“Yes,” I breathe.
His mouth quirks up into a small smile.
“Good.”
Then he leaves.
12
Damien
“She said what?!” chuckles Logan.
Everest repeats himself, a smile playing at the edges of his lips.
I slam the door shut, and he and Logan have the grace to look embarrassed. Vale merely smirks, and Igor looks as dumb as ever.
I glower at Everest, and he shifts uncomfortably. I can’t believe he would blab. Here I thought we were one of the most powerful companies on the East Coast, and it turns out I’m surrounded by a bunch of gossiping sixth graders.
I’m annoyed enough as it is that my pet even gave him the message. I would have punished her harshly had Logan not texted me just then about the Cole situation. I thought something new had come up, but clearly a murdered family takes second place to an opportunity to make fun of me.
I should never have let Everest visit her.
He’s really a fucking idiot. Sometimes, I give him way too much credit. Visits are off, now. I’m keeping my captive to myself. And he has only himself to blame.
Vale’s gaze bores into me.
“So, you take orders from a chick now,” he says lightly, as he takes a nonchalant sip of water. “She says she wants cock, and you come running.”
I crush my styrofoam cup between my hands, the scalding liquid burning me. It’s ten p.m., but I sleep so little these days between thinking about Cole and the girl, that I’ve found myself wishing I could IV the coffee straight into my veins.
The burn of the coffee on the back of my hand distracts me just enough to keep from lunging at him.
He knows exactly what he’s doing. Egging me on. Trying to make me break in front of the others. Trying to show them my weakness.
“You’re overthinking it, Vale,” yawns Logan, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve got a sexy captive. Of course, Damien’s taking advantage of it. As for her requesting cock, well, so what? She’s bored, and he’s hot. Have you ever met a girl who didn’t want him?”
I can tell by his tone that he’s seen right through me. But he’s protecting me, as usual.
Vale isn’t an idiot, though. He stares at both of us quizzically.
“Oh yeah? And when do the rest of us get our turn?”
This time, I take a quick step forward, coming close to slamming him against the wall, but Logan is faster than me.
“Damien’s our leader, or have you forgotten that?” he questions, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Don’t fucking touch his spoils. Got it?”
Vale grunts and sits back, but I can tell by the glimmer in his beady eyes that this isn’t over. I clench my jaw and sit down, then peek at my phone, which I hide carefully under the polished conference table. I know it’s not a good idea, especially not now, but it’s the only thing that appeases me.
My girl is back in her bedroom. But she’s not in bed anymore. She’s sitting on the chair, staring at the phone. She usually seems to prefer watching the wall and the nothingness beyond the balcony railing. But now, she’s staring at the phone intently, thoughshe makes no move to pick it up. Maybe she assumes it’s a fake. Or maybe she’s worried she’ll get punished if she does.
She’s not wrong about that last part.
“Anyway,” I hiss. “You said there was important business to talk about. So how about we get into it?”
I sit down, snapping my fingers at Vincent to get me another coffee, and wait.
“Sure,” nods Logan. “It’s about Cole.”
