“Now that I know everything, will you tell me what you’re planning? Why we’re here?”
“I thought the revenge was obvious.”
He thought this was obvious?
“Ethan, we’re in a house across the street from the people we want to kill and they want to kill us. You have no one else but me here—”
“I have everyone here,” he said, pulling back slightly to look at me. “When they realize they need me, they need this family, we will stand here and watch as they crawl on their bellies from his house to this one, begging for mercy. Humility forced on the prideful is the very best kind of revenge for them. Everyone else who resists will find the people standing beside them will be the very same that will slit their throats.”
Before I could speak something smashed against the window behind him. I tried to go see what it was, but he held me still.
“Let them throw or shout what they want. No one can get into the house,” he replied. “For now let’s forget about them…I do believe I made you a promise this afternoon.”
I grinned when he zipped down my jacket, but I stepped back.
“Go play with your cheerleaders.”
His mouth dropped open slightly, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
“You’re right. I am petty.”
“Ivy...” He took a step toward me, and I bolted, causing him to chase me up the stairs.
How was it possible for one man to make me feel a hundred different emotions in one single day?
ETHAN
Her head rested on my lap, her naked body in between my legs, the sheets barely covering her as I leaned against the headboard. For some reason she preferred sleeping on me rather than the bed…but at least she could sleep. I, on the other hand, sat in wait, staring at the security feed on the screen mounted on the wallpapered wall before the bed. My plan would look insane to most people because for most people it would mean putting themselves in potential danger at all times. However, I was not most people, and I already lived in constant state of potential danger…so why not do it in front of them all. They thought I was just the boy who inherited the reign from his father…that I lived surrounded by bodyguards, in a mansion in some far away city so they could do whatever the fuck they wanted, they could disrespect me because they did not know me, they did not fear me. But when the devil moved into the neighborhood they’d know what true fear would be like.
Ringgg.
Ringgg.
Glancing at my watch, I smirked before reaching over and answering my cell phone. “Brother.”
“What have you done?”
“The first time you call me in five years, Brother, and that is what you ask me?” I tried to get up, to leave her to rest, but she just held on tighter, so I gave in and stayed put.
“I saw you this morning, so spare me the bullshit. I’ve gotten five ODs this evening. Two of them had GHB in their systems, the third had PCP, and the last two had ketamine mixed in with heroin.”
“Did you say five? That can’t be right—”
“I know how to do my fucking job. When did you start slacking on yours? You’re mixing shit now?”
“I trust you can do your job, Brother.” I tried not to let him kill my mood. “I just figured the death toll would be much higher by now…apparently, I need to lower my expectations.”
He was silent, but I merely laughed. GHB? PCP? They mixed date rape drugs with smack? Were they just excited or stupid?
“You’re doing this on purpose—”
“Being a doctor in this city is going to get a lot more stressful for a while, so good luck, little brother,” I replied, hanging up, and when I did she shifted under me.
“I think that is the most civil conversation I’ve heard you and your brother have,” she muttered.
“You’re right,” I said. She rolled over and I missed the feel of her on me immediately. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her back on my lap. “Where are you going?”
“It’s a little hard to have a conversation with you when your cock is inches from my face,” she said, shifting until her ass was right on top of me. “Better.”