There’s a moment of disappointment on his face, but he shakes it off and says, “Okay. Let me walk you to your bike.”
Then he laces his fingers with mine, and, for the first time in a long while, I feel like I’ve got my brother by my side, and I feel a little less alone.
For now.
Chapter 15
Felix
Dark, grey walls surround me as I fiddle with my hands in my lap. I sit beneath a bright light, similar to what you’d find in an interrogation room. The chair is leather. The sofa against the wall is leather. My God, I’m pretty sure even the carpet is leather. The desk in front of me looks like it’s made from black obsidian, and the room smells like—surprise, surprise—leather with a hint of something spicy. Lewd figurines depicting sexually explicit scenes from various Greek myths are situated in various corners of the room, and it’s cold. Really cold.
It took hours for the doctor to finish his examination, but finally, the CT scans revealed no major damage. Once the doctor was finished, Thing 1 and Thing 2 quickly ushered me to “The Boss Man’s Office.”
Cue ominous music.
And here I sit, awaiting my fate. Nobody will tell me if Torren is okay, and I have no clue if he’s even still at the club.
The door opens, startling me out of my ruminations, and I know instinctively that the man who enters is none otherthan Tobias Kay. Have I ever seen him before? No, but I’d eat my shoe if this tall, strong, gorgeous man who is equal parts alluring and terrifying isn’t my man’s brother. God, I wish Torren were here right now.
Tobias’s hair is a rich auburn, and his skin is much lighter than Torren’s. It’s clear that they’re not blood relatives, but their auras match. When they walk into a room, you knowsomeonehas walked in. They cut through the world like their souls wield machetes.
He takes a seat behind the desk and folds his hands with the finesse of a grand duke. His tattered, leather clothing and piercings along his ears, nose, and eyebrows make him look like a post-apocalyptic pimp.
If I wasn’t nervous before, I sure as fuck am now.
Please, God, don’t let this man murder me tonight.
The silence between us is excruciating. He stares at me as if he can read my mind—his gaze like a physical force invading my psyche.
Finally, he asks, “How are you feeling?”
I’m momentarily speechless because I genuinely don’t know how I’m feeling. I guess I’m… “Fine.”
What a riveting answer, Felix.
Tobias nods, a concerned look on his face. “Did the doctor check you for shock?”
“Um…probably. He checked me for almost everything. I don’t think I’m in shock. Truth be told, I was pretty mouthy the whole time they patched me up, but now I’m—”
“Terrified,” he finishes.
I’d love to say, “You bet your ass,” but I’m not a complete moron. Instead, I sheepishly nod, hoping to convey that I’m not a threat.
“I have that effect on people,” he adds.
Tobias leans back in his chair, eyeing me with suspicion. “I’m prepared to compensate you for the damages you’ve suffered. I imagine you, of all people, don’t need my money, but I’m prepared to negotiate a sum in exchange for your discretion and the protection of my brother. You name it, and it’s yours.”
Now, we’re getting into conversation territory that I’m pretty familiar with. Money in exchange for favors is on page one ofThe Shitty Politician’s Handbook. I lean back on my chair and make a show of the pain it causes, wincing and then leaning upright again.
He narrows his eyes at me and waits for my reply. “I don’t want money,” I respond. “You have my word that I’ll never speak of this place to anyone. Especially my father. I’m not sure if this is too much information, but I detest my father.”
That one gets a little smirk out of Tobias, and he replies, “I appreciate your honesty, but from the little performance you just gave when you leaned against the chair, I’m assuming you wantsomething.”
Well, touché, bitch. I thought my performance was pretty good.“I want to talk to Torren. Is he still here?”
“He’s not, and he sends his deepest apologies.”
My heart sinks.He left?I feel like an idiot for coming here tonight. His departure feels like a betrayal, yet we’re barely anything at all.
