Damn it, Aurora, get a fucking grip. This man broke your heart and is acting like a jealous asshole. He doesn’t deserve anything else from you.
The little pep talk steadies me, and I look away from him, glaring down at the still huddled Simeon. Seriously? “Get your ass up, Simeon,” I order.
“Fucker can’t even take a punch without whining and you want to marry this?” Alonzo sneers.
“I think you fractured my fucking jaw, you son of a bitch,” Simeon moans, but he drags himself to his feet, his hand cupping his jaw. His eyes blaze angrily, the need for revenge directed squarely at Alonzo. Then his eyes cut to mine and he demands, “This is what you’re going to allow to happen to your fiancé? You’re not going to even defend me?”
Me? Defend him? The façade he was trying to portray earlier when we first saw each other is gone and in its place is the spoiled brat that I remember. Disgust wars, but I manage not tolet it show. I wouldn’t put it past the asshole to go and whine to Ilya, or abandon the plan entirely and go to his father, hoping to earn some kind of favor for bringing me back in the first place.
“Call her that again, and you’re going to be eating through a fucking straw, cocksucker,” Alonzo threatens, stepping forward menacingly.
Simeon steps back, slamming his shoulder into the wall, and yelping in pain. Jesus Christ, at this rate I’m going to need to tell Ilya to lock him up for his own good. He’s going to be damn useless.
“Damn it, Rayea, do something,” Simeon demands. “Put your dog back on his leash or something.”
I look down at Hades in amusement, knowing full well that Simeon isn’t talking about the only male in my life that I trust wholeheartedly. Hell, even Hades is looking at Simeon with a dog version of pity.
“Alonzo, don’t hit him again,” I sigh, done with this bullshit. Alonzo stares at me, but I give him a pointed stare. “He’s not worth the damage to your hands.”
Alonzo smirks, and Simeon glares at me angrily. “Still as much of a bitch as ever, I see.”
My smile is cold, sharp, and he pales. “I’m so much more than I was at eighteen, Simeon, and I suggest you remember that. Now, this is what you’re going to do. You are going back to your room, and you are going to stay there and out of my way until I decide what I’m going to do with you.”
“You’re not in charge?—”
“Shut the fuck up or I’ll hit you again,” Alonzo warns. Simeon must realize how serious Alonzo is because he keeps his mouth shut, but he still glares at me angrily.
Simeon never was one that liked to be talked down to or made to feel inferior. Timur was clear that he wanted his eldest son to always feel in charge.
Looks like that’s about to backfire on him spectacularly.
I pin Simeon with a look that tells him to shut the fuck up before he ends up dead, and he pales further. I swear I see him start to tremble slightly, and I nearly roll my eyes. And this asshole thinks I’d marry him? I’d kill him before we even got to the altar.
“As I was saying. You are going back to your room. Have Ilya call one of his doctors for you, I don’t care, but you are going to stay the fuck out of my room, and out of my way unless you want to end up sporting a few new scars and less fingers before this is over. As for this marriage bullshit, I’m not marrying anyone.”
He opens his mouth to argue, but snaps it shut when I take a menacing step toward him. He scurries out of the room, flinging the door open so hard it bounces off the wall, and I see Oleg and Zakhar standing there, clearly eavesdropping. Just great.
Zakhar takes one look at Simeon and snickers. “Dude, you really thought you were going to take charge of a woman like that? Did that fucker’s fists knock a few screws loose?” Simeon glares angrily at him and shoves past him, storming down the hallway.
I look at Oleg. “If you haven’t bugged his room, get it done right away. Something’s off with him. He’s either playing both sides to get what he wants, or he’s going to be pissed enough at me to try something stupid.”
Oleg frowns, but he must figure my words have merit because he’s following Simeon almost instantly. Zakhar leans in my doorway, looking perfectly content as he takes me in. He gives a low whistle of appreciation. “Damn,milaya, you clean up nice in anything you wear, don’t you? I’m partial to longer hair myself, but on you, short is fucking sexy. Still enough to grab on to.” He winks at me, and I almost smile.
He’s ridiculous. And has a death wish if the sound from Alonzo is anything to go by.
“I’m going to kill you,” Alonzo seethes, already moving toward him.
“Alonzo,” I snap irritated. “Cut out the macho bullshit or it’ll be me putting you on your ass. Again.”
That stops him, but the look he gives me is downright wicked as he says, “Before or after you put your pussy in my face again?”
I glare at him, while Zakhar sputters out a laugh. “Well, I guess that answers the question of if you’re over him.” He gives a dramatic sigh. “A man knows when he’s been beaten, but just know that I’ll always be happy to heal your broken heart when he fucks up again,milaya.”
Alonzo gives me a heated stare, and I’m not touching any of this right now. Not when I want to bust some balls and let Hades have his pick of anything left over.
I want to scream at Zakhar that I’m over Alonzo, but instead, I stalk to the door and shove him out of my way. He stumbles back at the force, but he still laughs and grins at me. “Fuck off. Where’s Ilya?”
“Oh, you’re going after my brother now, huh? I mean, I get it, but you should know that he’s kind of in this thing with?—”
