Page 67 of Texting the CEO's Obsession
“You’ve got shitty timing,” I snap at my brother, my blood boiling when I see that same hateful grin still stretched across his scarred lips. “This is the last time you show up unannounced unless you want me to start greeting you with a gun.”
Bruno’s mangled lips twist into a sneer before a scoff escapes him.
“Can you even still shoot straight?” He shakes his head, staring at me like he fuckingpitiesme, and I dig my nails into my palm to stop myself from doing something stupid. “It’s been too long since you got your hands dirty. You don’t scare me, Nick.”
Would I scare you more if I left another scar on your face? Would you call that a business deal gone wrong too?
“Lucky I don’t need to scare you,” I snap. “You’re not in charge of who does what. Last I checked, Ma is, andshegave me her blessing to run the company.”
Bruno’s jaw twitches angrily at the reminder, and his eyes go flat and dark like a shark’s.
“I wonder if her opinion would change if she knew you were too busy playing house with some bitch to even be running the company,” he hums, dangerously casual. “You think you’re too good to do any dirty work, but I bet all that intel you asked for on her helped you get into her pants, didn’t it?”
I see red, and it’s only through immense amounts of self control that I stop myself from bellowing at him or beating him senseless. Or both.
“Get out.” My voice is low, dangerous, and threatening in a way that raises both of our hackles. “Before I send you out on a fucking stretcher, Bruce.”
Fuck asking for his help with the photos. My lawyer and the cops can handle it. If it comes down to it, Thomas has connections. I can handle this myself.
Bruno laughs callously, dropping his hands back to his sides and tugging his dark suit jacket back into place.
“Guess I better go. Wouldn’t want you to break a nail,” he mocks.
The only reason I don’t launch myself at him is because he turns and starts making his way toward the door.
“See you around, Nick,” he says over his shoulder as he pulls the door open. “I hope the pussy’s good enough to make abandoning your family worth it.”
The door snaps shut behind him, leaving me shaking in fury, hands clenched at my sides as I desperately cling onto what self control I have left. Otherwise I might just chase him down and put a bullet through his fucking head.
CHAPTER 20
RILEY
I’m not in fight mode or flight mode.
I just feel frozen.
After leaving Nick’s penthouse last night, I planned to call Taylor, maybe even my mom, just so I could freak out. But the second I got home, I collapsed onto my couch and stared at the wall until the sun came up.
I have no idea how to handle…anyof this.
My relationship with Nick is already a lot for me to get used to. Add in my new job duties and the sudden excitement of my sex life? It’s overwhelming.
The threatening pictures are just the icing on the cake.
Meeting his brother didn’t help either.
Maybe under other circumstances, Bruno would be a little less terrifying, but meeting him less than half an hour after Nick smoothly refused to talk about his family and only minutes after a mysterious delivery didn’t do him any favors. I feel bad thinking poorly of Nick’s brother, but the guy’screepy. Helooked like a bouncer from a rundown night club, all slicked-back hair with scars on his face.
I thought I could handle what I have with Nick, but now… I don’t know. I took the day off work, texting Julie like a coward instead of telling Nick myself that I wasn’t coming in. He’s been texting me on and off all day, and what I’ve seen of them has been comforting.
I know if I went around him like this at any other time, he’d take me over his knee and make me apologize, but I’m not in any headspace to worry about that right now. I just need time away from him to process.Withouthim.
It seems like he understands that, even though I didn’t tell him.
The previews of his messages show that he got in touch with his lawyer and that they’re working on handling the photos. He’s apologized for the whole ordeal a few times, including having to deal with his brother. However, most of what’s been said to me today has gone in one ear and out the other.
I need to get my mind back in order so that I can think straight before I talk to him again.
