Fuck this piece of shit.
Subtly, I clenched my jaw. “Feel free. I don’t give a fuck what happens to him. He’s worthless anyhow.”
Andrew laughed, deep and hearty. “Oh, this is entertaining. What caused the switch? You fuck him, and it’s over?”
“He continuously proved himself invaluable to me. I refuse to associate myself with anyone of such demeanor. I simply do not have the time for it.” Cursing at myself internally, I continued, “I’m sure you’re well acquainted with the feeling when it comes to him.”
“Quite acquainted.” He swiped his thumb over his lips. “Invaluable is the least of his problems. You know, he wanted to go to art school, and itisquite a shame. A rather good talent, but a useless one at that. Aworthlessskill that would bring no sort of merit to our family. Don’t you agree?”
Was the bastard testing me?
Painting my face with repugnance, my brows drew together. “Art?Really?” I laughed, shaking my head with feigned disgust. “What a fucking waste of a human being, a waste of space, a waste of fuckingtime.”
Oren enjoyed art? Is that why he stared at my tattoos so much? Did he still draw? Or was he more of a painter?
“Something we can agree on,” he said. “It’s nice to vent about my son’sdifficultieswith someone else. I can only take so much of his bitching and whining, especially when he was a kid. God, he used to fucking bite when I beat him. Guess it never really left him,” he muttered as he scratched at his beard.
Behind my back, my nails dug into my palms to keep me from freeing the pistol on my thigh and shooting him in the head. “I’m surprised it didn’t work. Should’ve ripped his teeth out with a set of rusty pliers, right?” I chuckled, continuing to entertain his stupidity in believing I’d suddenly fallen victim to his manipulation once more.
He chuckled, too, shaking his head. “I’m glad we agree on this, Commander. See to it he remains here.”
“Will do, sir.” I saluted him, dipping my chin with the air of respect I knew fed his ego. “I will report back when we return from Venezuela.”
“If there is nothing else you wish to report, you’re dismissed.”
I nodded and, without another word, exited his office.
CHAPTER TWELVE
OREN
“StripUno? Are you fucking serious, Simon?” I said as I settled across from him on the floor, my palms digging into the ground for balance.
Liam was bright red, and forhim, that said a lot. Normally always neutral and calm, it wasn’t like him to carry his emotions on his face. Though he was blushing, he still picked up the cards and situated himself next to Simon.
“Is that bitching I hear, Oren Valens?” Simon crooned, smirking as he glanced over at Thorne. “I figured that with your boyfriend?—”
Cutting him off before he could continue, Matthew choked on his beer. “Fucking Christ.”
“I’m not bitching. I’mclearlylooking out for Liam, who looks like he’s about to faint.”
“I’m fine,” he muttered, sipping on his drink to hide the stain of his cheeks. Everyone knew at this point who he liked, all except for the damn idiot who handed another set of Uno cards to Thorne.
Slouched, he happily took them, and I couldn’t stop staring at him. The white t-shirt he wore was a change of pace, and the fucking gray sweatpants? God smite me.
“I can’t help but wonder if Andrew Valens has gay-dar.” The words came from Thorne so easily, so lightly, that I became the one choking on my drink. “What?” He laughed, looking over at me.
“Gay-dar? Since when do you use words like that?” I teased, leaning against him enough that our arms brushed.
“Since always,” Matthew stated, the hand holding his whiskey glass pointing at the man we spoke of. “You just haven’t met therealThorne Graves.”
“Hmm, I’d disagree,” I said as I discarded. “The real Thorne Graves is quite loud, very easily subdued, and oh, rather articulate in?—”
Thorne inhaled a mouthful of bourbon, coughing as he struggled to gather his bearings. “That’s… Fuck. That’s… Enough.”
“Definitely not what you were pleading yesterday, but I get it,” I said with a shrug. “Gotta keep the image up.”
Liam coughed, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t pay for it later tonight, but I was hoping so. After all, hedidsay he’d chase me, devour me until I forgot my last name. So far, my last name has been on my mind more than anything.
