Page 34 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

My glare snapped his way. “What the fuck did you just say?””

“You heard me.” Romeo didn’t so much as move when my fists balled. “You also know I’m right.”

“You don’t know shit.”

Did Romeo want me to hurt him? Was he trying to pick a fight?

“I know Veda Ford is his type.”

That was bullshit. “Just because she was pretty…”

“I’m not talking about her looks. I’m talking about her status.” Romeo interrupted. “Poor girl like that, didn’t stand a chance. Veda Ford wasn’t the first.”

“Fuck off, Romeo.” I saw the girls Atlas dated. They were all tall blondes with killer legs, who could afford their own designer clothes. He didn’t need some pathetic girl like Veda Ford.

“Ask yourself this little brother, how long do you think it would’ve been before he went after Nova?”

Whatever Romeo was after, he got it when I yelled, “Shut your fucking mouth!”

“There it is.” Romeo’s eyes lit up as a smirk tugged on the corner of his mouth. “I knew it was in there somewhere. What’s wrong, Little Brother, don’t like the idea of someone touching your girl?”

“She’s not my girl.” Nova would never be my girl. “She’s a means to an end.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Romeo snorted. “Atlas was a piece of shit, but at least he took what he wanted.”

This mother…

“Stop talking aboutmybrother like you fucking knew him.” Romeo had no right to so much as utter Atlas’s name. “Where the fuck were you when he was killed?”

He was probably out doing some job for our father. The mob was the only family Romeo cared about.

“Sitting on the other side of the bar drinking scotch.”

Every muscle in my body froze.

Romeo lifted the glass to his lips and stared off at a memory I couldn’t see. “That was the best scotch I ever had.”

My teeth clenched as my jaw ticked. Was he really there? He couldn’t have been. Then again, why would he lie? It wasn’t his style. Romeo didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought, but if he was there…

“Why didn’t you do anything?” When he didn’t respond, my fingers dug into my palms. “Why the fuck didn’t you help him!?”

I was a half a second away from charging across the room.

Romeo swallowed down a mouthful of bourbon and looked me right in the eyes. “Right before Kato Ford smash his skull in like a fucking pumpkin, Atlas cried like a baby. I’d never seen him like that.” His lips pursed in a quick frown. “It was kind of pathetic.”

My legs were moving before I had time to think about it, which was my mistake.

Romeo was ready for me. One hit was all I got. My fist clacked off his jaw as Romeo flicked his cigarette in my face, then kicked his leg, sweeping my feet out from under me.

I fell back, but managed to grab the edge of his shirt as I was going. Romeo’s drink went flying as we both landed on the floor. Me on my back with him on the ground beside me.

I knew there was no time to waste – my brother was quick – so, I fought past the burn squeezing my chest and rolled on top of him.

“Motherfucker,” I growled while bringing my fist down on his face.

I raised my arm for another strike and Romeo punched me in the gut. His knuckles slammed into my flesh, knocking all the air out of my lungs.

I hunched over coughing and he took the opportunity to flip me onto my back. Before I could suck in a solid breath, Romeo’s forearm was pressed against my neck.

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