Page 10 of In Love and Revenge

I giggle. ‘Yeah.’

She rolls her eyes with a smile. ‘My brothers aren’t insane, I promise you. Just ... protective over those they care about. And Gabe is ...’ She tilts her head, her eyes twinkling. ‘...resourceful. He claims the sling is for Benedict’s benefit, but I swear he loves carrying him around in it just as much as Benedict likes to be pandered to, if not more.’

‘When did he get him—?’

My cat curiosity is cut off as a striding force of dark blue suit topped with wavy chestnut hair exits the lift, making a beeline for the reception desk.

The man sitting behind it straightens. ‘Mr Fairfax,’ he greets.

‘AJ, did you send Miss Jones the red roses I requested?’

‘Two dozen, as instructed,’ AJ replies.

‘Hm, good,’ the broad, suited arsehole replies, before his attention is ripped away by movement outside the window.

‘The window cleaners came late today,’ AJ comments, his eyes ping-ponging between the two cheery-looking men outside washing down the windows in their special crane, and the stiffened form staring at them, colour draining from his cheeks.

Rafael clears his throat, tearing his eyes from the window. ‘Ridiculous way to clean the goddamn windows.’

‘Are you okay, sir?’ AJ asks.

‘I’m bloody well fine,’ he snaps.

‘You don’t look so good,’ AJ continues. ‘Is it your h—?’

‘I don’t pay you to play doctor, AJ. I pay you to do your damn job! So stop asking ridiculous questions.’

I bite back my scoff.

This man is so shamefully rude, it’s a joke.

As if he can feel the force of my glare, he turns, looking straight at me and Dove before he scans me up and down ruthlessly. His upper lip curls into a grimace.

I square my shoulders, refusing to be intimidated.

‘Rafael? You remember Rory?’ Dove calls to him. ‘We’re heading for dinner. You can join us if you like?’

I do a better job of hiding the vomit that’s just flown up into my mouth than Rafael does. He physically recoils like Dove had suggested we go out on to the street and look for small puppies to skin alive.

‘I have dinner plans,’ he barks back.

Dove, unperturbed by his brashness, shrugs. ‘Okay. See you in the morning.’

She steers me towards the bank of lifts and is drawn into a conversation with someone as they exit. I can’t help but glance back as I wait for her, like a rubbernecker at the scene of a grisly crash.

Rafael Fairfax is standing where we left him, glaring after us.

I hold his eyes in challenge.

I know what you think of my father, arsehole.

The harder I stare back, the darker his gaze gets, until it’s boring into me like I’m looking down the barrel of a gun.

Men like him think they know everything. They think they’re better than everyone. That the world is theirs for the taking. I can’t help myself; my mouth is calling out to him before I can engage my brain.

‘Being a dick won’t make yours bigger, you know.’ I smile sweetly.

His glower deepens until he looks in danger of popping a vein. Victory blooms in my chest. It’s immature, but it still feels good enough that I’m beaming as I step inside the lift beside Dove, who’s distracted by a message on her phone.