Page 116 of Ruthless God

The townspeople of North Haven whispered about my father’s death; they don’t believe he committed suicide. But the business partners kept their word and had our back. No one but us know what really happened to Bailey, and my family and I want to keep it that way. I don’t want people to remember her asthis sad, tragic person. Now that I have found out the truth about my sister, I can finally breathe, while she can finally rest.

Lyrical rushes down the stairs, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and kisses my lips as I slide my fingers under her leather dress, squeezing her ass.

“Did I mention how much I love you?” she says, grinning from ear to ear.

I tuck her hair behind her ear. “Yes. You tell me every hour.”

“I tried looking everywhere for my Christmas gift at the farmhouse and here. Please give me a hint so I can stop trying to kill myself over it.”

“You’re never going to find it,” I shoot back, holding her hand.

We’re going to have our own Christmas dinner at the Billionaire Club, then I’m taking her to the part of the club where the sex club is, where I’m going to fuck her. Her second gift is the building she wants to turn into her art studio and gallery, our first investment. It’s the place she’s been eyeing for so long, and I saw it on her Pinterest boards.

Keanu walks down the stairs with his bag in his hand and Lyrical meets him at the bottom of the steps, wrapping her arms around him. Setting his bag down, he spins her around like he’s some fucking Disney prince and she’s his princess. The scene where the girl gets the prince. It takes every ounce of my self-control not to slit his throat, but if I kill Keanu, Lyrical will never forgive me because she considers him her “friend.” So he can keep his life—for now. He’s supposed to be on my side, but it seems my wife’s got him wrapped around her finger. For the last month, they got close, hanging out, going on these so-called friend dates. It makes me sick. A week ago, when I was at the club, she texted him to bring her a bag of gummy bears and they watched a movie together. I watched them through the camera Iplanted in the farmhouse. I hate their fucking friendship. I’m the only male friend she needs.

I stand between them, bringing Lyrical to my side, and Keanu smirks.

“Where are you going for winter break?” she asks, rocking on her heels.

“My parents’. Though I don’t want to because they are going to be hounding me about getting married.”

“You’re still not in an arranged marriage to anyone?” she asks.

He shakes his head. “I tend to scare the prospective wives off with the shit that I’m into. Plus, marriage is not my thing. I like to be free to stick my dick into anyone I want to. I see how Snow acts with you, and I’ll be damned to be pussy-whipped because of a woman. No offense, Snow.” He eyes me.

I roll my eyes, folding my arms across my chest.

Lyrical crinkles her nose at him. “Will you be able to become CFO after graduation? I thought you had to be married to inherit your proportion of the business.”

“My father is planning on giving it to my brother if I don’t.” With that, he slaps me on the back. “I’ll see your crazy ass next semester. Take care of mybestie.”

“She’s not your best friend, K. I am, remember?”

“I replaced you with Lyrical. She’s more fun and doesn’t have a stick up her ass like you. Maybe you need to peg him a fe—”

“Keanu. Leave before I slit your throat,” I growl.

Lyrical opens the door for him, and we both watch Keanu throw his bag straps over his shoulders and hop on his motorcycle before taking off down the driveway.

The smell of the ocean wafts into my nose, inviting a chilly breeze along with it.

Jameson and Irvin head downstairs with their bags and they both eye us. Irvin drops his bag on the floor, walks up to me, andplaces his hand on the back of my neck, squeezing tight. I can barely breathe when he bangs my head against the wall.

Lyrical tries to reach for me to stop him, but Jameson holds her back. “Stay out of it, Lyrical.”

“If you ever try to kill me again, I promise you, you will meet your maker.”

I burst out laughing, so he bangs my head against the wall again, causing my head to throb.

“I mean it. And if you ever threaten to harm Lilac again, I’ll kill Lyrical and bury her ass in the backyard. We might not like each other but you will respect me.”

He lets me go, and I stroke my face. No doubt, I’m going to have a bruise. “Next time I kill you, I’ll make sure you’re dead for real.”

We stand toe to toe, and I place my hand on the gun tucked into the back of my pants.

Jameson stands between us. “Leave, Irvin. We don’t need a bloodbath.”

He nods, mumbling “Fucking asshole” and then slams the door.

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