Page 133 of The First Taste
I suck in a breath. “You’re supposed to be my second in charge. That means that you can do anything you want with the company. I’m the only person with the power to veto you. What more could you possibly want?”
Lucas shakes his head. “You’re such an asshole.”
I trot over to the wooden bench where my water bottle is, taking a sip. Checking the time, I am glad to see that it’s almost eight at night.
The time which I can go back to Club X. I’ve been waiting for this.
“Is there something that you wanted?” I ask my brother distractedly.
He pushes his tongue out with his cheek. “Who is she?”
I cock my head at him. “I’m sorry?”
He makes a gesture with one hand, opening his palm to the sky and flapping it closed several times. “You’ve been avoiding work lately. The only time you do that is when you have your eye on some new girl. So who is she? Is she a ballerina or is she one of your whores?”
I shoot him a baleful look. “Get fucked, Lucas.”
He chuckles, his expression reminding me of our father. “So she’s a pro, then. God, what happened to you that you turned out so fucked up?”
I turn cold as ice. “Lucas, get the fuck out of my house.”
Lucas doesn’t get to judge me for the women I sleep with.
He eases back, holding up his hands. “I just came to tell you that you have a message at the answering service that’s from Anita. Apparently it’s been there for some time.”
I look down at my fists, which closed tight at the sound of her name. “I know.”
He rolls his eyes. “You should answer it. Or at least listen to it. Jesus.”
I keep my expression blank. “Are you done?”
“You’re a dick today,” he huffs. He turns and disappears out the swinging door again.
I turn and look at myself in the mirror. I look like a little boy, clothing his water bottle, all mad at the world.
Walking toward my reflection, I hurl the water bottle. It hits the surface and explodes, distorting my image for a moment as the water runs down the wall.
Inside I’m writhing with anger, absolutely furious at the fact that Anita even had the fucking nerve to reach out. Not only that, but she obviously called my brother when no response was apparently forthcoming.
Her using Lucas really turns my stomach all over again.
She should know better. Then again, she’s a snake. How can I expect a snake not to poison everything within its reach?
The only other option is to tell my brother exactly how I got Anita to take us in after our parents died… and that’ll happen as soon as hell fucking freezes over.
I close my eyes, struggling for control. I learned so much of it in ballet, perfect control of my physical being.
But mental control…
That’s something else entirely.
I open my eyes as Club X wishes back into my consciousness.
Cerise in right there, at the top of my mind.
I’m going to make her mine tonight, no matter how much it costs. And then I’ll be so distracted that all thoughts of Anita will flee.
Growling to myself, I turn and start to walk out of the gym.
