Chapter 62
CHAPTER 62
NORTH CAROLINA
B ryson needed Elena gone before the dinner started. For her safety and, frankly, for his own comfort. Being naked near her was uncomfortable enough. Performing in front of her was unthinkable.
“El, I need you to not be at the dinner,” he said, willing her to understand.
She rolled her eyes. “Brysey, if you are worried that I’ll see you naked, it’s done. I’ve seen it.”
“It’s not just that,” he ground out.
Did every woman in his life have to be this difficult?
“El, please.”
Something in his voice must have conveyed the deep-seated desperation he felt because she sighed and said, “Fine.”
Bryson’s shoulders relaxed, and the tension in his brow eased. Finally after an exhausting ten minutes of back-and-forth Elena had agreed.
“I’ll get Eric to walk you out,” he said.
“Not necessary,” she said, opening the door.
Both of them paused when Rolland’s smug face appeared at the threshold.
How long had he been there ?
Rolland put his elbow up, blocking the doorway. His posture was non-threatening, but his body effectively boxed them into the space. Rolland chewed on his toothpick, eyes on Elena.
“I told you, honey, no reason to get chummy with this one,” Rolland said, eyes roaming along Elena’s body, stopping in all the wrong places.
She narrowed her eyes. “And I told you, I can decide for myself. Thank you.”
Bryson did not miss the subtle shift in her tone.
Rolland pushed his way into the room, and Bryson moved to stand up, but his sister’s hand came down hard on his shoulder. Bryson’s knees cracked into the floor.
Rolland’s hand reached out, brushing a red hair from her face, before he leaned in and said, “Mr. Winters kindly requests you back off. He has a buyer in mind.”
What the fuck, this was news.
Bryson assumed his sister would back down. Now that she wasn’t bidding on them, there was no reason to keep up the ruse.
Except that isn’t what Elena did.
His sister stretched her arms into the air, feigning an exaggerated yawn.
“All of this talk about what I can and can’t do. It’s so boring,” she said, sticking her bottom lip out.
Bryson watched as she rolled up the sleeves of her black dress, revealing the color. Lots of color.
Rolland whistled. “Lots going on there, sweety, but I bet you’re a little low on the totem pole to be flexing like that.”
She lowered the fabric of the dress that covered her neck.
Bryson sucked in a breath. Those tattoos established her as second in command. An honor typically not given to wives .
Rolland took a step back, his face ash. Elena pushed past him, moving his body like it was paper.
“Why are you second in command?” Bryson hissed when he was sure they were out of earshot.
She shrugged. “I’m good at it. It’s in my blood.”
Bryson was stunned.
Elena tapped her chin. “What was it Dad always said? Chess is a ruthless game. You have to be ready to kill people.”
She smiled at him. “After I left, I was ready to kill people. More than ready.”
Now it was Bryson’s turn to pale. What had his sister become?
“You remind Miss Priss about that, will you? Because if anything happens to you three, she will be my first stop.”