Page 2 of Boss

“Why?” she asked.

“They’re his brothers. He doesn’t need a reason why.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that he doesn’t meet with anyone? I know for a fact half the idiots here in this hotel want five minutes alone with him. They stalk him like he’s a celebrity.”

“He’s no fucking rock star. He owns those corporate groupies you’ve been brushing shoulders with. You don’t get to sit at his table unless he invites you. He drinks alone. Big deal. It’s how it’s done.”

“It might mean something. That’s all I’m saying,” she countered. “I remember, I, uh, think that he wasn’t always so stiff and formal.”

Daniel frowned. The slip of tongue was definitely not missed. She tingled all over with excitement. And Daniel was a bloodhound. He sniffed out a story from any person, place or thing. He could tell she was giddy.

“At this point Kassidy it only means you won’t get close to him tonight or any other night. So we do this my way.”

“Not so fast. I haven’t made my move. At least let me try before thinking I’m doomed to fail.”

“We need to talk. I have come into some information that—”

“Be quiet and watch.”

Kassidy shrugged off her blazer and adjusted the plump rise of her breasts to the front of her dress. She eased out of the booth. Daniel looked as if he would stop her so she moved away from the table quickly.There was a bar toward the front lounge area to the restaurant. No one sat there. The bartender polished his glasses and took drink orders from the wait staff. She trained her sights on him and with her drink in hand started toward him.

***

“Tarek, I, ah we, didn’t. I was only agreeing with Dale to see father. What we did, we did for father, and the family. Dale is right. You can’t keep us from him. He’s our father.”

“Stop your whining,” Dale mumbled and ate his salad. “Henry isn’t your puppet. We are all his sons. And you won’t fucking keep me from him.”

“Dale. Don’t.” Henry warned.

Dale smirked.

Henry sighed.

The plates of food were set before them. Dale sat back with a Cheshire cat smile. “Mom says dad is improving. The stroke hasn’t erased his mind. You may have father’s proxy but that will mean nothing when dad gets out of that hospital you stuck him in. Henry has been very helpful in telling me what you’ve been up too lately, brother.”

“He’s not listening,” Henry said after he cut-off Dale's taunting. “We’ve made our move it’s time for him to make his. C’mon guys we’re family. We shouldn’t be fighting. We need to find a way to work together... help father.”

“Eat your fucking salad and stop your bitching,” Dale mumbled. Henry lowered his gaze. “Tarek and I understand each other. Don’t we little brother?”

Tarek took down a hard toss of scotch from his tumbler. He and Dale were only six months apart in age difference. But of course Dale considered himself the older brother. Tarek set the glass down and his attention was averted from the table conversation. He narrowed his sights on a woman approaching the bar. He didn’t see her face. He didn’t lift his gaze in time. Instead his attention was riveted to her narrow waist, and shapely hips and backside. The sway of her hips wasn’t exaggerated, it was slight and suggestive. He watched her and felt that tug in his dick he often felt when a beauty caught his eye. She leaned in a bit to speak to the bartender. Her left foot went up like that of a damsel in need. The bartender gave her the sly smile most men gave when they saw someone appetizing. Without seeing her face, that hour glass figure of hers that gave her perfectly shaped ass a suggestive lift from her lean made it clear that she was indeed someone he’d want featured on the menu. Sex was a release. Boxing was a release. Drinking was a release. He needed these releases, to contain the rage that festered in his gut for two decades. A rage he never really understood, but always lived with him. And that was part of his vice—releasing rage through these escapes instead of dealing with what was so fucked up with his family. Yes, he was a man who loved his scotch and loved pussy. But even more he loved punishing those that betrayed him. Henry had betrayed him.

“Tarek don’t be angry. I’m tired of being caught between you and Dale,” Henry said.

He cut his gaze over to Henry and his brows lowered. The salad he didn’t touch was cleared away and the entree was served. Dale looked on quite amused but Henry had the look of fear. He was nothing but a weakling, unworthy of his time.

“Dale’s right,” Tarek said. “Stop your fucking bitching and finish your salad.”

***

“Did he look?” Kassidy asked when she returned to the leather booth. Daniel stared at her in disbelief.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he asked.

“I told you. I can do this. I just went to the bar and the man is drooling. Stop fighting me. Tonight is the night.”

“He’s not alone tonight Kassidy, that’s the point. Don’t you see his brothers over there?”

“That’s not a problem—”

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