Page 43 of Hearts Held
She shivers but stays where she is.
“Replaceable, yes. We all are, Mother. You say all I care for is myself, business and power, yet you suggest I am distracted by pussy. You make no sense. Why don’t you go on an all-expenses-paid vacation? I’ll foot the bill.” The snake slithers down my arm and coils upon my desk, its attention still aimed toward my mother.
She swallows.“Where?”
A chuckle leaves my throat as I stroke the back of the snake with two fingers. “Germany, Mum. I hear it is beautifully war-torn. You can find a nice Kraut there and choke on his fucking sausage.”
She gasps, then shouts, “YOUBASTARD!” Storming out of my office as the adder strikes toward her retreating form. I catch it before it flies off the desk.
Her presence always leaves me unsettled and irritated.
Rolling my neck to either side of my shoulders, I decide to call my contact who was looking into my littledove. I need to know more about her since she wasn’t so forthcoming herself.
I call him up, finding out some peculiar details I will need to present to her for questioning—but what manner of questioning shall it be?
Chapter 11: Brielle
Too Sweet, Hozier
Wrapping the last portion of gauze around one of my injured Adders, I give a satisfied smile at the perfect bandage. I have always found wound care to be an art form; then again, that may just be my mad way of thinking.
I was called to the main office before my hospital shift. The poor bloke had a nice knife fight with one of the Sabini men. Turns out they have been able to track their shipments and ambush the trade routes. It perplexes me why these gangsters steal from one another when they have their own means and various supplies to sell.
Bobby sits beside me, asking a million and one questions about my dear friend Tilly.
“You think she likes cookies? Should I buy her some?” he asks with such anticipation as I clean up my supplies.
“One piece of advice I can give you is do not buy her a canine. It is a responsibility and stress she does not need at the moment. Trust me,” I boldly state, snapping my large bag shut.
I immediately regret that statement as a cold voice cuts through the conference room.
“You’ll grow to love that dog trust me,” Everett replies.
I huff.
“Which dog are you referring to,youorthe Pig?” I ask, but immediately feel my face redden at my snarly response. I’ve become more confident in my ballsy replies to the head of a gangster enterprise.
His eyes smile upon me.
“A Pig?” Bobby asks, confused.
Turning toward him, I answer, “Your dear brother gifted me a pig, thus I named it Pig.” Chuckling to myself at the thought of the wrinkled pup, I continue, “Well, it is a pig pretending to be a dog. It snorts and smells awful when it produces gas from its arsehole.”
Bobby begins to laugh uncontrollably, and I’m pretty sure he will die of asphyxiation if he doesn’t breath within the next few minutes.
Suddenly I let out a silent gasp as I feel a broad body cage my small form. I find Everett’s arms on either side of me, gripping the desk. His chest carefully settles into my back.
“You’ll find that either of your dogs will listen to any of your commands. Tell me what you’d like me to do, darling.Orderme.Demandme,” he whispers ever so lightly. I can feel his soft warm breath by the crest of my ear.
I become frozen in place, heart hammering within my rib cage, but not from anxiety.
From lust.
Then a sweet voice enters the conference room. “Ms. Brielle, there is a package here for you. I just need some help grabbing it from my desk,” Everett’s secretary, Elly, explains.
Bobby jumps from his chair, awkwardly walking toward her. “I will, um—” He pauses looking between Everett and I, then swiftly toward Elly. “I’ll help you! Give them a moment.”
He promptly proceeds to exit the conference room and shuts the door behind them.
