Page 28 of For Wrath and Redemption
He shrugs. “Sometimes.”
I take that to mean never. I look back at the naked women.
“Come with me, please.”
Both women look at Jonah for permission, and he jerks out a nod.Arrogant asshole. I grab my tablet and pull up the premade non-disclosure agreements. Both women sign without reading them. I roll my eyes again.
“It says you’re not allowed to talk about being here with Jonah Hendrix or any other part of your interaction with him this evening. That includes this conversation. If you do, you will be sued for an exorbitant amount of money. Do you understand?”
They both nod eagerly. I can tell they think they’re going to get back in bed with Jonah.Mybed. Too bad I have to crush that hope.
“Good.” I point to the door. “Party’s over. You need to leave.”
Three jaws drop. Two on a gasp and one on a bark of laughter. The laughter grates on my nerves. He is such an asshole.
“Excuse me?” the brunette squeaks, looking between Jonah and me. I keep my face serious while Jonah looks amused. “You can’t do that. He invited us up here.”
“And I’m uninviting you,” I say calmly.
“We came all the way from Virginia for this,” the blonde argues. “You can’t just kick us out.”
Of course they came from Virginia. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if they grew up near me? I have to bite my tongue on a laugh.
“Look...” I glance at the NDA for her name. “Danielle. I’m sorry you traveled all the way to Sweden just to suck Jonah Hendrix’s dick.” I flick disinterested eyes at Jonah and cringe. “I would be disappointed too since he’s clearly not worth the plane ticket.” I look back at the women with a sad smile. “I would recommend the Vasa Museum or Stockholm Old Town. I’m sure they’ll be more satisfying.”
“You’re not in charge here,” the brunette argues, then she looks at Jonah. “Tell her.”
Jonah’s eyes lock with mine, and I arch a challenging brow.
If I back down now, it will set the precedent for the rest of my time here. I need to put my foot down. I need him to take me seriously. I’m ready to fight tooth and nail to win this one, but just as I open my mouth to tell him as much, Jonah speaks.
“Get out.” The command is spoken plainly, without emotion, and at first, I think he’s talking to me. Then he breaks our stare and looks at the women. “Get out.”
“But, Jonah?—”
“Get. Out. Now. Or I’ll call security.”
I blink. It’s surprising, to say the least. The last thing I expected was compliance from him. Or such harshness to the women he was about to fuck. I don’t want to assume victory, though. I don’t trust him not to have something else planned. Something cruel or annoying or challenging. I watch quietly as the dejected women hurriedly gather their clothes and rush out. I actually do feel bad for them. It’s not their fault Jonah is an asshole who needs a babysitter.
Once the door closes, I turn back to him. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Not enough to put up with you.”
I bounce my eyes between his, looking for the signs I know all too well. He’s definitely on something, but it’s hard for me to tell what or how much. I don’t know his tolerance, and he’s better at hiding it than the emotional, self-destructive teenager I used to know.
The thought threatens to pull memories I’d rather avoid, so I look away from him. His blue eyes are unsettling. In this moment, they’re too similar to my brother’s, despite the different shade of blue. The same troubled fog is there. The pain. And because I’m old enough to recognize it for what it is now, it messes with my head and my heart.
I take a deep breath and try to approach this professionally. This is ajob. He is myassignment. He is not my older brother.
“Jonah, the only way this will work is if you follow my plan?—”
“Fuck your plan. It’s not going to work for me.”
I grit my teeth, and my nostrils flare as my breathing accelerates. I hate being interrupted—especially when it’s by an entitled, over-privileged manchild—but I try to ignore his attitude and press forward.
God, do I try.
“No more groupie flings without signing the non-disclo?—”
