Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Recognition shows on their faces, shock on Bruce’s, his jaw clenching.
“Yeah, I thought you’d know them. I’m with them, and he’s mine.” He points to me. “You know who he is, right? He rents a trailer from you. You’ve threatened him, taken advantage of him, and honestly, Bruce, that pisses me off. You probably don’t know this about us, but we take care of what’s ours.”
Ours, ours, ours.
I like Rory claiming me, more and more each time he does it. I see now why Ollie likes it from Cillian.
“Fuck him, and fuck that bitch of a mother of his. Stupid whore tried to blow me instead of paying me, and you’re here defending them?”
“Don’t fucking talk about my mom like that.”
“Bruce, Bruce, Bruce. You’ve made my boy angry, and I don’t like it when he’s angry. You’re really not doing yourself any favors.” His boy…that’s new. Damned if it doesn’t make my chest swell, make it feel bigger than it ever has. Rory moves closer to the bed. “Stand up. Both of you.”
Bruce and his guy look at each other, back to Rory, then do what he says. Is there anyone who doesn’t listen to them? And fuck, do I crave that.
They’re both naked, soft cocks hanging between their legs, arms still in the air.
“Unfortunately, Shai is nicer than me. I promised him I wouldn’t kill you…unless I have to.”
I didn’t say unless he had to, but I don’t argue.
“I assume you know not to fuck with me?” Rory asks. “Because if you do, I’ll bring down your whole fucking world…slowly…painfully…and you’ll be begging me to end it.”
“We don’t have issues with you,” Bruce says.
“But again, he’s mine, so if you fuck with him, you’re fucking with me. This is the way it’s going to go from now on: They’ll pay rent on time every month. If there’s an issue, you come to me. Any correspondence goes through me—I don’t care if it’s a fucking plumbing issue. You’re going to get your rent, and you’re not going to raise it, harass them, and you’re also going to fix whatever the fuck I decide needs to be fixed. It’s a piece of shit, but I’m noticing that’s a pattern with you.” Rory looks around, and God, he’s a dick and I love it. “We all win in this situation. Kat and Shai can stay in that house as long as they want. You won’t evict them, you won’t so much as look at them wrong, do you understand?”
Bruce’s mouth clenches, jaw tight, hands fisted in the air, but he grits out, “I understand.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t hear you. Can you repeat that louder?”
“I understand,” Bruce says, and Rory’s attention turns to the bodyguard.
“I understand,” he says.
“Good. I’m glad we get each other. Whew. I worried that would be difficult, but it looks like we all get along really well. I didn’t even have to threaten you too much…like tell you what would happen if you go behind my back, if Shai or Kat get hurt, if you go to the cops or anything like that.” Rory turns to me. “See? Easy peasy.”
Easy fucking peasy? I can’t help but laugh. God, he’s so fucking great.
We’re looking at each other, so I don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. The bodyguard lunges for me, shoving me backward until I hit the wall. Anger flares on Rory’s face as he turns to come for us. Bruce swipes something off his nightstand, swings his arm, and the second the knife slices against Rory’s arm, I realize what it is. How did we miss that?
The bodyguard comes at me again, but I’m ready for it, whipping my arm through the air and hitting him in the temple with my gun, like I did to Rory the first night we saw each other. He drops immediately and I hit him again to make sure of it.
Rory’s gotten the upper hand too, and he’s dragging Bruce away.
“What the fuck are you doing?” My heart is in my throat, head pounding, worry strangling me.
“Make sure he’s not a problem.” He points to the bodyguard boyfriend, but he’s out. I must have hit in the right place, the slow rise and fall of his bare chest telling me I didn’t kill him.
Rory disappears into another room, and I follow. He throws Bruce into the bathtub, holding him down and turning on the water. It pours over Bruce’s face as he fights Rory, trying to get free, choking on the water. Rory pulls his head out for a second. “I thought we were friends, Bruce. I thought I could trust you. Why did you go and do that?” He shoves Bruce under the water again, waterboarding the guy, who chokes and thrashes.
“Rory, don’t. I don’t want you to do this for me,” I tell him again. I’m not supposed to get him in trouble, not supposed to get him hurt. He’s got blood on his hand, and I know it’s running down his arm from his cut. How bad is it?