“Goddammit, is this a joke to you?” Shep shoved my chest, making the edge of the counter dig into my hips. He didn’t give me an inch of breathing room as he caged me in, and though I could feel all his rage, it only reminded me of the hate fuck yesterday…and there went my dick. Rising to the occasion with every vitriolic word out of Shep’s mouth.
Something might’ve been seriously wrong with me that I wanted to get off to his wrath. It wasn’t my fault he was even hotter with his eyes flashing and all that fire aimed my way.
“No. But it’s also none of your business.”
“None of my—” Shep let out an exasperated sigh and held his palms up. Then he took a step back. “Okay, you know what? Let’s start over.”
“How about we don’t?” I threw back my cognac and turned to refill my glass.
“Come on, Theo. You’ve got to give me something here.”
“Why?” I glanced over my shoulder to see Shep eyeing me like I’d lost my mind. “It’s not like you’re going to believe me.”
“Then give me a reason to.”
“So you can run off and tell King? No thanks.” I picked up my glass and stared at the amber liquor in the bottom, wondering who the fuck had sent that video and how quick I could track them down.
Then I’d put an end to this once and for all.
Shep moved past me to stand on the other side of the counter. “Look, I’m trying to help you here.”
“Really? It seems more like you’re trying to find out whether or not I betrayed my brothers.”
He opened his mouth, about to say something, but cut himself off.
“Which Ididn’t, by the way.”
“Then help me understand.” Shep rested his hands on the counter and stared me down. “Give me something, anything.”
“I already did. I was in Istanbul.” I held Shep’s stare as I took another sip of the velvety alcohol and swallowed it down.
If he thought I would break, he was in for a shock. Unlike my other brothers, I didn’t bend the knee—unless it was for something pleasurable.
Yes, I’d been in Istanbul, but I sure as fuck didn’t blow up any building. I was too smart for that, and I resented the implication I’d be so careless. Plus, if I wanted to get rid of someone, I’d never be soobviousabout it.
“So you were in Istanbul. To do what?”
“Sightsee?”
Shep’s eyes narrowed. “And…?”
“Try the local cuisine? Their kebabs are to die for.”
Shep raised a brow, and I couldn’t help my smirk.
“Sorry. Poor choice of words.”
“Were they? Or did you choose them on purpose?”
I pursed my lips and leaned over the counter. “Are you asking me if someonediedin Istanbul?”
“Are you trying to tell me someone did?”
My eyes drifted to the stubble surrounding Shep’s lips, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like pressed up against mine. Would his kiss be punishing or soft? Or maybe a little of both?If I just moved in a little closer, I could?—
“Theo?”
“Huh?”
