Chapter 15

I haven't been in the car that long with the girls and they are starting to get on my last nerve. They are listening to pop music and singing off-key. The last thing I want to do while driving is listening to their crap. I would love to listen to other things.



Riley faces me as she sings the chorus of Billy Ray Cyrus song 'Achy Breaky Heart.' She starts to strum her stomach like a guitar and the words become off pitched and loud.



Looking in the rearview mirror I see Eliana looking out the window. She hasn't said a word to me since I had a go at her and seeing her quiet isn't something I'm used to. She's normally a bubbly person that wants to joke around, but that guy changed her and not in a good. "Does anyone need a rest stop?"



His Proposal - 14

"Yes," Irina says. "I really need to pee. I shouldn't have drunk all that water before we left the house." She looks over at Eliana. "Eli, do you need to go to the restroom?"



Eliana shakes her head. "I'm good, but I might get a bottle of water." She looks straight ahead. "How long until we get to Miami? I don't want to be in this car with you any longer, Jai?"



Looking at the dashboard I see that we've been travelling for three hours. "We have fifteen more hours together and then you can go off and do whatever you'd like, Eliana. Or I can find a bus station and you can catch a bus there."



Riley starts to laugh. "That's funny, Jai. She never climbs into a cab. Or rides the train. What makes you think she'll get on the bus?"



"I could always hope." Looking into the mirror I meet Eliana's glare. "When you come back to the car I hope your attitude has changed, Eli. I'm not going to drive all the way to Miami with you wanting to kill me because I'm not taking advantage of you like you want me to."



"Whatever, Jai." She pulls out her lipstick and starts applying it to her lips.



Swerving the car on purpose I see a line across her face from where the lipstick didn't connect with her lips and start laughing. "That's you're best look so far, Eli." Ahead of us I see a service station and pull over.



The girls get out of the car and head inside.



Filling up the car I pay for it on credit card and climb back into the car. I park in front of the shop. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I message Chloe.



Me: How do I keep women happy on a long drive?



Chloe: Lots of chocolate and pit stops. They're going to want to use a restroom and not the bush.



Me: It's going to take me forever to get to Miami then.



Chloe: Lol :P



Me: :-( you're being mean.



Chloe: I better get back to work. My boss would hate to know that I'm slacking on the job.



Me: No, he wouldn't. He would be happy with the amount of work you're doing.



She doesn't reply to me for a bit.



Climbing out of the car I walk into the service station and find the chocolate aisle. I buy all types of chocolate, some chips, a bottle of coke and some lollies for the long trip.



As I get closer to the counter I see pies and sausage rolls being cooked.



I'm going to get one of each.



I bag the pie and sausage roll. I walk over to the counter and pay for my things. I walk to the car and see the girls standing around it. "I got you some chocolate." I show them the types that I got.



Riley takes the fruit and nut, Irina takes the plain one and Eliana takes the caramel one leaving me with the different flavoured ones.



Unlocking the door I climb into the car and place my food on the console. I start the car and wait for the girls to get in the car.



My phone vibrates and I know that it's a text from Chloe. I look at the phone and open the message.



At the next stop, I send Chloe a message.



Me: The chocolates are working, but the music is terrible. How am I supposed to enjoy driving with all the stupid pop music in my car?



Chloe: They're catchy songs. Just sing-a-long with them. It will make them happy.



Me: Thanks.



Chloe: Some guy is looking for you.



Me: Who?



Chloe: Knox Moretti. He came by for a drink and asked for you.



Why did Knox have to wait for me to be out of town for him to show up at my club? I like it better when he gives me a warning before showing up at my establishments.



Me: Is he still there?



Chloe: Yes,



Me: I'll get rid of him. I never wanted you to meet him this way. He should have known better than to show up at my club without telling me.



Me: I don't care. He knows the rules about not visiting my workplace without talking to me first. Are they carrying their weapons?



Chloe: Yes,



Me: Be safe.



Scrolling through my phone I find Knox's number and call him. I step out of the car and walk away from the car.



I really don't want the girls to hear my conversation with Knox. When I deal with Knox and Riker I have to act tough and scary, but most of the time I'm a soft teddy bear. That's the way I want those girls to remember.



Knox: Knox Moretti.



Me: What the fuck are you doing in my club?



Knox: I have to talk to one of your employees who's been stealing from me and he's been doing everything to evade me. The only place I know that I can see him is in the club. Apparently, he seemed to try to evade me here, but that didn't work since the beautiful brown haired waitress told me that he had to take care of something.



Me: Stay away from her, Knox. She's mine.



He laughs.



Knox; I know she's yours. She's safe, Jai. I think it's best if you get your men to take her home if they don't want her to witness what I'm capable of.



Me: I'm on it.



Hanging up the phone I pull Ethan's number up and send him a message.



Me: Can you walk Chloe out to the car?



Ethan: Sure,



Walking back to the car I climb into the driver's seat. Gripping the steering wheel I watch as my hands turn white.



Please get out of their safely, Chloe.



Irina is the first one back from the restroom and she looks at me. "Is everything alright, Jai?"



Shaking my head. "No, it's not. I just had to handle something, but it's hard for me to do it properly when I'm here and everything is in Los Angeles."



She places her hand on my shoulder. "Everything will turn out alright. You know I have to remind Riker at times that he's doing the right thing, even though at times it's not true. Do you want me to drive for a bit and you can talk to Chloe?"



"That would be great." I climb out of the driver's seat and walk to the passenger side seat and I climb in.



Pulling out my phone I look at the messages that I've been sending Chloe and it makes me smile.



The girls return a couple of minutes later. Riley climbs into the back seat and she doesn't say anything about the changing of seats.



Irina pulls out of the parking spot and she heads back onto the interstate.



Once we're on it I feel my phone vibrate. I pull it out and see a message from Chloe.



Chloe: I made it home.



Me: That's good. Have a good night, Chloe.



Chloe: You, too. Night.



I put my phone in my pocket and close my eyes.



"That would be great." I climb out of the driver's seat and walk to the passenger side seat and I climb in.