Page 89 of Graves

I watch as her smile dims slightly at his words, and I narrow my eyes in response.

“We’re going dancing, Zayden!” I shout so he can hear me.

Blake looks to me in surprise before I give her a reassuringnod and smile. Her light is back instantly as she does a little happy dance on the desk.

“Alright. Whatever you want, sweetheart. I’ll be home in five hours, and the first thing I want is a kiss, and then your lips around my cock.”

Blake giggles like a schoolgirl before she smirks.

“We could probably arrange something like that,” she says as she gives me a sly wink that has my cock stiffening in my pants.

Blake is finishing getting ready,and Zayden is taking a shower when my phone buzzes in my pocket, alerting me that there is someone trying to access the fire escape. I frown at that, pulling up the camera to see a familiar face. Christian Aranda.

Quietly, I slip out of the living room and onto the balcony, glancing down to see the walking dead man horribly attempting to shimmy up the broken fire ladder. Broken for a reason, we don’t need easy access for anyone to get to this place. It’s honestly impressive he’s more than halfway up.

I glance at the lock bracing the ladder to the side of the building before looking down at the patio below. I flick the lock, forcing the ladder to free fall. His screams rip through the night sky, but lucky for him, he lands with a rough thud onto the patio beneath him. Stepping on the outside of my balcony, I drop down to where I’m holding onto the edge before dropping beside him. I land easily despite the close to ten-foot drop beforeI stand to my full height.

Christian is still on the ground, but when he sees me towering above him, his face pales by three colors. I don’t waste any time, fisting his shirt in my hand before dragging his face to mine.

“Tell me, Mr. Aranda, because I may be mistaken. Are you attempting to break into my home?”

“N-no, he stutters. Of course not. I just…I wanted to check on Blake. She and Gabby had a fight, we haven’t heard from her in so long. I’m worried.”

“You’re such a good friend to care so much,” I say calmly.

He stares at me hesitantly like I’m trying to trick him before he nods slowly.

“Of course, she’s practically family. I’d do anything for her.”

“I’m sure you would. Most men will do anything for the woman they love.”

He scoffs, attempting to throw me off, but he’s a really fucking terrible liar.

“Yeah right.” He laughs. “She-s…I’m married. To her best friend! We’re all friends, just friends.”

“Really? Because she admitted to me the other night that she’s had feelings for you for a while, but she wasn’t sure if you reciprocated them.”

“Really?” he practically gasps, light and hope shimmering in his eyes.

I can’t help but let out a curt laugh as I shake my head.

“Fuck no. You’re a fucking idiot. She hasn’t spoken about you once. To her, you’re her controlling bitch of an ex-bestfriend’s husband. That’s it.”

Disappointment shadows his features, and if I was a nicer guy, maybe I’d give a shit. He should be happy I’m the one who found him snooping. Had it been Zayden, he’d be sent home in pieces.

Lowering my voice to a deadly tone, I look down at him, commanding all of his attention as I speak.

“Listen very carefully, Christian. You will never come here again. If you try to contact Blake, I will break your hands, if you chance a glance at her, I’ll pluck your eyes out, and if you so much as breathe a word in her direction, I will slit you from ear to ear.”

His body is shaking in my grasp, but he doesn’t respond. I shake him once, and he whimpers in response.

“O-okay. Okay,” he sobs, tears pouring down his face. Pathetic.

I scoff, throwing him to the ground before moving to the slider door of the apartment, pressing my thumb against the scanner, and forcing the door to whir open. It’s not like I’m going to buy a penthouse apartment and not buy out the surrounding units for added security.

Grabbing Christian by the scruff of his neck, I drag his sniveling ass through the empty living room, opening the front door, and jamming my finger against the elevator button. When the elevator doors open, I toss him inside, rolling my eyes as I smash the bottom floor button and close the doors.

God, he really is a worthless man. He and his wife deserve each other, and as long as they both stay away from my girl, they can have each other. If not, well, let’s hope they’re smart enough to stay away.

---