Page 48 of From Best To Bested

“Look at you, all aggressive and such.” Jake chomped at the air. “Rawr. I like it.”

“Just don’t have any more misunderstandings,” Roman said firmly.

“Oh, definitely.” Ezra waved a finger. “I don’t fuck around about choices, Jake. Don’t mess with him again without making sure he’s okay with it, or I’ll have to kill you.”

As if Roman would ever be okay with Jake’s advances.

“Defending your little princess’ honor?” Jake batted his eyes.

Ezra glared, green eyes furious before he blinked away the rage in a way he often did around Roman. “It’ll just be such a hassle to have to find someone else with your connections, Jakie Jake.”

“All righty.” Jake held up his hand like taking an oath. “No more funny stuff.”

Roman rolled his eyes, over this whole thing and hoping when Ezra’s high wore off, so would his patience for Jake.

Jake leaned in, gently kissing Roman and parting his lips with his tongue. Roman nearly retched, but his tongue slipped out as quickly as it slipped in, and Jake backed off.

“Kiss over. Total gentleman.”

Roman almost felt relieved until the chalky grain of a small pill moved along his tongue. Roman went to spit the pill, but Jake slapped a hand over his mouth.

“Relax,” Jake hissed. “It’s my way of saying sorry, saying all’s well that ends well.”

Roman fumed, nostrils flaring. He looked at Ezra, who smiled.

“Come on,” Jake insisted, bandaged face on full display. “Don’t offend me twice in one day.”

“We could roll together,” Ezra insisted, nuzzling his head against Roman’s. “It’s such a mellow rush.”

“It’s nothing serious.” Jake smiled. “Cross my heart and hope to fly.”

This wasn’t the first time Roman had taken a pill without a name. Though he generally trusted the person who handed him a party favor at the frat house. Roman didn’t trust Jake, but he absolutely trusted Ezra. If Ezra could handle himself with a little happy pill, then so could Roman. He reluctantly swallowed.

“See, you’re good. I’m good. We’re all good.” Jake stared Roman down before skirting around him and over to the bottom bunk. He sprawled out and took a seat. “Now that we’re flying high for a few, let’s talk business.”

“No,” Ezra said, ushering Roman to follow him as he circled the room. “Now is the worst time to talk business.”

“I find I have my best ideas with a little help from big pharma.”

Ezra led Roman all the way back around until they stopped at his bed. The pair sat down, and Roman ended up sandwiched between Ezra and Jake.

“The only business I wanna discuss is minimizing Sullivan’s hold,” Ezra said plainly.

“You fucking hate him, too.” Jake leaned forward excitedly. “Oh, I’ve wanted that prick dead for years. Say the word, friend, and I can increase our territory by…oh, fucking math. By a lot.”

“And provoke a war with his guys, no thanks.” Ezra placed a hand on Roman’s thigh, gently rubbing it. “I don’t kill what I can use. Sullivan has authority he no longer requires but skills and connections that could be beneficial.”

“What’d you have in mind?” Jake waved his fingers around, adding the tiniest flickers of light between them that caught Roman’s eye.

“Just thinking of ways to humble Sullivan.” Ezra squeezed Roman’s thigh, reminding him of how Ezra had humbled him, how he’d found a use for Roman but taught him some lessons along the way.

He doubted Ezra had the same intentions for one of the five men running this facility, but with Ezra, Roman had no clue.

“Someone’s feeling it, feeling it, feeling it.” Jake shook Roman, waking him from the fog that had struck. He wasn’t sure if Jake was repeating himself a lot or if the echo was part of the high. It could be either. Jake was fucked up, too.

When Roman looked to Ezra, he seemed completely steady, talking more firmly about business with each passing minute. In fact, the more confused Roman felt, the more stable Ezra seemed.

“Riding that wave.” Jake leaned over and slapped Roman’s chest, startling him with the rush it sent.

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