Page 147 of Ruin

Zeus laughs, not a hint of humor in it. “I’ll pass, thanks.”

Marcel looks at Zeus like he doesn’t understand the words he just said.

“We’re done here, Duran.”

“Zeus, don’t be stupid. We’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars.”

“This isn’t me being stupid. This is me being smart.”

Marcel’s eyes flicker to me and then back to Zeus. “You’re making a big mistake, Zeus. You won’t fight again without me. I’ll make sure of it.”

Zeus tips his head to the side. “Who said I wanted to fight again?”

Marcel laughs a patronizing sound. “What are you gonna do? Sit around, being her bitch, all day long while she bleeds you dry? You’re being an idiot, Kincaid.”

I expect Zeus to get angry. But he doesn’t. He just stares at Marcel.

Then, he starts laughing. And it’s a real genuine laugh, like he’s laughing at a joke that only he knows the punch line to.

“What the fuck are you laughing at?” Marcel bites, sounding rattled.

Zeus lifts his shoulder, laughter still rumbling inside his chest. “Guess you’ll find out soon enough.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Marcel’s beady eyes narrow into slits.

Zeus’s face turns serious. “What do I always say to you, Marcel? There are two rules in life. The first is, never give out all the information.”

I remember Marcel saying those exact words to Zeus six weeks ago at his apartment, and a smile creeps onto my face because I have a feeling that Zeus knows something he’s not letting on about.

He previously said to me that he had something happening in the background when it came to Marcel. Maybe that’s finally happening.

“You’ve fucking lost it,” Marcel yaps as he heads for the door. “Too many hits to the head have made you even more of a dumb fuck than you already were.”

“Uh-huh,” Zeus says, grinning. “Piece of advice for you, Marcel. Don’t bend over in the shower.”

Huh? Don’t bend over in the shower?

Marcel’s brows crash together. “You’re a fucking freak. Have a nice life with your bastard and your stripper,” Marcel imparts before disappearing out of the room.

Zeus growls as he tries to move me aside and get off the examination table to get to Marcel, but I’m not budging.

“Zeus, he’s not worth it,” I say, gripping hold of his arms. “It doesn’t matter what he says.”

Zeus’s brows are tight with anger.

“He only said it to get a rise out of you. If you went after him, you’d be giving him exactly what he wanted.”

He exhales a sound of sheer frustration. “You’re right. I know you’re right. I just fucking hate him, thinking he can say whatever shit he wants about you and get away with it.”

“But he’s not getting away with it, is he?”

Zeus’s eyes come to mine, and there’s a smirk in them.

“What have you done?”

“It’s not what I’ve done. It’s what he’s been doing.”

I give him a look of confusion.