierce Storm
I don’t need help with my love life. Nor do I want it. But I guess, what does it matter if they name their little chat after me? It’s not going to work. I don’t have time for love in my life, and I give it a few weeks before they figure that out and get bored.
PAIGE ADDED KEELEY TO THE GROUP
PAIGE: I’m sorry, Keels. It’s official. They’ve changed the group name. Easton’s just as pissed as you are
KEELEY: I’m not pissed. But it’s pointless. Although, since my life’s goal is to irritate my brother, maybe it won’t be so bad
HAYLEY: That’s the spirit. The love of your life is out there waiting and this is going to attract him
An image of Sal comes to mind and I laugh even harder. Nope. We are not going there again, even if he did light me up inside from only a kiss.
A kiss… I have an idea.
KEELEY: I don’t know about love, but I’ll take a hookup. If the group chat can work on that, I’d greatly appreciate it
Might as well put their meddling to good use. Can’t have them wasting their so-called power.
PAIGE: Thank you for making my night hell, Keeley. Easton just read that text
KEELEY: Whoops
Sorry, not sorry. This is going to be fun.
Chapter Eight
SALVATORE
The second my office door closes, the smile drops from my face and I sink back against the wall, closing my eyes.
Another day, another goddamn press conference. Only this one wasn’t like the others.
One second I’m defending Zane’s honor, despite believing everyone had finally moved on, and the next my integrity’s in question. All because some dickhead decided to look into my past, mentioning my once fractured relationship with Paige, accusing me of focusing more on the players on my team and my job over my own family.
And the worst part is he wasn’t fucking wrong. Back then at least. Now it’s different.
I know my faults; I own them. A comment like that wouldn’t normally get me enraged like it did, except that he also asked about the impending court case for the Mikklesons—Paige’s ex-boyfriend’s dad and uncle. A case I might have to testify in. A caseshemight have to testify in. And it completely rattled me.
When Paige first moved to San Francisco, she was being blackmailed by her ex’s family, the Mikklesons. All because she’doverheard her ex-boyfriend’s mom and aunt talking about some of his dad and uncle’s illegal dealings within their company. Since our relationship was still a little fractured at the time, she didn’t tell me what was going on. Instead, she decided to hire my private investigator, Austin, to dig around for proof that she could take to the police.
Being the strong, sometimes stubborn woman that she is, it wasn’t until she was worried about her mom that she finally confided in me. As it turned out, Camilla had been sleeping with Gabriel Mikkleson, Paige’s ex-boyfriend’s dad.
The last thing Paige needs is to be thrown into the spotlight again when she’s finally managed to find herself a semi-private life. As private as one can get in a high-profile relationship. These days, she controls the narrative, and I want to keep it that way.
What the hell is wrong with people?
How can they care so little about another person’s feelings?
My cell rings at the same time my assistant buzzes my desktop phone, and I snap out of my mood. I’ve got shit to do and no time to wallow.
I answer my cell as I stride toward my computer, messaging Tabitha to ask her what she needs before spending the next hour putting out fires.
Client conflicts at D’Angelo Construction—the business I’m still meant to be running in New York.
Salary cap budget restraints.
Sponsors questioning whether or not they want to continue to support the team.
My ex-wife panicking over our son’s recent headline.
