Page 35 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

“What about breakfast?” She asks, pulling her arm away from mine.

“Delores will keep it warm, right?” I look over my shoulder.

“Sure will, hun.” She shoos us away. “Have fun!”

“Where are we going?” She shakes her arm. “Quit manhandling me.”

“We’re going for a ride in my new car.”

“New car and a new watch?” She grabs my wrist this time. “How much did this cost? Ten grand?”

The honest answer to that question would be closer to forty grand but I’m definitely not telling her that. She’d probably die if she knew how much the car costs. I link my fingers with hers and keep walking in the direction of the garage. When we get to the garage I hear her gasp.

“Jesus. How many cars do you rich assholes need?” Her eyes are huge looking at our collection of vehicles.

We have a ten car garage and every spot is occupied. “I just need one.” I say as I lead her over to the black Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. I was planning on sneaking out tonight in this car and racing it. I open the door for Peasant and she fucking rolls her eyes at me like the brat that she is. I run around the front and jump in the driver’s seat where I caress the leather and adjust the seat.

“This is fancy,” Peasant says. “You’re really excited about this, aren’t you?”

“Hell fucking yes I am.” I allow her to see my genuine smile for the second time this week. “This car is better than a wet dream.”

Except the one I had about you this morning.

I gun it down the driveway after pulling out of the garage. I manage to keep myself to a respectable speed until I hit the highway. Then all bets are off and I floor it. I look over at Peasant and see her smiling like she’s enjoying this just as much as I am.

When we get back from our joyride, I eat breakfast with Peasant and our dads. Michael and Victor talk business mostly but also discuss golfing tomorrow. Like I said, the bromance is strong between these two. I decline their invitation to join them as does Peasant. I excuse myself to go upstairs and get ready for the afternoon with Lev and Griff.

After I’ve showered and gotten dressed, I grab my phone. I scroll to Margaux’s contact information. My thumb hovers over her name as I war with myself over whether to call her off Lilith or not. Maybe I just need to fuck her a few times to get her out of my system and then I can re-engage in the original plan to run her out of town. I work on convincing myself of that lie, like I can work her out of my system.

At the very least, changing my mind is going to piss off Margaux so it’ll be satisfying in that sense.

Me: Call off the plan to get rid of Lilith

Margaux: No

Margaux: Since when do you use her actual name?

Me: What do you mean no? Fall in line.

Margaux: Ha! Go to hell. She’s got to go.

Me: I’ll take her under Titan protection

Margaux: Your influence is slipping. I have a big surprise for you tonight.

I don’t want to give her any more attention so I grab what I’ll need for tonight and head for Griffin’s house. If anyone will have a clue what she’s talking about it’ll be him. If he doesn’t know, he can find out. He is to information what the devil is to sin.

12

Lilith

It would be an understatement to say that the size of the homes my new peers live in would have been unimaginable to me a month ago. I knew coming here I would experience massive culture shock. Walking into the mansion that Ivy and Levi live in, I’m once again gobsmacked by the magnitude.

Their house is much more contemporary than the Volkov estate. Everything is white, gray, or black with lots of glass and open areas. Ivy meets me in the foyer and gives me a tour. The mansion only has two wings so in that respect it’s more modest than the Volkovs’ home. In every other way though, it’s just as opulent. The kitchen is huge, the amenities are similar, and the bedrooms each have their own attached living rooms.

Ivy’s rooms are decorated in dove gray and white with pale pink accents and mirrored furniture. Her closet and bathroom have matching crystal chandeliers and are each individually larger than my entire bathroom and bedroom combined.

I can’t help but think of my friends’ houses back home. The disparity is about as subtle as the flashing lights of Las Vegas Boulevard.

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