Page 31 of Ryker

I smack his hand off me. “Fuck you.”

“I’d allow it if I thought it would do you any good.”

Raking my hands through my hair angrily, I rip a shirt from the closet next. “How much did you watch?”

“All of it.”

Possessiveness flies out of my mouth with a growl. “Don’t watch us again.”

It’s hypocritical. I know that. I keep my eye on every Dom that’s with a Butterfly in that suite—including Dmitri. To act like him following protocol is wrong makes me a dick. Still, I don’t care. I don’t want anyone seeing Tara’s body, or the things I’m going to do to it, except me.

“Rules are rules, Ry. You’ll be watched.”

“Then you’re fired.”

“No, I’m not.” He crosses his arms over his chest. It makes me want to punch him hard enough to break his fucking jaw.

But I promised to never do that again, so I settle for, “She’s got to go. She’s fucking me all up.”

“Or she’s making you face things you haven’t been willing to work on in a while.” He doesn’t budge, so I have to walk around him. Asshole. “What’s up with you lately, man? You’ve been more tense than usual. Got a dildo stuck up your ass or something?”

If only. “23 Greene Street is for sale.”

That changes his mood entirely. Dmitri drops his arms and his shoulders droop. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m buying it.”

“Jesus Christ, Ryker, that’s—”

“I don’t care. I’m fucking buying it.”

“And then what?” He tosses his hands up. “What the fuck are you going to do with that shithole? Turn it into another sex club? Think that’ll calm your demons? Because I know you’re not going to tear it down.”

He’s right. I won’t. “It’s got potential.”

Dmitri stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have.

His voice drops to a low whisper when he says, “You need to let it go.”

My hands ball into fists. I don’t need his opinion or his approval. “Get the fuck out of my office, D.”

He tips his head back just to look down at me a little more. Fucker. I’m vibrating with the need to hit something, and I know damn well Dmitri is fantasizing about knocking me the fuck out right now, too. He always gets this extra vein in his temple when he’s furious enough to fight, and he’s got it now.

“You’re making a mistake, Ryker.”

“You’re making a bigger one by standing here when I said to get the fuck out.”

Dmitri shakes his head and mumbles something under his breath as he walks out my door. Once he’s gone, I get a goddamn grip and regain some composure. Pouring three fingers of whisky into a glass, I take one sip and the burn hits my gullet, making my stomach clench.

Furious, I throw the glass against the door. It shatters, splashing bourbon all over the place.

A gentle knock makes me storm over and swing the door wide open. “Dmitri, I swear to fu—”

Sophie stands in front of me with a tray of food, her eyes wide with fear as she takes a step back. “I’m sorry. I thought Dmitri was in here.”

“Why aren’t you home, Sophie?” Her shift ended hours ago.

“I… I’m bringing Dmitri breakfast.”

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