Page 18 of His Playmate
“Think about it, pet. If you agree, I’ll get you out of here. You’ll be free.”
Wolf was telling him what he wanted to hear. It was obvious that Wolf had connections, ways to get Diego out of prison. Their separation had made Diego’s obsession with Wolf grow. Hearing Wolf call him his pet was both a relief and a trigger to challenge him.
“I’m not your damn pet.”
Wolf didn’t look convinced. Not even Diego believed his own words. But it didn’t matter what Diego said, because Wolf was going to see him as his pet regardless. And Diego liked that Wolf was pursuing him.
“Of course, you are, Diego. Don’t fight what you already know.”
While he had been in prison, Diego had thought many times about his experiences at Wolf’s mansion. He wondered how it would have been if he’d willingly given himself to Wolf. To have opened himself to a relationship, and to have stopped denying himself what he craved. Diego couldn’t wipe the yakuza boss from his mind. There was no denying it: Diego needed Wolf. Hewantedhim.
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to take you up on your offer,” Diego said.
“I’ve made up my mind, and now I’m waiting for you to do the same,” Wolf said.
“Why do you need me?” Diego asked. They made eye contact, and his stomach fluttered.
“You’re useful.”
“No, I’m not. What are you planning, Wolf?”
Wolf was quiet for a moment. “To have an alliance with you. We both have enemies, but if we work together …”
Diego frowned. “You think I can’t handle it on my own? I can deal with whoever the fuck comes at me. I don’tneedyour help.”
“Enough,” Wolf said, his tone firm through the receiver. “Stop running from me, Diego. Think about what I’ve said. This benefits the both of us.”
Wolf was right. Diego belonged to Wolf, and he couldn’t keep denying how he felt for the yakuza boss. And working with Wolf … being with him, was better than staying behind bars. If they formed an alliance, they’d accumulate more power, and Diego liked the idea of that. But he didn’t like being helpless, or feeling like he had to rely on Wolf for everything.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Wolf.”
“Don’t fight me on this. Itold youto stay out of trouble, but you didn’t listen to me. Now look where you are, Diego. You want to get out of here, and you need me to do it. You have five minutes to make a decision, or you’ll be stuck in here for years; you choose. I’m not coming back for you again.”
Wolf was Diego’s only way to get out of prison. If he didn’t take the offer, he would regret it. Diego opened and closed his mouth, but he didn’t say a word. He only watched, gripping the phone. Wolf stood from his seat and turned to hang up. Eyes wide, Diego stared at Wolf’s back. He was serious. Diego tapped on the glass. “Wait!”
Wolf stopped and looked at Diego before he brought the phone to his ear. “Change your mind?”
Diego huffed. “Even if I want to take your offer … how are you going to get me out of here anyway? I’m in prison, for fuck’s sake.”
A small smile pulled up Wolf’s lips. “I have my ways.”
CHAPTERSEVEN
After parkingat the front of Wolf’s mansion, Diego walked to the porch. Levi was sitting on the stairs watching him. They didn’t say a word to each other. Diego stepped inside, glancing back at Levi’s glare. Diego had only just been released from prison, and he knew that Levi wasn’t happy about him being there.
Diego went to Wolf’s office and sat in the leather guest chair. He put his feet up on the coffee table and sighed, his hands behind his head as he relaxed. “Your kid isn’t going to be a problem, is he, Wolf?”
“Don’t worry about Levi,” Wolf said. He stood by the wide-paned window and turned to face Diego. “There are rules around here, and I want you to follow them.”
Rules. Diego hated that word. “You know I don’t follow rules. I agreed to working with you, isn’t that enough?”
They watched each other for a moment.
Wolf walked to Diego and pushed his feet off the coffee table. “This is important, Diego. Listen to me,” Wolf said as he moved to his desk and sat down. “If you betray me, I will punish you. Don’t kill any of my men, and most importantly, don’t hurt Levi. It doesn’t matter if he gets on your nerves or makes you angry. If you have a problem with him, you come to me. I’ll handle him.”
Diego knew that hurting Levi would have serious consequences, and he didn’t want to be punished by Wolf again. But Diego was impulsive and had a temper. It wasn’t easy to hold back when he was angry.
“That sounds fair,” Diego said. If he went along with what Wolf wanted, then he’d get what he wanted in return. Levi was going to be difficult. Diego would keep his distance, but he could tell that the boy was going to antagonize him. “But I’ll leave whenever I want.”
