Page 9 of Roman

Roman grabbed Maalik, pulling him off Phoenix.He’d never seen him lose his cool… ever, especially toward one of his brothers.

“What the fuck, Maalik?”Phoenix said, wiping blood from his face.

Maalik shook himself, eyes returning to their usual green.“Sorry.I don’t quite know what came over me.Looks like you’re not the only one distracted tonight, Roman,” he added with a scowl, looking back at the dance floor, his face becoming haunted as he stared at Ava.

“Look, Maalik, I didn’t know that someone else had claimed the girl.She’s all yours, bro,” Phoenix said, shrugging it off.

Maalik opened his mouth to say something, only to close it again with a shake of his head.“Shall we continue with our discussion?”Maalik asked, standing as still as a statue, his eyes never leaving the dance floor.

As the hours went by, Roman didn’t move from the window.Mind you, neither had his brother.He’d wanted to murder every drunken man who tried to grab Charlotte and dance with her.The anger surprised the hell out of him, seeing as, besides the odd quickie in the club bathroom with whatever drunken woman wanted it, he hadn’t bothered or taken an interest in a female for centuries.He didn’t have time for things like that.His attention was and always had been on his fallen brothers and trying to get them home.

He’d tried to pay attention to what Phoenix and his brother were trying to tell him, but he kept scanning the crowd, his gaze seeking her out.Finally, her friend left her side, disappearing through the crowd toward the bathrooms.The minute the dark-haired girl vanished from his view, Maalik stalked out of the office without a word to either of them, slamming the door behind him.

“What the fuck is his problem?”Phoenix asked, sipping on his rum and Coke.

Roman shook his head.“I have no idea,” he mumbled, watching Maalik glide through the crowd effortlessly, headed in the direction the girl had just gone.

Seems like my brother has found tonight’s dessert,he mused, his gaze searching for his blonde beauty again.When did she become his?He frowned to himself.

Roman stilled.A drunken man in a white shirt had started harassing Charlotte.His whole body tensed as he watched her slap the man for touching her.

Touched what’s mine!his thoughts screamed angrily.

Roman couldn’t figure out why he continued to think of her as his when he didn’t even know the girl.He shouldn’t care whether someone was trying to touch her or not… but he did.

“Roman, are you even listening to me?”Phoenix walked up to him.

“I’m going to rip his heart out,” Roman roared, watching as the drunk man slapped Charlotte back, knocking her off the bar stool.

He could feel his eyes glowing red as anger consumed him.Phoenix quickly stepped away from him, eyes wide.

A red haze fell over his vision.For the first time in a millennium, he forgot himself, his eyes glowing as he stormed out of the office, leaving a startled Phoenix staring after him.

Roman flew down the stairs two at a time.Get your shit together.He focused as a couple of drunken people at the bottom of the stairs scampered away in fear at the sight of his red eyes.Despite reining in his fury and feeling his eyes return to normal, he couldn’t control his speed as he moved across the room.He was behind the asshole who’d struck Charlotte in a heartbeat, grabbing the man’s raised fist as he went to punch her.

Roman could feel the man’s fragile bones snapping, causing the human to whimper like a child.The corner of his mouth lifted into a cruel smile.

“Like hitting women, do you?”he asked the man calmly, although inside he was seething.His emotions continued to shock him.

“S-s-s-sorry!”The human howled in pain.

Roman’s gaze fell on Charlotte.She was sitting on the ground.Her tiny skirt had ridden up her golden thighs, giving him a glimpse of black lace.Need slammed into him, his cock, if it was possible, getting even harder.

She moved her arm, brushing her long, wavy hair out of her eyes, and he saw the blood trailing from the corner of her mouth.The sight snapped him out of his lustful trance, anger taking over him anew.

“I should rip your heart out and ram it down your throat, you insignificant piece of shit,” he growled.

“She was being a cock tease… P-p-please, don’t hurt me.”The drunken man started sobbing.

“Cock tease,” Roman said furiously, punching him in the face and breaking his nose.Blood poured out, running down onto his white shirt.He moved to hit him again when Phoenix came from behind, grabbing his arm.

“What the fuck, Roman?Do you want to kill the poor guy?And with everyone in the club watching you…” he whispered, clearly shocked by his behavior.

Roman stilled, gazing around him.All eyes in the club were on him, snapping him out of his angry haze.

What the fuck am I doing?

Staring at the now bloodied, sobbing man, Roman let him go, shoving him away.“Get the fuck out of my club, and don’t let me see you here again.”He glared at the man as his group of drunken friends grabbed him, dragging him toward the exit.

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