Page 34 of All Your Lies
“To what do I owe this unfortunate visit, Marco?” I murmur from behind my desk.
I don’t get up and do the brotherly hug shit or extend an arm out for him to sit. And I sure as fuck don’t gaze back up at his stupid ass when there are more pressing matters to attend to.
“Come on, don’t be like that, little bro. I’ve missed you,” he says, scanning his surroundings from what I can see in my periphery. “You got a nice place here. Definitely an interesting choice in a business venture, if I do say so myself.”
“Is there a reason you’re here?” I say, peering up at him. He’s now sitting on my black leather couch off to the right. His feet are propped up on my glass table like he has every right to sit there, with no care in the world. “Don’t you have an empire to run?”
“You’re supposed to help me run the family business as my right hand, remember?”
“I’m no one’s fucking lapdog, and I don’t work for anyone besides myself.”
“You can be my partner.” Hope fills his eyes. What a fool.
“You think I want to be anywhere near your stupid ass? Even seeing you right now makes me want to stab you in the fucking neck.”
“No reason to get all prison inmate on me. I’m here to offer you what you’ve always wanted.”
The comment makes my jaw tick, my fists clench, and a burning rage threatens to consume me, yet I refuse to give in to violence. “And what do you think I’ve always wanted?”
“Easy. Alexa... and the empire you’re trying so hard to stay away from and dismantle.”
The mention of her name piques my interest. However, I maintain a bored demeanor.
“What makes you think I want either of those?”
He laughs. “You must think I’m stupid, Gage. You’ve been in love with her since we were kids.” Despite my racing heart, I maintain a stoic expression as he persists, “All those stolen glances resembling a lovesick puppy.”
I steeple my hands against my chin, my eyes narrowing with an intense glare. “Do you intend to waste my entire day with your pointless chatter, or are you going to make your point?”
“My point is, I’ll give you what you’ve always wanted. The family business and the girl.”
“And how do you suppose you’ll do that? From what I hear, Alexa is no longer yours.”
“I did that for you. Everything over the past few years has been for you,” he says quickly. “It’s the least I can do after you went to prison for me.”
He finally said it. What I’ve been waiting years to hear. This motherfucker never even apologized when I got taken in. He hid in his room like a little bitch.
16 YEARS OLD
“Here they come,” Mom says, rushing in with a camera.
My gaze rises as Rosie and Alexa descend the stairs.
Mom gives me a kiss on the way to the girls. “Thank you for taking them shopping today, honey.”
“Of course,” I say, but barely register anything else besides Alexa.
She looks beautiful. A light smoky eye and red lips. She opted for a black strapless dress with jewels covering the tulle bottom, making the light catch the dress and sparkle just like her eyes.
I feel a dark presence at my side just as Marco steps up next to me. He’s been in a shitty mood for months. We haven’t been able to stand each other, and from the smell, he’s been drinking again. If our father finds out, there will be hell to pay. He’s already fixed multiple fuckups of his that were alcohol-induced.
Alexa looks over and sees him. “What do you think, Marco?” She does a twirl.
“About what?” he says before walking away.
What a fucking piece of shit. I almost go to follow him until I see Alexa’s face fall.
“When am I going to get a picture with you guys?” I say, hoping to shift the expression on Alexa’s face.
