"I'm not going to have anything to do with the gym," I reassured her. "That's your baby. I'm helping you find a location because I want you to be safe, not because I want to tell you how to run it."
"I know, and I understand that. I might hate it, but I also know that it's for the best. Even if we don't go anywhere in the long run, I am always going to be associated with Matteo because of Ivory. I can't keep burying my head and pretending that I'm not involved in the criminal side of the city. But if my father already doubts my ability to run the gym—and he does—can you imagine what might happen if he gets wind of my disorder? It will just be another reason for him to think I can't do it," she whispered.
Reaching over to grasp her hand in mine and rest them on her thigh, I squeezed. Our relationship, while serious to me, wasn't at the point where I felt comfortable interceding on her behalf. I'd stress her abilities to her father when I could, but I wasn't comfortable enough with either of them to have a conversation with him about how his actions affected Sadie. My guess after meeting him was that Oscar had no idea how his passive comments and lack of faith upset Sadie. That she felt like less than her brothers, even though the two of them had far more in common than he had with his sons.
There was nothing to be said in the face of disappointing a parent when all we wanted was to earn their approval. She might not have said it, but the words hung in the air, regardless.
Nothing she did would ever be enough for her father to see her the way she wanted.
The way she deserved.
The last thing I wanted to do was bring Sadie back to Tease. The woman could find trouble in a nunnery. Bringing her to a house of sin and expecting her not to play was just plain dumb.
Rebel wasn't a fan of the loud music, her intelligent eyes casting judgment on the scantily clad girls as we made our way through the main space.
Some of the girls blew Sadie kisses as we passed, actions that Sadie returned while men glanced her way despite the already half-naked women available to be the evening's entertainment. Tease housed some of the most beautiful women and best strippers in the city.
Something about Sadie shone from within, making her glow brighter than they did, even in their element. She might not have legs long enough to touch the sky or the biggest tits in the house, but she had a face that knocked men on their asses, with angled honey eyes framed by thick eyelashes that were as dark as night. She'd slipped on a pair of distressed jeans that showed the golden tone to her tawny skin on her thighs, and a black t-shirt with a whiskey brand on it.
She guided the way through the club in that confident way she had. The walls had risen higher than ever after her revelations about her relationship with her father the night before. Blocking me out to the best of her ability, she strutted through the space like she owned it. I allowed it, knowing it was a temporary defense that I'd eventually wear down.
Guilt still consumed me that I'd hurt her, even if the physical injury hadn't been severe enough to leave marks. Being attacked in her sleep couldn't have been easy for Sadie, given the events that led to our meeting. While she never talked about it or acted like she had any fear because of it, I knew that, as with anything else where Sadie was concerned, it wasn't as simple as it seemed. The bouncer guarding the door to the back rooms nodded to her as she approached, shoving it open for her. The nod to me came secondary.
It seemed my Baby Girl had made more of an impression than I'd thought. Why didn't that come as a surprise?
She made right for Yavin's office, smiling at the girls she passed and not caring in the slightest for their various states of undress. Not all women were so comfortable in their nudity, but Sadie smacked the girl who'd given her a lap dance a few nights prior on the ass as she walked by.
She threw open Yavin's door without knocking, and I sighed with a hint of laughter strangling my voice. A week ago, I'd have said that was a great way to get a show, given the revolving door of women that went in and out of Yav's office.
But now he just glowered up at the intruder from his place at his desk, typing away furiously on the keyboard. "Fuck. There's no way it's been a week," he said, scrubbing his hand over his face.
"Not yet," I smirked, thoroughly enjoying the harassed look on his face. I knew he did it with love, but I also partially wondered if seeing that expression hurt Sadie. People feigned annoyance with her a lot. Knowing what I did about her lack of confidence, I suspected the affection behind it was often lost on her.
"Bryan is showing Sandro a rundown of the pick ups. I showed him how it goes at Indulgence earlier, and now I get the joy of showing him here. Twice in one day," I grunted.
"Right. Because a cash hand off is rocket science," Yavin said with a roll of his eyes. "I've got her. Go get your shit done so you can both get out of my face."
"Oh, touchy," Sadie laughed. The interrogation and suspicion about Aoife's involvement in the cause for his crappy mood already built inside her beautiful,
