I laugh, recalling the time it did happen. I was furious with Colette, but in all fairness she was pregnant with Bradley and more irritable than usual. But that is no excuse.
No matter how much Beth pissed me off with her Goody Two-Shoes ways, or how her father literally blew his cigar smoke in my face each time we met, or even how her mother always felt the need to rearrange our kitchen and closet when she visited, I never once considered throwing them out on their asses, especially in the cold.
They piss me off constantly, but they are family and kicking them out would be considered rude.
“Let’s just say she’s not one of my favorite people, G,” Walter continues. “And though she is a hottie, I always thought you deserved better sometimes.”
“That’s the thing… I think she’s changing. She’s starting to warm up to me lately, which hasn’t happened since Bradley died, you know?”
“Is she?” He sounds surprised. “That’s a shocker. I remember you telling me she went into complete shutdown mode after my nephew passed.”
I swallow hard, pressing down on the gas pedal and making a sharp right. “She did… but things seem better now. I’m still wary though. I don’t exactly trust her, and that sucks to say about my own wife.”
“So… what are you saying? That you aren’t going to divorce her after all? I thought that was the goal.”
“No. We are going to get a divorce and this whole contract thing figured out. We’ve agreed on that. I just wish she’d softened up to me way before this… then maybe we wouldn’t have to even consider the divorce option.”
“Oh. Yeah. I know what you mean.” He sighs. “Sorry, man. Life doesn’t work that way.”
“I thought she hated me,” I say through a hoarse laugh.
“No, G, come on. She was rude and selfish and sometimes bitter towards you, but the love? I always saw it. No matter how angry she was or how annoyed she would get with you, I saw it. As clear as day. I don’t think that’s ever going to fade. You saved her in a way… she won’t forget that. What woman would?! It’s impossible to forget and it would take a coldhearted bitch to not love someone like you, at least a little bit.”
I smile, pulling in front of the building and stepping out of the car, tossing valet my keys before reaching the roundabout door. “Yeah. I guess that’s true.”
“It is true! But if it’s time to move on, it’s time to move on. Don’t delay the process or build on false hope. I wouldn’t trust her too much after all you’ve told me lately. Just see how the next few weeks go. Watch her closely. A bitch like her is always up to something.” He pauses, and some keys jingle in his background. “So… who was the other woman that showed up at your office the other day? Now she was a freaking hottie!”
“Oh. Angelina. Yeah… she is something.” I grin, and I’m so glad he can’t see me right now… but that doesn’t mean he can’t picture my reaction.
“Holy shit… HOLY. SHIT!”
“What?” I frown, pressing a button as I board the elevator.
“You like this chick? You like her!?”
“I find her fascinating, yes.”
“Fascinating? Oh, shut the hell up, G. Fascinating? Since when do you use the word fascinating?”
“Since I started running a billion-dollar company,” I chuckle. “Gotta keep up appearances. We aren’t in the bad side of Tampa anymore, Walt. We’ve moved on and up to bigger, better places.”
“Ehh, whatever. After all that shit with Colette blows over, I want to meet this hot new woman.”
“Yeah… we’ll see about that.” The doors slide open and I march out. When I lift my head and spot Kelly standing in front of his desk with a hand up to hold someone back, I frown.
The man across from him is being impatient. His loud voice echoes off my marble walls, his chest poked out, finger pointing directly at my door and demanding my whereabouts.
“There are things about her, Walt. Things I’m not so sure about yet. I don’t know her very well… and something tells me that I’m probably not going to get the chance to. She just keeps on surprising me… and it’s not always in a good way.”
“Uh-oh. Well, I hear the loud fucker in the background. Tell him to take a chill-pill. Go handle your business, G. I’ll talk to you soon. And call Mom!” he shouts, right before I hang up.
I march down the hallway, and when Scott Clark hears my footsteps, he grins, turning in my direction and putting on a smirk. “Oh, Griffin! I was just asking for you!”
“More like yelling for you,” I hear Kelly mutter beneath his breath as he turns to get to his desk.
My jaw flexes, but I don’t say a word—no greeting or handshake. I simply walk by him, unlocking my office door and stepping inside. Without being invited, Scott walks in after me, but it’s cool.
I don’t mind.
I know what he’s here for, well, what the thinks he’s here for.
He shuts the door behind him, taking a swift look around the office as I drop my cellphone on my desk and then drop in my chair. The room is quiet for nearly a minute, Scott observing my office as if he’s never seen it before and me in my chair, calculating his every step, his every move. He wears his hair in that low-cut, spikey, bad-boy type of way. It’s childish for the occupation he upholds, but to women I guess it’s intriguing.
His suit is snug, as if he’s gained a little weight but not so much that you can really tell. I can because of how it fits around his throat and wrists. Stress eating, maybe?
His hair is just as brown as Angelina’s, his eyes just as fucking blue. It’s ridiculous how much he reminds me of her, and I have the urge to destroy his face just so he will share nothing with her.
No relation, no identical traces, nothing.
When he’s done looking out of the window, he turns to face me. “You aren’t going to ask me why I’m here?” he asks, sporting a look of amusement.
“I honestly don’t care.”
“It involves Ang,” he says, walking towards my desk and taking the chair opposite of me. He looks me right in the eye, straightening his spine. I remain relaxed. “Listen, I heard about your little contract. I heard you made her write up a new one. Honestly,” he laughs hoarsely, “I’m surprised you didn’t let her go to begin with. I mean, she did lie to you.” he pauses, waiting on my reaction. My face remains the same. As if I’m bored with him. “I need you to fire her—let her go. She has to come back to New Mexico with me. I think it would be wise.”
“Is that what she wants?”
“No, but it’s what she needs.”
“Who are you to say what she needs?”
“I’m her brother—older brother. I look out for her. I take care of her. Having her working alone with you isn’t a smart move on her part and she knows that. I don’t know what the hell she’s trying to do but it’s nothing good and it could hurt her and you in the end.”
“Hmm.” I laugh, lowering my gaze.
“What’s funny?”
“You, Scott.”
“How?’
“I’m not letting Angelina go. She’s already signed. There is no going back.”
He scowls. “My sister needs to be with me.”
“It’s too late for that, don’t you think?”
His jaw locks, nostrils flaring. “You motherfucker. You made her write it up on purpose. You’re just like Jenkins. Manipulative. A fucking liar. You take the good of our company and leave us for dead.”
“Trust me, I didn’t force her hand. She did this willingly, on her own, and I’m sure you know that. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here trying to talk me out of keeping her.”
His forehead crinkles, and it’s now greasy. He shifts in his chair, fists balling, body tightening. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s better off with me.”
“You don’t run her, Scott,” I laugh, holding my hands out. “She is a grown woman who is capable of making her own decisions. See, she told me all about Jenkins—what he did to your family, a
nd for that I’m sorry, but trust me when I say that you will not tear me down. What your family went through is tragic, and revenge would be my motive too, but I have nothing to do with Jenkins. I built my own empire. I made this—with a loan from him, of course—but everything you see here is all here because me. I make the best deals. I work with the big dogs. I. Get. Shit. Done. And your sister… she realizes that, which is why she was so willing to sign the new contract. I forgave Angelina because she told me the truth, and because I know I could use a smart girl like her.”
He scoffs. “What, do you think just because you got a little taste of her that she’ll be yours forever? Sorry to burst that bubble but other than working in this business, Ang is one of the most inconsistent people I have ever met. She can’t fucking commit. She never gets attached. She’s too afraid of shit like that, especially after last time.”
What last time? I narrow my eyes in his direction, but avoid asking him the question. I don’t need him thinking he has an advantage over me. I can always ask her what he meant.
“Well, that’s great to hear and all, Scott,” I sigh, sitting forward, “but I actually have a little date with your sister in about forty-five minutes and I’d hate to keep her waiting.”
He watches me with thin, angry eyes. Pushing out of his chair, he glares down at me, and I cock my head.
“The door’s that way.” I point towards it, but as I do, Scott quickly lunges across my desk.
Everything on top of it scatters, papers flying, all of my folders hitting the floor. His body dives over, and he lands a right hook on the right side of my face.
My chair flips back as he lands on top of me, his hands around my throat, his eyes sparking like cold, wicked flames—just as cold as he is.
“She’s not yours,” he seethes through clenched teeth. “She’s mine. She’ll always be my sister, asshole!”
The way he talks, how intimate he makes their connection sound, leaves me utterly confused. But I can’t just lay here and take this shit. Not in my office. Not on my turf.
I use my knees to throw him off of me. He hits the ground to my right and I pounce on top of him, my fists immediately slamming into his face, his nose bloody by the second blow.
Something loud thuds behind me, and Kelly hysterically shouts, “Oh my God! Mr. Boyd!” as he rushes in my direction.
“Call security, Kelly! Now!” I bark, and he dashes away immediately.
Yanking Scott up by the collar of his suit, I stare him in the eyes, my fingers curling into the cheap fabric. “Who the fuck do you think you are, huh, Scott? Coming into my office, making demands?”
Scott grimaces, panting roughly through his nostrils. “You can’t have her. She won’t let you. Just when you feel yourself falling, she’ll drop you. You’ll hit rock bottom falling for Ang! She’s not yours, Griffin! She’s my sister. She’s mine. Forever.”
I narrow my eyes at him, focusing on his face. This guy… he’s fucking disgusting. The sight of him, his words, they sicken me. I know what he doesn’t want to hear. I know what will stick with him for a long time, and I have no problem saying it.
Because this is my world now.
This is just the start.
These are my pent-up flames tunneling out, ready to spew fire like the dragon I used to be. Ready to demolish, destroy, and obliterate anything that tries to stand in my way.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong, Scott.” I yank him up, slamming his back against the nearest wall. “That Angel is already mine. She’s been mine for weeks now. You really think I’m going to let something that beautiful go? Trust me,” I murmur, just as security barges into the room and snatches him away from me. “She won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. She’s fallen a lot harder than you think. I’m sure the last thing she’ll ever do is let me down again.”
Those words?
Trust me when I say I mean every, single, fucking one of them.
He doesn’t know that he’s just fucked with the wrong man. I may be a professional, but when someone like him thinks he can take me down, I step out of the light, veering right into eternal darkness.
My flames were sparked a long time ago. But a simple spark can lead to something very dangerous.
Time to set some shit on fire.
Afterword
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Sudden Flames (Sweet Promise #2) Page 13
