Page 116 of Shadow's Surrender
Chapter Twenty-Four
The golden orangeand smoky purple streaks melted into gray under the moonlight. Shadow glanced out the window while he massaged the ache in the back of his neck. He’d been bent over the computer for most of the day, and his dry eyes and aching neck were the result of no breaks. Whenever he got involved in something, time would rush by without him noticing it.
He looked over at the wall clock: 7:15 p.m. Scarlett had texted him over an hour ago, saying she would be home later than she’d thought. Shadow planned to make her his signature dish: shrimp scampi. It was a favorite of his mother’s and whenever shrimp had gone on sale, she’d snatch it up. His mom had often told him that if he learned to cook only one dish, it had to be shrimp scampi, and so she’d taught him how to do so.
Shadow had gone to the grocery store before coming in to work, and now he walked over to the small fridge and took out the bag of shrimp, a container of basil, and a bottle of white wine imported from France. He locked the office door, then set the alarm before exiting the warehouse. Glancing around, he didn’t spot any of the brothers or prospects and wondered if Hawk and Banger had reconsidered having someone watch over him. Since the whole babysitting shit had come up a couple days before, Shadow hadn’t noticed anyone tailing him.
The only sounds came from the silhouettes of trees, their branches swaying in the wind of a newly silver sky, and the soft scampering of a nocturnal animal taking cover in the bushes.
He crossed the lot, put the groceries and wine in the saddle bags, then jumped on his bike and headed over to Scarlett’s. That night, he wanted to pamper her, to give her the princess treatment, then after dinner he’d put aside his gentlemanly ways and bang her good and hard—just the way she loved it.
Shadow parked in front of her building and lifted his chin at the desk attendant as he walked over to the elevators. Scarlett had put his name on the list as a permanent guest so he didn’t have to keep signing in and showing his damn driver’s license.
Shadow looked at his reflection in the mirrored elevator doors: a bottle of wine in one hand, a couple of bags of groceries in the other. If anyone would’ve told him two months ago that he’d be making dinner for a woman heloved, Shadow would’ve punched them out. He shook his head and chuckled, then stepped out when the doors opened on Scarlett’s floor.
He unlocked the door and entered the condo. It was quiet except for the low hum of some of the kitchen appliances. When Shadow walked into the living room, he saw the silhouette of a woman sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs.
“Hey, baby,” he said. “I guess you finished sooner than you thought. Why the hell are you sitting in the dark?” He felt around on the wall and found a light switch.
After he flipped it on, Shadow widened his eyes in surprise as his gaze fell on Scarlett’s mother, sitting with her legs crossed on one of Scarlett’s favorite chairs.
“What the fuck areyoudoing here?” he growled as he took a few steps forward.
Pamela laughed dryly. “No ‘Hello, Mrs. Mansfield’? I can’t believe my daughter is involved with such a Neanderthal.”
Shadow walked away and into the kitchen.
“You haven’t answered my question as to why you’re here,” he said, putting the groceries into the refrigerator.
“I wanted to speak to Scarlett since she makes it a point to come by the house whenever I’m not there.”
“That should tell you she doesn’t want to see you. Did you bribe the attendant to get inside?” He took out a box of linguine from the pantry and set it on the counter. The last thing he wanted was for his woman to be upset, so he had to get her bitch mom to leave.
“Scarlett has always been a very spoiled and silly girl.”
“Your daughter and I love each other, and I told your husband the same thing.” Shadow pulled out the pasta pot and filled it with water.
“Love,” she scoffed. “What you are talking about is desire—just brutal desire.”
“Call it whatever the fuck you want, but I don’t want you upsetting my woman tonight.”
Pamela snorted. “Your woman. What a perfectly crass thing to say.” A small pause. “You’re white trash.”
“Damn straight I am, lady.” He slammed the filled pot on the stove.This is getting old.
“The thought of you pawing my daughter makes me sick to my stomach.”
“Then don’t think about it.” Shadow leaned against the quartz counter, his jaw clenching so tightly he thought it might break. “You’ve said your shit, now get out.”
“If you think I’m going to allow you to ruin the Mansfield name, you’ve underestimated me.”
Shadow marched back into the living room.
“I have worked hard to be in the position I’m in, and I’m not letting some lowlife come intomyfamily and take it all away. I know what it means to be poor, to live among trash, and I worked my ass off to make sure I’dnevergo back there again. So don’t even think for one second that my husband or I will accept you. How much do you want to stay away from Scarlett?”
Raw anger shot through him. “You think this is about money?”
Pamela lifted her chin arrogantly. “Isn’t everything?”
