“What makes you think she hasn’t already?” Sebastian asks, casually straightening his glasses.
“Don’t even joke about that,” Ashton hisses, stepping forward. He shoves a finger against Sebastian’s chest. To his credit, Sebastian doesn’t move an inch. “Don’t even fucking joke, you prick!”
“Who’s joking? He’s been spending time with her, hanging out at the shop, all alone with no one supervising. And you already know she likes a little pain.” He smiles again, sharp as a knife. “Or maybe you’re the only one who doesn’t know that yet.”
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Ashton spits out. “You fucker!”
“Enough,” I snap, slamming my palm against my desk. “Ashton, sit the fuck down.”
He hesitates, torn between obeying a direct order and his brother’s shit-stirring grin. But finally, he sits back down, glaring at Sebastian the whole time.
“I’m getting sick of this shit,” I snap. “If neither of you can grow up and handle this like adults, I’ll?—"
Sebastian interrupts me with an abrupt laugh. “You’ll what? Take your ball and go home?” He shakes his head, lip curling in a sneer. “When you met her, you gave her the option of pickingwhat she wants from us. And sheis.How do you think she’ll react if you try to take that choice away from her now? Think that will go down easy with her? You’re just angry that you’re not the one she picked.”
“Has she really fucked Viper?” Ashton asks him in a small voice, ignoring the conversation entirely. “Be real with me, bro. Has she really?”
Sebastian snorts derisively, shaking his head. “You’re fucking pathological, you know that? You can’t handle the possibility that she might not wantyou.”
“Doc, I said that’senough,” I snarl.
Lips pursed, he stops. But the damage is already done.
“What if she doesn’t want me?” Ashton says, tonelessly, eyes fixed on the carpet.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” I swear, running a hand over my face before glaring at Sebastian. “There. Are you happy now?”
Sebastian gnashes his teeth together. “Ashton, shewants you, okay?” he snaps. “But you keep getting in your own fucking way with her. I’ve been telling you—ad nauseum, I might add—to leave her alone. Let her decide to come back to you.”
Ashton takes a deep breath.
I know that he’s struggling with this, and he’s not alone. I’ve done everything that Sydney has asked of us, and my phone still sits silently next to me day after day. I haven’t talked to her, seen her, touched her…
And I’m fucking losing it.
To go from burying myself deep between her thighs to sitting alone at night just remembering what she tastes like is pure torture. I’m a patient man, usually. Happy to wait. But I’ve never wanted anything more than to wrap my hand around her delicate neck and to hear her soft little moans while I pound into her sweet pussy. Never wanted anything more than to hold her, just one more time.
What if I never experience it again?
It’s enough to drive the strongest man to the brink of insanity.
“Let it go,” I tell Ash when he opens his mouth again. “I didn’t call this meeting to deal with your fucking squabbling. We have a real threat to deal with. A threat toSydney. Suck it up and do something useful if you really care about her.”
Ashton glares at me but stays quiet.
“Give me an update on the Tony situation,” I say, sitting back in my chair.
“I talked to him. We’re getting a new shipment, just a little late. But there’s another problem.” Ashton shifts on the couch. “Someone else reached out to him, offering double what we’re paying for it.”
“Dante?” I ask.
Ashton shrugs. “Can’t imagine it would be anyone else. No one here is brave enough to fuck with us like that. Either he doesn’t have a weapons contact here and is trying to steal ours, or he’s just trying to upset our supply. Either way, he’s shit out of luck. Tony isn’t going anywhere, and he sure as shit isn’t selling to anyone but us.”
“You know that for sure? Did he give his assurances?” I press.
“Boss, he’s terrified of us. Remember when he watched Viper dismember that guy last year?” Ashton side eyes me. “No way he’s going to fuck us over.”
“Great. Let’s hope he stays that way,” I say. “Did he give you any information about the guys who approached him?”
