Arranged love

GRAVE

MONDAY MORNING, I stand in my brother’s office at Kingdom with my back resting up against the wall while he sits behind the desk. He silently glares up at me. His eyes burning fucking holes in me.

“Save it,” I warn him. I’m not in the mood to be fucked with.

His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t say anything.

The door opens, and I look over to see Cross enter and plop down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. He leans back and props his feet up on the desk. My brother puts his eyes on him. “May I help you?” he snaps.

Cross just snaps his Zippo open and closed.

My brother sighs, running a hand over his hair. His irritation showing. He wants to beat the shit out of me. Bring it. I’m in a fighting mood.

“Titan told me he took your girl home. She was pretty upset with you,” Cross finally speaks.

“What girl?” my brother asks.

“No one,” I answer, and my chest tightens. I need to go see her. Apologize. But for what? I’m not going to tell her what happened. I’m not going to tell anyone what fucking happened. This is what they expect from me. Drugs, women, and disappointments. No one would believe that Lucy drugged me, and I’m sure as hell not going to admit that I willingly let her suck my dick. The fact that I thought it was April won’t matter.

The door opens again. This time, it’s Titan. “Are we having another fucking meeting?” I growl.

Titan closes the door behind him and sits down next to Cross in the other chair.

“So, Grave is denying April,” Cross says to Titan.

Titan doesn’t even look at me. “Good.”

Cross arches a brow at his words. “What …?”

“He needs to stay the hell away from her.” His eyes finally slide to mine. “She’s too good for him.”

“Is that what this is?” I demand. “Going to warn me to stay away from her? Well, don’t worry about it. I’m done. It’s over.” I feel sick admitting that. Knowing that I fucked up the best thing that I will ever have.

“No.” My brother sighs. “We want you to check yourself into rehab.”

I snort. Fuck that! “No.” I turn and walk toward the door.

“Grave, if you don’t check yourself in today, then don’t come back to Kingdom tomorrow.”

I turn around and glare at him. “You can’t fire me. I own a part of this business.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not about the business. Don’t you understand? You are going to die!”

“I’m not afraid of death,” I say simply just to piss him off more.

“Goddammit, Kyle!” he shouts.

His voice is making my head pound-intensifying my already unbearable headache. I reach out for the door handle.

“Don’t you dare walk out of my office!” A glass paperweight flies next to me, hitting the wall so hard it puts a dent in it. “I’m talking to you!”

I open the door and walk right out, jumping on the elevator and getting the fuck out of this place with no intention of returning for the day.

APRIL

I sit at the bar, a bowl of peanuts in front of me, their shells covering the floor.

Alexa stands across from me, silently judging me. “Would you like another?” she asks.

I slide my empty glass across the bar, and she refills my water. I’m not in the mood to drink. I just want to stuff my face full of peanuts and wallow in my own pity.

“What’s wrong with her?” Derek asks, coming up next to her.

“Grave cheated on her.” She sighs.

“What? You were dating that asshole?” He snorts. “What did you expect?”

“Derek!” She shoves him away. “That’s a shitty thing to say.”

“I told her the Kings were not people to fuck with.”

“Go fucking work,” she snaps at him.

“He’s right,” I mumble. “I should have never fucked him.”

“Jesus,” he hisses.

A figure plops down beside me. “If sex is all you need, I can hook you up.” Jasmine bumps her shoulder into mine playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

I don’t laugh.

“Speaking of sex …” Derek goes on. “You free tomorrow night?” he asks her.

Jasmine snorts. “I’m never free. Always top dollar.”

He smirks, his eyes running over her chest. “How much will a hundred get me?”

“My foot up your ass.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “I could get into that.”

“Oh, you’ll love it,” she answers.

“You two are disgusting.” Alexa shakes her head.

I grab another peanut shell and break it before tossing the peanut in my mouth.

“I have a solution,” Jasmine offers.

“What is it?” I ask, not really caring.

I miss him. That’s the worst part. I fell for a cheater, and my dumb ass misses him. Telling yourself you’re too good for them is easier said than done.

“This.” She starts gathering her red hair in her hands.

“What are you doing?” Alexa asks.

“I’m putting my hair up. We’re gonna turn on some gangster rap, and we’re gonna cut a bitch.” She pulls a knife out of her Louis Vuitton bag.

“You can’t have that in here.” Alexa gasps.

Jasmine ignores her and looks at me. Her green eyes wide with excitement. “I’ve found if you lick the blood off it, it’s quite effective. Shows them you don’t give a fuck. Most people frown on cannibalism.”

“Give me that.” Alexa reaches across the bar and yanks it from her hand.

Jasmine shrugs. “I tried. I’m not tequila. I can’t make everyone happy.”

“Tequila makes me want to fight,” I say.

“Then tequila it is.” Jasmine claps her hands.

“No!” Alexa shakes her head. “Water and peanuts only.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Jasmine pouts. “You’re no fun.” Then she gets serious and places her hand on my shoulder. “You know this isn’t your fault, right?”

“It is.” It’s all my fault. My brother getting in trouble. Falling for Grave. I could have prevented it all. “I knew better.”