Page 65 of Slayin Villain
Chapter 27
Villain
The bar at Royal Road was sticky with spilled whiskey and sweat.The jukebox was blasting outlaw country, someone had won a major prize on the nearest slot, and I was three bourbons deep into pretending I didn’t give a shit.
Then Rome walked in.
Cocky bastard.
His new patch caught the light like it was polished just for show, and the smirk on his face made me want to put him through the nearest wall.I could smell the arrogance rollin’ off him like cheap cologne.
He strutted up like we were old chums.Like I wasn’t his superior.The boss of him.
“You got a minute?”he asked, tone all casual.
“Not really.”I tossed back my drink.
He didn’t take the hint.Leaned right against the bar next to me, close enough for his cologne and attitude to choke a man.
“You think you’re real slick, huh?”he said, eyes glinting.“Playin’ both of ‘em like a damn puppet master.”
My knuckles cracked just gripping my glass.“What the hell did you just say?”
“Rachel, Ember.Both knocked up.Both thinking they’re the only one that matters to you.”He chuckled like this was funny.“Rachel waddling around like she’s owed something.That bitch doesn’t even fit on the back of your bike anymore…”
I didn’t let him finish.
My fist met his mouth with a crack so loud the music skipped.He hit the floor hard, spitting blood.
“You don’t talk about her like that,” I growled, lunging again.
Pagan and Irish were on me in a second, dragging me back.
Rome wiped the blood from his lip, smirking like a cocky little shit who thought he’d won just by pushing the button.
“Ember ain’t your property, Villain.Won’t ever be if you’re gonna treat her like trash.”
“Say that again,” I snarled, fighting against my brothers’ grips.
“Let him go,” Kingpin’s voice cut through the noise like a shotgun blast.
Everyone went still.
The crowd parted like the damn Red Sea as Kingpin stormed over.His bare feet padding on the concrete, sunglasses still on despite the hour.Eve wasn’t far behind him, arms crossed and glaring.
“Both of you,” he barked.“Office.Now.”
I shoved off Pagan’s hand and stalked behind him.Rome followed, dragging his feet, still grinning like he hadn’t just stepped on a live wire.
Inside, Kingpin shut the door and leaned against it like he was trying not to strangle us both.
“You really think I’m gonna let either of you ruin what we just pulled off?”he asked, spitting venom.“I’m finally free of Jameson’s bullshit, and y’all wanna go and make some noise.I’ll throw both you motherfuckers out so fast, you’ll think God took a wet shit.”
Rome shrugged.“He threw the first punch.”
“And you opened your goddamn mouth,” Kingpin snapped.“Talking like that about a club girl?About your Sergeant-at-Arms’ woman?”
Rome crossed his arms.“That’s right.We all know Rachel’s his woman.”
