Page 35 of Toxic Things I Love About You

I looked at my brother’s pretty little hands thinking that spelling out consequences was about all he could do. It took me a minute to choke down the humor in Emilee’s voice. The first time I’d heard her meet him and I couldn’t stop the humor of the idea that he indeed had small hands. She’d become a part of even my memories of my brother. He wasn’t enforcing shit.

“Maybe it was the best of luck for you that I showed up, wasn’t it, little brother?”

He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t argue with me as someone stood, jostling Dorian into paying attention.

“How do we know it isn’t you? Are you fucking setting us up? Who is he?”

I smirked but let my brother fumble around. The fucking distrust in this room was thick enough I could stab it with my knife.

“Fuck off. I question you, not the other way around,” he said.

This should be worth watching. I folded my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall. Parks would wait, that I was certain of, and it was best he didn’t walk into a room waiting to overthrow his cousin. I didn’t think it was smart for so many reasons, one predicting how Emilee would react. Just how much he could keep his cool if she were in danger was another wild card. Fuck, was I able to?

“I think we all know that if you cross the Lords, they will not only destroy you, they will make sure that no one will find your body.”

My brother was sure trying to be scary, and I didn’t buy it for a second. He was the preppy little rich boy that got everything he wanted. Fucking hell. I pulled away from the wall and clapped a hand on my brother’s back.

“I think it goes without saying just how bad things will get if you betray those in power.” Fuck, was it a gang or a mob? I needed to figure out what the fuck the Lords really were. The guys in here seemed more like a gang and the way shit had gone down at that warehouse seemed organized in tiers.

“Who the fuck are you?”

I smiled and cocked my brow. Someone seemed to know because he was seated and quiet a second later.

“We didn’t know you were in charge, Mr. Demarco.”

My brother’s jaw dropped and I’m pretty sure he squeaked. Who the fuck cared?

“That is for me to know and everyone here to just listen. If anyone has any ideas about who’s been leaking information, come forward and I can promise you things won’t be bad. Should no one come forward?” I shrugged and let go of Dorian.

The room was silent, and I could see glances being shared.

“No one? Not a single one of you knows what happened?”

I pulled out my knife and let everyone see the blade as I flipped it open. Someone stood and came forward.

“I’m no snitch. All I have is a phone number. I’m not burning for whoever leaked the information on the fucking warehouse.”

I ran my tongue over my teeth and nodded. I knew no one in the room had leaked anything. Or rather, no one in this room had leaked the information internally. They had their dealers and their dealers seemed to also be mine. This number would go nowhere helpful.

“Alright. Brother? What do you think? Anyone need to lose a finger or two?”

He was quiet and walked up and down the spaces between the poker tables that everyone had sat around.

“I think we have an understanding. And if this number leads somewhere, I know that everyone will be rewarded. Numbers are down thanks to these problems, so go do what you need to. Pickup’s will be sent soon.”

I put the knife away, making sure everyone saw me exaggerate the way I closed the blade and put it in my pocket. Once the last body had walked through the door, I grabbed my brother’s shoulder and slammed him against the wall.

“What the fuck are you doing? Bringing them here? To my property.”

Never in my life had I ever felt more unlike him, more unlike his brother than I did right now. I watched the light in his eyes darken and he fucking smiled like this was some joke.

“Look, big brother. I’m not as dumb as you think. How dare you come in here and fuck with my power.” He was lucky he was my brother, or I’d have killed him for that.

I let out a laugh at the words though. He truly thought he had power?

“What power, little brother? No one was taking you seriously. Take a seat and let the big boys handle these matters. How the hell did you even get involved with this fucking gang? They rival everything our family has stood for. Are we handling their transactions?”

His brow furrowed, and his lips pressed tight together.

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