Page 65 of Heat & Deceit
I’m so drunk, I don’t even try to hide that I’m staring at her. She gives me a few pointed looks, but I simply grin, and her eyes soften ever so slightly. She can’t stay mad at me, not when I’m so charming.
My stomach lurches as she turns into the driveway. “Oh, fuck,” I groan.
Carmine immediately stops and unlocks the doors, not needing to be told what to do.
“You can just drive the car home,” I tell her, not wanting to leave her stranded. I grapple for the handle and practically fall out of the car. Staggering to my feet, I race to the door, shoving it open and making a beeline for the bathroom near the kitchen.
“Ly?” Javi shouts after me.
“I’m fine. Carmine is taking my car home,” I manage before I slam the door shut and acquaint myself with the toilet.
* * *
ROME
There are little things in life I enjoy. The way some holiday cookies burn at the edges if they’re left too long in the oven. The squawking of baby blue jays. The way Carmine smiled at me tonight. Her mind was heavy, and I’d bet money the insults Todd had hurled in her direction were the trigger. I hated the way self-loathing tainted her aura and mood. I hated the way her eyes were misty with tears after she destroyed her piece.
That pain was deeper than anything Todd might’ve said to her, but he brought it to the surface.
And for that, Todd will pay.
I wasn’t lying when I said I make my moves in silence. I’m so silent, in fact, that Todd doesn’t hear me or notice my presence until it’s too late. I lock my arm around his neck, pinning him to the office chair in a chokehold. The porn he was watching continues to play, the moans of the woman on the screen accompanying the grunts and wheezes from Todd.
“Hello, Todd,” I whisper, grabbing the paperwork from my back pocket and using one hand to shake it open. I hold it in front of his face and give him enough room to breathe, so that he won’t pass out, but not enough that he can escape.
Buying the stocks for Todd’s boating company? A few hundred thousand.
Watching Todd realize he’s fucked? Priceless.
“Fuck you,” he rasps.
“Aw. Is that anyway to speak to your new CEO?” My lips curl, and I toss the documents that identify my pack as the new majority shareholder onto the desk. I shift my hold, moving to stand in front of him while also keeping him pinned. I set my knee over his groin and flex my fingers around his neck. “Do you know who I am?”
He nods his head.
“I thought you might.” I dig my knee into his crotch. He grunts. Normally, I’m not this physical, but Carmine’s pain is at the top of my mind. Javi would be yelling at me if he were here. Lycus would’ve already knocked the guy out.
The porn is still going in the background, overzealous moans and grunts filling the space between me and Todd.
“All this for a low pack who—”
My palm cracks across his face before he can say the word. “Do. Not. Insult. Her.”
Todd wheezes a laugh, groaning and straining against my hold. “Your pack.” He gasps for air. “Isn’t invincible.”
“And your pack is bankrupt.” I lean toward him, looking him dead in the eye. “If you so much as think about insulting her, I’ll call Lycus, and you won’t like what he has to say.” I shove my knee down, and Todd’s face goes bright red, eyes bugging with agony. “You’re lucky Javi asked me to pay you a visit and not him.” Using the hand around his throat to shove Todd away from me, I watch as the chair rolls back and tips over.
Todd flops to the ground somewhere around where his dignity lies. Kneeling, he clutches his throat and balls. “You’re going to regret this.”
“I doubt that.” I turn and shut off the computer, gazing around the office. Javi’s already working on contacting a friend to step in as interim manager. Todd’s pack is officially out of the company, and their investments are tanked, thanks to a strategically placed phone call I made earlier.
Somehow, that doesn’t seem like enough.
Todd is still recovering behind me. I turn and step toward him, cracking my knuckles and channeling my inner Lycus.
“Hey, Todd?”
“What, you fucking bastard?” He turns, and my fist connects with his temple.
