Page 30 of Hate Me

“An apology won’t turn back time.”

“No, but it might—”

“Might, what? Make you feel better? Ease your guilt?” I scoffed. “We both know you’re not capable of entertaining that emotion for more than a few fleeting moments every now and then.”

He clenched his fists. “That doesn’t matter, I still understand the act. It’s for Seb, not me. He needs it.”

“He doesn’t need anything from you.”

“You just don’t want that to be the case. Without Caleb and Skylar here, you need to be the only one there for him, to keep the one close relationship you have left free of any interference.”

“As usual, you’re so very far off the mark. Your desperation is showing, Damien.”

He blew out a breath. “Look, I know we have an agreement that I’m to keep my distance if I want to stay in the city, if I want to keep my nightclub too, but just once will do. Just one face-to-face interaction with him.”

“My terms are non-negotiable. If you continue to push, I can guarantee you won’t like the outcome.”

He smirked. “As much as Seb thinks he hates me right now, he’d never set you loose on me. Your hands are tied.”

I leaned forward, lowering my voice to a low growl. “There are loopholes to every constraint, Chaos.”

His throat worked and he tensed.

I went on, “I’ve held off for a long while. I’m Ruin. How long do you really think I can contain my true nature, especially if I continue to be provoked? Even somebody possessing my level of control can only be pushed so far before they snap. And it would be my absolute pleasure to deal you a deathblow.”

“Fantasize about that while you’re skull-fucking some bound Sub at Obscura, do you?”

“Sometimes.”

“Takes you over the edge, does it?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “Damn, King, don’t turn me on while I’m wearing these leathers. It’s a waste.” He gazed at me, his pupils noticeably dilated now. With his lack of control and obsessive need for instant gratification, it didn’t take much to get a rise out of him.

And every time, it calmed him down.

When he didn’t get a reaction from me, he sighed and sank back against his seat again. “Look, I’m sorry for getting so heavy-handed, I just want to try to make amends with my little brother.”

“And if he can’t forgive you this time?”

“Then I’ll accept it, I guess.”

“You won’t. You’ll get your back up and retaliate. It’s your pattern and it hasn’t changed since that first day Caleb and I saved Bastian from your wrath in his freshmen year of high school when you descended on him with your minions.”

“I’m not gonna hurt him again. I made a mistake with Skylar Bennett and that fucker, Jett, and I won’t repeat it.”

“You will.”

“King, just—”

I snatched up my glass and downed the remainder of my bourbon, before slamming it down and rising to my feet. “Move forward without Bastian in mind. It’s done. You know the price for violating my command, so heed my warning.”

He glared up at me, his eyes sparking with defiance, warring with his clear fear at the menace in mine. “Does Bastian know why you really allowed me back here? Does he know what you had me do while I was away?”

“He doesn’t need to. He’s stable now. Finally. If you do anything to jeopardize that, I will destroy you.”

“Mmm, how about you destroy me sexually, huh? Come on, you know you need it with Cal gone.”

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