Page 240 of Love Me in the Dark
ROMAN
“You should have let me put a bullet in her head when we had the chance, Roman. Now, there’s no way I can get rid of her without it pointing right back to you.”
I need another drink.
“I’m serious, Ezra. You can’t kill her. Not here.”
There’s barely ten seconds between the moment when I raise my empty glass slightly off the table in the direction of the bartender before the server appears and pours another round into my glass.
The vicious bitch taking up space in the conversation between me and my little brother is sitting across the lounge, surrounded by a group of idiots that she’ll wrap around her finger and use until there’s nothing left.
She thinks they’ll make me jealous, and she couldn’t be more wrong. We both know if I curled my finger in her direction, she’d practically trip over herself in her haste to get to me. And she’d get down on her knees in front of the entire club if I wanted her to. If she thought for a second I’d take her, she’d do anything I want.
I don’t.
“It’s a damn good thing you got away from that viper before she could sink her fangs into you. But this shit Ruby’s pulling now with the company is only going to end in bloodshed. Hers, if I have anything to say about it.”
“She’s a nuisance, nothing more.” I smirk at my brother before taking a sip of the amber liquor in my glass and letting it slide down my throat, savoring the slight burn as it moves through my body.
“That’s an understatement and you know it. Ruby’s family owns our largest competitor, and now she’s trying to cost us millions. Should have just taken care of her before.”
Cutting Ezra a sideways glance, I do my best to keep my temper. He’s not the only one who would rather resort to violence in order to solve a problem, but we can’t just eliminate everyone who pisses us off.
“I’m changing the subject.” Informing him of the change before it happens always seems to calm him down and make it easier to shift his focus. “Are you coming with me to Florida?”
“No.” Ezra shakes his head. “The company is your little pet project. I don’t have any desire to be surrounded by women looking to leave their rich husbands for someone richer.”
“None of them would be able to put up with your psychosis. Or the creepy way you watch everyone all the time.”
Ezra stares at me, his eyes holding their usual emptiness, before he laughs. “You’re right. They’d take one look in my search history and go running for the hills, back to the safety of a normal person.”
“Do you think they’d still call me a sociopath with all the changes to modern psychology?” His focus is on the table in front of us, not making eye contact.
“Who gives a fuck?” I ask him honestly.
“I’m just curious.”
“What are you doing here, by the way?” I wasn’t expecting company when I came to the club.
Mostly, I was wasting time before leaving the city for the long weekend. Avoiding my office and the never ending desire to work, to make more money, to do more.
As soon as I arrived, like he’d been waiting for me, Ezra appeared and joined me at the table.
“I’m worried about you.” His words come out hushed, like he’s trying to keep anyone from hearing him. “It’s not your normal pattern of behavior. You never deviate, and yet you are and I don’t understand why.”
Sighing, I take another drink and then run my thumb over the rim of my glass. I rarely find myself at a loss for words with my brother, but this is one of those times.
“Isn’t this cozy.” Ruby’s purr, meant to stir a man’s dick, sends a chill down my spine.
I put her out of my mind, ignoring her completely. Which is probably how she was able to escape her group of admirers and wind her way to our table without me noticing her approach.
“Ruby,” Ezra grunts her name. “You should leave before my brother can’t keep me in check.”
“Tsk. Ezra.” She smiles seductively at him, trying to sway the one man who would rather bathe in her blood that fall into bed with her. “I missed you boys.”
“Roman.” Ezra stares at me across the table, ignoring her completely now. “Are you sure? I know it’ll be messy, but I can figure out a way for her to disappear.”
I’m watching her out of the corner of my eye, and I almost laugh when she blanches at his threat.
