Page 61 of Pushed

Chapter Fifteen

Machi

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“Get up.” A heavy kicklanded against my ribs as I hugged my pillow.

“Fuck! What the hell?!” Rolling over, I blinked my eyes open, trying to focus on the shadow at the side of my bed.

Fior cracked his knuckles and looked down at me with a wicked smile on his face.

“What the hell do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?” Flopping back down, I tugged the blanket halfway up my chest and closed my eyes. “Whatever it is can wait.”

Rough hands and thick nails scraped down my neck, curling into the collar of my shirt and yanking me out of bed. I was in a daze, still half asleep and groggy.

Shoving me to the ground, Fior held me in place as another voice crashed into my skull. “No, it can't wait, Machi. We don't revolve around you.”

Snapping my head up, Ethan was leaning against the back wall, picking at his nails like he didn't have a care in the world. His smile broadened, running from ear to ear, and all I wanted to do was jump up and smack it off his face.

The man acted like he was above everyone, like he was an almighty being, superior in every way.

That crooked grin and pompous tone was enough to make my skin prickle with hate and muscles ready to unleash every inch of power I had.

But we were missing one person, the one that mattered.

“Seriously, Ethan.” Stuffing my hand into the floor, I pushed myself up and wiped off my knees. “Why the fuck are you here?”

“Well, I didn't come here to see if you wanted to go out for breakfast.” Stalking forward, Ethan waved his hand towards Fior, signaling him to step back. “We need to talk.”

“So talk.” Cocking my head, I thinned my lips. “We don't need formalities, just fucking say it.”

“We have a problem—you havea problem to be more specific. Sylvan is moving the date up, he wants this weekend, and we're short three girls. A decision had to be made, Pixie is going in.”

Holding up my hand, I waved him off. “No, she's not ready yet, she needs more time. I'm sure I can find him the girls he needs, but Pixie is a work in progress.”

Ethan's eyes slit tight, lip curling on one side. “Work in progress,really?She's been here for almost two weeks. I find it hard to believe that she's still giving you a hard time. Maybe you're not as good as Sylvan thought.”

“She's tougher than I expected. If I send her now, the buyer who gets her won't be happy. Does Sylvan want that? Does he want a disgruntled customer? I highly doubt it.”

Pursing his lips, he shifted on his feet, sweeping in closer. “Drake has two that he'll have here tomorrow, you have two days, make her ready, Machi.”

“Two days? Ethan, I can't do that.”

Smirking, his head ticked a hair towards his shoulder. “Do you want me to take over? I can, it wouldn't be a problem.” Fixing the cuffs on his sleeves, his grin made me sick. “Or is there another reason she's not ready? Maybe there's something you want to tell me, something you want to share?”

What the hell is he getting at?

The way his eyes lit in black flames and his lips warped into a blade against his face, he was holding something back, a thought, an idea, another motive to his visit.

“She's not going, not yet.” Cutting the air with my hand, I scrubbed my jaw. “I don't know who you think she is, but she isn't like the others, she's different. It hasn't been easy.”

“I don't care what you have to do, she goes. And if you can't handle her, I'll take over, it's that simple, Machi.” Ethan flashed his teeth as his mouth fanned open like the Joker. Turning on his heels, he waltzed out the door, tugging the trim of his suit and whistling to himself.

Fucking Asshole.

Fior started to follow, but I grabbed his arm, digging into his skin with my fingers. “What the hell is going on, Fior?”

Glancing at my hand, he lifted his eyes back to mine and tore his arm free. “It's business as usual, Machi, what does it look like?”

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