Ruthless King (New Orleans Malones #4)

Chapter 24

24

T hat sassy tongue might just cash a check that your butt isn’t willing to pay.

An hour had passed and she still couldn’t believe he’d said that to her.

Jilly glanced up as e walked into the bedroom holding a tray.

On it was a bowl of chicken soup and a glass of orange juice.

Kind of a weird combination, but she wasn’t about to complain. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had taken care of her when she’d been ill.

“I could come downstairs and eat,” she said as he put the tray on the nightstand.

This kind of felt surreal.

Having Regent Malone bring her chicken soup.

Regent. Malone.

Who would have thought that he would be here taking care of her?

And to think she’d tried to send him away. It must have been the fever.

Or the fact that he doesn’t actually want you. For some weird reason, he’s looking after you because your mama asked him to.

Just remember that.

“You could also stop talking. I’m about to gag you.”

Her eyes dropped involuntarily to his crotch.

Yes, he could.

He could take down his pants and order her onto her knees . . .

He cleared his throat and her eyes shot back up to his. Was that . . . did he look amused?

Surely not, right? He didn’t know what she was thinking.

“I need a shower,” she blurted out. It was true, she definitely needed to get clean. She felt disgusting. Sweaty and gross.

And there was glitter in places that glitter really shouldn’t be.

Regent frowned. “No.”

No?

He couldn’t just tell her no.

Right?

Right.

“I want a shower.”

“And I want you to stop using your voice. You’re hurting your throat worse.”

He wasn’t wrong. Every time she spoke it felt like sandpaper across her throat. But now that she’d thought about how gross she felt . . . she felt even worse.

“I need to. I feel disgusting. I can’t stay like this.”

She really, really needed to get clean.

“I don’t think the doctor told you I wasn’t allowed to shower.”

“You could get dizzy, fall, and hit your head.” He shook his head. “No. Not happening.”

“So I just have to stay stinky and dirty?”

Awesome. She’d just told him that she was stinky. Although if he stuck around, he’d soon find that out for himself.

“The only way you’re showering is if I’m showering with you.”

Oh yeah, she could imagine that . . . he’d strip her off and press her against the wall as he fucked her nice and hard. Or perhaps he’d order her onto her knees . . .

Down, girl.

He didn’t mean it like that.

Stay cool. Do not let him see how he affects you.

“Yeah, well, obviously, that’s not happening,” she said.

“Obviously.”

Did he sound regretful? Or was she just searching for what she wanted to hear?

“But I suppose I could run you a bath.”

All right. That would be acceptable. She nodded. “Thank you.”

Regent stared down at the bath as it filled.

He picked up a bottle that was sitting on the lip. Strawberry cream body wash.

Did he pour this in? What if she didn’t want any?

He decided to let her put it in herself.

For fuck’s sake.

He’d never been this indecisive in his life. This girl.

She had him tied up in knots. Sometimes, he thought that she wanted him. The way she stared at him . . . with lust and need.

She was definitely attracted to him.

And it was making it hard for him to fight his own attraction to her.

That’s why this is a mistake.

Taking care of her . . . even for this short time made him see what he could have.

And he fucking wanted it.

Even if she was being a bit of a brat at the moment and fighting his care. He understood it. He’d disappeared on her and now he was back, insisting on taking care of her.

He shouldn’t be here.

But there was no way he could walk away. Not while she was ill.

Turning off the bath, he tested the temperature.

Hmm. It seemed right to him.

Moving into the bedroom, he found her sitting on the side of the bed, taking out her braids.

The hair she’d freed was a frizzy mess. She tugged at one, making herself wince.

“Careful,” he barked.

She jumped. Shit. He hadn’t meant to speak so harshly.

“I need to take them out. Have to wash my hair. Itchy.”

Her voice sounded really raspy. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to lose her voice.

“Why did you put it up like that?” he asked.

She tensed for a moment. “Because I wanted to.”

Why did he get the feeling that she wasn’t telling him the whole truth?

He didn’t like that. She shouldn’t keep things from him. Not when he was in charge of her.

No matter her opinion on that.

She pulled the last of her hair free.

“I don’t think you should wash your hair. You might get tired.”

With a sigh, she stared up at him.

God, she looked defeated. Ill. Worn down.

Walking over, he crouched in front of her, placing his hands on her thighs.

“Baby, you know you can tell me anything. If there’s something going on . . . if something is wrong or you’re in trouble, I am here to help you.”

All she did was shake her head.

“Jilly,” he said firmly. “I need you to tell me if you’re in trouble.”

“Why would I be in trouble?” she asked. “I don’t have a life. I work in a library. Nothing interesting ever happens to me.”

Right.

Except . . . he still didn’t believe her.

“I need to get in the bath before it gets cold.”

She attempted to stand, but he pushed her back down. “Stay sitting. I’ll carry you to the bath.”

Jilly sighed. “Regent, it’s kind of you to want to look after me. But you don’t owe Mama anything, and you definitely don’t owe me anything. I don’t know what brought on the Florence Nightingale routine, but I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time now. I’m fine. And your guilt or feelings of responsibility aren’t necessary. Now, I’m gonna go have a bath, and not that I don’t appreciate your help, but you should really think about leaving.”

Without a word, he watched her stand. She didn’t sway, but he still kept a close eye on her as she made her way to the bathroom.

“Be careful getting in and out of the bath,” he ordered.

The door closed with a snick.

Irritated, but unsure if that feeling was aimed toward her or himself, he headed downstairs with the tray of food.

Gerald was looking through the cupboards and fridge. He turned, taking the tray from him. Victor was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee.

“She liked the soup?” Gerald asked.

“Yes. She said to tell you it was delicious. Vic, what are you doing here?”

“I came to see my brother.”

As soon as Regent sat across the table, Gerald set a cup of coffee in front of him.

“Don’t you have better things to do?” Regent grumbled at his brother, tired of people questioning him. “You’re meant to be moving house right now.”

“The movers did most of it. And Gracen told me to leave her to it for a while. Apparently, I get in the way.”

Yeah, right.

Sometimes, he wondered if his father hadn’t been right to rule with an iron fist. No one had ever dared question him.

“Anyway, don’t you have better things to do?” Victor challenged.

“If I did, then I would be doing them. But I delegated—to you. And instead, you’re here. So why don’t you go help Gracen?”

To his shock, Victor flashed him a quick grin. This wasn’t like his brother at all. Victor was the one he relied on the most. The one who did whatever he asked.

But since meeting Gracen, the stoic bastard had gone and changed on him.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because Jardin and Maxim owe me a hundred bucks. They said you were here because you obviously had some agenda. Something you wanted from Jilly. But you’re doing it because you care about her.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Anne asked me to check on her, so I did.”

“She didn’t ask you to act as her nursemaid, though.” Victor stood and rinsed his cup. “Thanks for the coffee, Gerald. Got to get back to Gracen. Seriously, though. You should move her to the house. It isn’t safe here. I’ve got guys stationed outside, but the neighbors are starting to give them strange looks.”

He wasn’t saying anything that Regent hadn’t thought about. But he just nodded sharply.

Victor left and Gerald poured him another coffee.

“Can you make us some dinner before you leave, Gerald?”

“I can stay. Especially if you need to go elsewhere.”

Regent instantly wanted to refuse, but perhaps it wasn’t a stupid idea. He did have some things to take care of.

“Perhaps you could stay a few hours while I handle some things.”

His stomach rebelled at the thought of leaving her.

Fuck. This wasn’t good.

Gerald raised his eyebrows.

“Do you have something to say as well?”

“No, Sir. Just that there is no food in the house.”

“Yeah, she doesn’t keep the fridge very stocked. She can’t cook. Is there nothing in the cupboards you can use?”

“There’s nothing in the cupboards either. I’ve done an inventory. There are three packets of ramen noodles, two packets of instant rice, half a carton of Cinnabon creamer, coffee, and something that appears to be frozen, grated cauliflower.”

That sounded disgusting.

“That’s it? That can’t be it.” Were things that bad the other night? No, she’d had other things in the cupboard and fridge.

But not a lot.

“I’m afraid it is.”

What the hell?

“And while I am no snoop, I did find a few things . . .”

No snoop? Gerald had perfected the art of being invisible yet still knowing everything that was going on.

The older man set some papers in front of him. All bills. All unpaid.

“Money trouble?” Regent queried.

“It’s been a long time since I saw so little food in a house.”

Fuck.

Why hadn’t she told him? Anger rose inside him, but he squelched it. The other night, she’d cooked him dinner. Had she used money she didn’t have?

Didn’t she know he would give her money if she needed it?

Well, obviously she didn’t. “Can you take care of these?”

“Of course.”

“And order some food. But don’t buy too much stuff.”

Gerald frowned.

“She might not be here for long,” was all he said.

He glanced up as Jose entered the kitchen, carrying a neon pink bag covered in glitter.

“Uh, boss?” he said, scratching at his head.

“Yes?”

“An old lady across the street gave me this. I think it’s meant for Jilly.”

“What is it?” He took the bag, looking in it. “Is that . . .”

“Yeah. She winked at me and said have fun and not to, uh, strain myself.” Jose looked uneasy. “Boss, she said that she wants Jilly to have a good time but that her incantation might have worked too well as she didn’t intend for Jilly to have multiple hunks. That if Jilly said enough was enough, we’re to stop immediately. And she won’t hesitate to chop off my willy if I hurt her.” Jose reached down to cup himself. “I fully believed her too.”

“What the hell?” Regent reached into the bag and drew out the largest bottle of lube he’d ever seen.

“Well, that’s a big bottle,” Gerald said.

Regent flicked a glance up at the older man, but he looked as unflappable as ever.

Then, he drew out three boxes of condoms.

“Well. That explains the need for the lube,” Gerald said.

Regent just shook his head and stuffed everything back in the bag. “Just get rid of this.”

“Boss, it’s supposed to go to Jilly,” Jose said.

“No, Jilly isn’t well enough for this.”

“Hmm, she might want them when she is well enough, though,” Gerald mused.

“No, she won’t!” Regent snapped. Then he ran his hand over his face. Exhaustion tugged at him. “Just put it somewhere. I don’t have time to worry about orgies and neighbors and giant bottles of lube.”

“Yes,” Gerald said. “We can worry about those things another day.”

Dear Lord.