Page 28 of Dark Reign

“Well, it probably doesn’t hurt that I don’t care one way or the other,” Roman rebutted with an indifferent grin, straightening the lapel of his jacket.

Levi ignored the remark and started in onmeagain. “Cecelia’s beautiful, her family name carries weight, and she’s on your level, Julian. And let’s face it, the only thing more pathetic than showing up to one of these events with some dog-faced nobody, would be coming alone,” he reasoned. “So just admit that I saved you embarrassment by fixing you up with Cecelia, and we’ll call it even.” His usual devious grin was present.

The bartender returned with our drinks and I faced Levi again. “Do you even hear yourself? Since when did you become the guy who cares what others have to say?”

He frowned and then downed the shot. “You’ve clearly missed my point. We’re talking aboutyou. I’m not the one whose world would crumble should a less-than-flattering article be published slandering my name.” He smiled. “I’m a gambling man. Therefore, bracing for the occasional loss sort of comes with the territory. You, however, have yet to get your hands dirty.”

Chuckling, I was then keenly aware of the moment I fell into his trap.

“There’s nothing wrong with living by a code, holding oneself to a standard,” I reasoned.

“It is when that standard isn’t even yours,” he shot back, ushering in the breadth of silence that followed.

“I brought a date because you forced her on me, and getting you to accept a firm ‘no’ is exhausting,” I quickly defended. It would have only strengthened his argument if I said nothing. “That’swhy Cecelia is here. Not because bringing her made sense to me, or because I was concerned what anyone would think if I came alone.”

“I call B.S. It had nothing to do with my persistence. You showed up tonight with the beautiful daughter of a billionaire on your arm because what people think of you matters. Just admit it, Julian!” he insisted as a wide grin spread across his face.

“So, in your eyes, I’m just some weak-minded conformist?” I asked with a laugh.

“Hey, your words,” he added, raising both hands shoulder-high, as if to surrender. “I simply stated that sometimes you’re more concerned with being seen in a bad light than you are with your own happiness. So, you then, in turn, do what you did tonight, what you do best,” he added.

Intrigued, I tilted my head. “And what’s that?”

He motioned for the bartender to bring another round.

“You bend,” he stated. “And you do it because it’s the only way you can keep from breaking. Breaking the rules, breaking your mother and father’s hearts, breaking the mold,” he clarified.

I didn’t like how his rationale sat with me, didn’t like that it felt a little too close to the truth.

“Wow …” I couldn’t say much more than that, feeling my mood sink lower with the passing seconds.

“Wow indeed,” he replied. “But it doesn’t always have to be this way. It wouldn’t turn the entire world upside down if you went off the rails a bit.”

I liked to think that was true, but he had no clue what it was like being my father’s son—the pressure, the constant fear of disappointing him, disappointingeveryone.

Levi stood and my gaze followed him. “You know what I think you need?” he asked, buttoning his tux jacket as he scanned the room. “You need a push, someone to challenge you to go after whatever it is you want tonight. So, I’ll be that someone,” he concluded.

There was an intrigued gleam in his eyes before he turned to our brother from the North. The next instant, Silas stood, too, coming closer. He placed a hand on my shoulder and followed Levi’s lead with one statement.

“Julian … go get what you want.”

With his words, my head cleared. As if a fog I hadn’t even realized existed suddenly burned away.

I lifted my gaze again, and plain as day, I saw the manifestation of that very thing Silas spoke of—what I wanted. Or rather,whoI wanted.

She was the most stunning woman I’d ever seen, and I’d been oddly aware of her presence even before now, before my stare was locked on her. In one crazy-impulsive moment, I decided to just … go for it.

I downed my shot and slammed the glass on the bar.

“Apologize to Cecelia for me.”

“Where are you going?” Levi called out as I put distance between us. He and the others caught up quickly.

My abrupt start toward the beautiful stranger finally got her attention, earning me the chance to look directly into those eyes. As I made this move that was completely out of character—leaving a date high and dry underanycircumstances—I gave Levi a simple explanation.

“Just showing you I’m not afraid to break.”

CHAPTER TEN

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