Chapter 14
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LORENZO (31YRS)
“What the fuck’s going on here?” I walked out of my office to Rayden and Remo yelling at each other.
“He raped Zena?” Rayden shouted, pushing at my brother’s chest.
Remo pulled back his hand and I stepped in between them before his fist connected with Rayden’s face. “That’s a serious fucking allegation, boy,” I warned.
He stared at me, his eyes moist from unshed tears. It was his first direct look since the blowjob in my study. Blood trickled from a bust lip and the area around his left eye was just starting to turn a shade darker. I knew from experience it would be purple by that evening.
“Call it whatever the fuck you want but he did something to her.” He pointed to Zena. “Look at her. She was practically shaking when she walked out the store and hasn’t stopped since.”
I turned. “Zena?” Mascara smudged eyes met mine. She looked like she’d been crying for a while. “Is Rayden right?”
She dropped her gaze to the floor, clutching the hem on her skirt in a clenched fist. Something had gone down, that much was obvious, but I never fell for easy tears.
“No,” she mumbled.
“She’s scared of him,” Rayden growled behind me. I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Tell him the truth, Zena,” he pushed, his chest heaving from trying to control his anger.
Fuck, the boy had it in him to bring my whole fucking house down on its knees and I hadn’t even seen that coming. “Are you making this up, Rayden,” I kept my tone even knowing Remo could blow at a moment’s notice. Like me, he hated being challenged. His short temper was his undoing, most of the time.
“Why the fuck would I make this shit up,” he scoffed, his gaze burning into mine.
“Watch your tone, boy.” I glared at him and he looked away, shaking his head. Jesus Christ, he was reminding me of myself with every passing minute. “Zena?” She looked up. “I’m going to ask you again. Is Rayden right?” This time she nodded.
“You bitch,” Remo sidestepped me so fast, I wasn’t quick enough to stop him shoving Zena against the wall.
“Get the fuck off her.” Rayden grabbed his arm, yanking him off her.
Remo turned to punch him but I grasped both by the collar, dragging them apart. “Everyone calm the fuck down,” I hissed. Breathing hard, they glared at each other. “What the fucks wrong with you Remo?” I grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “I told you to take them shopping—”
“I’m not a fucking babysitter.” He scowled. “I’m your brother, are you going to believe these shits over me.” He puffed out his chest, declaring his disappointment.
I stared at him for a long moment then shook my head. “No.” I heard Rayden’s soft curse and half expected him to walk away but he stood his ground, waiting for me to dismiss him. That alone told me he’d learned where he stood in my home. “I want to talk to Zena alone.”
“What the fuck, Renz,” Remo snorted, his scowl deepening. “Why the fuck have we not killed them yet? Why are we keeping them around?”
“Go cool off with Dario,” I ordered. He scowled at Zena momentarily then cursing under his breath, stomped off. If I didn’t get my house in order, this stupid fucking kidnapping was going to turn brutal soon. “Go to your room, Zena and clean yourself up. We’ll talk when you’ve had a chance to calm down.” She nodded and walked away. Rayden moved to follow her, and I stopped him, “Rayden.” Although he turned, his gaze remained fixed on the floor, his tense shoulders a dead giveaway he was still angry. Whether it was over the blowjob or Remo’s act, I had no fucking clue. Either the boy was stubborn as shit or I’d made him that way. “Are you a lover or a fighter, Rayden?”
He looked up, frowning. “I’m eighteen, I haven’t learned to be either yet. You kinda pointed that out, didn’t you?” he scoffed.
I knew he was trying to provoke me, but I ignored him. “And if you had a choice?”
He chewed his bottom lip for a moment then answered, “lover, I guess.”
“You can be both, though.” At his frown, I added, “you can be a lover who fights for what he wants, pussy included. Don’t let anyone stop you from your ultimate goal. Good or bad, your destiny lies in your hands. What you do with it is up to you. Just don’t let anyone fuck it up by treating you any less than what or who you believe you are.”
“Are you saying I should’ve kicked your ass for what you did to Zena?”
His statement caught me off guard and I chuckled. “Do I look like a man whose ass you can kick?”
