Page 105 of Ruthless Redemption

“Now that’s a conclusion I can get behind.” His arm falls to his side. “I’d much prefer to be disposing of their bodies than helping fix their fucking lives.”

I don’t buy it.

We’ve spent years spying on my family. Not once has he shown enough investment to react this emotionally toward them. They’ve always been a job. A task.

Not only that, but he’s never shied away from an adrenaline fix. Bishop loves anything with a hint of danger. I’m the one who had to convince him to leave Lorenzo, even though he’s always craved a return to the darkness.

“What’s up with you?” I scrutinize him, taking in the tightness of his expression, the way he keeps working his fingers as if he’s overrun with energy. “Why are you pissed off about this?”

“Because you’re making a mistake.”

“By helping them?”

“By getting more involved. You’re going to get her killed.”

He’s said that twice now.

This is about Layla. Her safety. Her life.

“This is you being protective,” I muse. “You’re worried about her.”

“Like I give a fuck about the bitch you’re banging.”

“That’s it, isn’t it?” I grin, letting the slur slide because I now understand the glimmer in his eyes is fear. “You care about her. You want her to be safe.”

“Like I said,” he snarls, “I don’t give a fuck about the bi—”

I launch my palm at his throat, my fingers digging into his jugular. “I let you insult her once. We both know I won’t let it happen again. You’re deliberately goading me into a fight and I’m not in the mood.”

“Fuck you.” He shoves my arm away. “Her death is a complication I don’t need. You’re obsessed with her. So what happens when she no longer exists? Where does that leave us? Where the fuck does it leave our investments and staff?”

It’s a cop-out.

He can’t admit he’s worried about her because he’s never been inclined to feel that way about a woman before. All he’s ever known are the escorts he’s paid to share his bed.

“If she dies, I die with her,” I state simply. “Then everything is yours.”

“There you go, insulting me again.” He gets in my face. “If I wanted your money, I would’ve slit your throat a long time ago,stronzo.”

And there’s no way my body would’ve been found.

“So what’s the plan?” he asks. “What should I expect in this next episode of How Much Can Langston Complicate My Fucking Life?”

“She wants to leave,” I admit with a shrug. “She thinks I should help my brothers, but she doesn’t want to hang around while I do it.”

“Can you blame her?”

“No.” I step back and rake my hands through my hair. “But I think I can figure out a strategy that works for all of us.”

“Since when did your lizard-sized brain grow big enough to do that sort of shit?”

“Since when did you stop reading me well enough to determine when I’m ready to choke you out?” I start for the door.

“Where the fuck are you going? We’re in the middle of a conversation.”

“No, you’re in the middle of a tantrum and I need to speak to my brothers. Are you coming to lay the ground rules?”

“Do I have to play nice?” he growls.

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