Free Blame It on the Shame (Blame It on the Shame: Lou-Lou and Ricardo's Story #1) by Ashley Jade

on her own before. She's never had her independence.”
    “That's probably because she's still a fucking teenager,” I say under my breath.
    “She'll be 24 at the end of the month,” he snaps. “Anyway, I don't want anyone at the club knowing the extent of my involvement with her because it will make her an easy target for my enemies. Understood?”
    When I nod he continues, “I fear that some asshole may take advantage of her since they won't know she's connected to me.”
    His eyes soften. “She's the most important person in the world to me and I don't want anything happening to her.”
    I fight the urge to laugh. I can't believe this 5-foot-nothing, firecracker with the big brown doe eyes is his weak spot.
    He puffs out his chest. “I want her to have her independence, but not at the expense of her safety. That's why I'm entrusting you to look after her. That's the real reason I hired her as a ring girl.”
    He looks down. “I know if there's one person in the world I can trust with my most prized possession, it's my own son.” He looks at me. “Right?”
    “Right,” I say.
    It's not so much that I'm necessarily in agreement...it's just that I want him to think I am.
    Having DeLuca as an ally is much better than having him as an enemy. There's not a line in this world the man won't bulldozer over to get his way. His evil knows no bounds...I've seen him do things that could make a demon cry.
    He laughs deep and sinister and if I was a lesser man, I'd be nervous right now. “Besides, if I couldn't trust you—well then; I'd just have to hit you where it really hurts.”
    I open my mouth but shut it when he says, “You know, your friends Tyrone and Jackson.”
    And therein lies the drawback to letting people in and caring about them.
    It makes good fucking leverage.
    “Nothing will happen to her. I'll make sure of it. I'll protect her.” I look him right in his dark eyes, which are identical to my own. “You have my word.”
    He shakes my hand. “It's a deal.”
    I squeeze his hand hard. “I know better than to make any more deal's with you. So you'll just have to take me at my fucking word.”
    That fucked up combination of pride and anger flash in his eyes. “Very well. Get home safe, son.” He smiles and I drop my hand. “You've got some precious cargo with you.”
    I walk toward my car and all I can think is— Jesus, what the hell have I gotten myself into ?
    I have my hands full trying to look out for and keep everything copacetic regarding my boys and DeLuca...having to look after her now will be a headache.
    But then I think about the way her face fell and the devastation in those big brown eyes of hers when she thought DeLuca was getting rid of her.
    When she thought he didn't love her anymore.
    It was the saddest look I'd ever seen.
    Craziest thing of all? I found myself identifying with her because I've felt that way before when it came to DeLuca.
    I also know what it's like to feel like no one wants you. To feel like you have no one in your corner.
    I know what it's like to go through life all on your own, only having yourself to rely on.
    Hell, it's been that way for most of my damn life.
    Until Jackson and Tyrone, that is.
    I wasn't looking to get close to anyone when I began coaching them, but somehow I found way more than I could ever bargain for.
    I found a family...a brotherhood .
    There's no way I'll ever let anyone take that away.
     

     
    “Oh, god pull over.”
    Those are the first words she's spoken in the last hour.
    I glance over and her cheeks are puffed out and her hand is covering her mouth.
    Shit , she's gonna puke.
    I cut the wheel so hard my tires screech when I pull over to the side of the expressway.
    She opens the door, stumbles out and leans against the car while dry heaving.
    I curse under my breath and grab a water bottle out of the extra gym bag I keep in my car.
    “Everything's spinning,” she slurs.
    “Yeah, it's called being drunk ,” I say.
    She shoots me