Chapter 45
ROWAN
I’m avoiding them both, and it’s killing me. It’s only been two days, but it feels like two weeks.
Pushing open the doors to Drago’s office in Inferno, I plaster on a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Alright?” I ask, stepping inside.
He looks up from his screen. “Yes. I’m good. Busy.”
I drop down onto the black leather couch.
“Are you okay?” he asks, swivelling toward me.
“Fine. Just in a mood today.”
He frowns. “I’m looking at Rowan, right? This isn’t Reggie?”
I huff a laugh. “Nah. Need me to get my dick piercings out to prove it?”
He lifts a hand, shaking his head. “Fuck off.”
I grin. “No fun.”
“Sorry, Rowan,” he mutters darkly, “I don’t appreciate seeing a dick. I prefer being tongue-deep in pussy.”
I nod, deadpan. “Yeah. Me too.”
He tilts his head. “This is about a woman, isn’t it? That pretty little thing living with your brother?”
I side-eye him. “Yeah. It is.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Dear God. We don’t have time for a brotherly brawl.”
“We won’t fight. It’s fine. I just need to get over it.”
Drago shakes his head, his voice softening for once. “I’m not saying that. Let the poor girl decide for herself between you beasts. What I mean is—I’m sending you both to Phoenix in a few days, and I need you sharp. Not arguing over who’s fucking who and when.”
I bite back a smile. “We won’t.”
“Then fix your face. You looked more miserable than when you got shot.”
“Gee. Thanks, mate.”
He smirks. “What? I’m honest. Sometimes you need brutal honesty as a kick up the ass so we don’t all get killed by a fucking cult.”
I sigh. He’s right. Bigger fish to fry.
“So. Phoenix. What’s the plan?”
He claps his hands, motioning me over to his computer. “Get your boots and cowboy hat on, you’re off to Sterling Ranch. Hunter will help you track The Crow. Then Declan’s letting you loose.”
“Well,” he adds, glancing at me, “to an extent. You and Reg come up with the plan, depending on what The Crow gives you. You’ll need to break him. To the edge of death. I mean it, hold nothing back. Be that sadistic little bastard I know you can be. Then we’ll decide our next move.”
I process that, jaw tight. “Why don’t you come with us? Conan, Finn, Declan, they’ve got it covered here. Could be a fun little road trip.”
He laughs. “Maybe I’ll fly out once you have The Crow. For now, I’ve got things to manage here.”
I squint. “Things or people?”
“Someone,” he admits. “It’s complicated.”
I tap his arm, and he scowls. “No. This one’s going to my grave, so don’t bother asking.”
“Noted.”
My phone buzzes. My heart jumps when I see her name.
Bella: Are you ignoring me, rockstar?
I can’t help myself, even after what I heard Reggie say to her a couple of nights ago. I promised her I wouldn’t give up, but now I know how he felt when he saw us.
I can’t get the taste of her off my tongue.
Me: Never, sweetness.
The phone vibrates again.
Drago groans. “No. You’re not distracted at all.”
“You told me to stop asking questions. I was giving you a minute to recompose,” I tease.
“Yeah, right. More like you’re texting your brother’s fiancée.”
I press a hand over my heart. “Ouch. You wound me, Dragon.”
He glares. “Stop calling me that.”
“Never. Best typo ever. You’ll always be Dragon to me.” I grin. “And she’s only my sister-in-law by alliance. They’re not married. This isn’t wrong.”
He leans back, unimpressed. “I’d cut my brother’s heart out if he tried to steal my wife.”
“It’s not the same.”
But it is, and it isn’t. Because it doesn’t feel wrong. It feels inevitable. Like she was meant to be mine all along.
“Maybe,” I say quietly, “she’s marrying the wrong Murphy twin.”
“Maybe she’s better off marrying neither of you,” he counters.
“Why? You want her?”
“Nope.”
My jaw ticks. “Drink?”
He checks his watch. “Yeah. It’s five somewhere.”
We head out into Inferno, the heat of bodies and bass wrapping around us. Women half-naked, men circling like wolves. We grab a booth; a waitress comes right over.
“Whiskey?” she asks.
“Am I Irish?” I grin.
She winks and walks away with an extra sway in her step.
Drago leans back. “You could have any woman in here, Rowan. Why Bella?”
“Because she isn’t just a fuck,” I admit. “She makes me laugh, makes my damn heart skip a beat. She gets me. It’s weird—the pull. Even from a distance. I’m a puppet, and she’s my master.”
The waitress slides our drinks over. I hand her a fifty.
Drago nods slowly. “Yeah. I get that. You can obsess from afar.”
My brow lifts. “Oh yeah? Who you stalking, Dragon?”
“No one,” he says too quickly. “Just… I felt that once. A long time ago. That kind of pull never goes away.”
I blow out a breath and take a swallow of my whiskey.
“Even knowing she slept with Reggie last night doesn’t stop me wanting her.”
He studies me. “No?”
I shake my head. “Sex is sex. God, with her though…” I trail off, unable to say the rest.
“So what—you both date her and let her pick?”
“I don’t know.” My chest tightens. “But I can’t give up.”
My phone buzzes again.
Bella: Can we talk?
Bella: I’m not giving up on you either.
My heart kicks hard. She knows exactly what she’s saying.
“The battle ain’t lost,” I tell Drago, raising my glass.
Me: Good girl. You at home?
Instant reply.
Bella: I’m in the office. Trying to figure out what the hell Decadence and Inferno mean in relation to your finances. Wanna help?
Me: You asking me over to help you with maths?
I can practically see the blush creeping up her neck.
Bella: Maybe. Or I just want to be near you.
I drain my glass and stand.
“Sorry, Dragon. Gotta go. Important meeting.”
He chuckles. “Don’t come crying to me when Reggie cuts your heart out.”
I grin. “It’s not Reggie I’m worried about. It’s Bella doing that to me.”
As I go to leave, when I open up the door, I come face-to-face with Lyla. She stops in her tracks, forcing a smile.
“Hey,” I say.
The way she’s looking at me, it’s making me uncomfortable. I honestly thought she would have quit by now.
She frowns and steps closer.
“Have you got a new girl in Inferno?” she asks, not hiding that nasty streak of jealousy.
“No.”
She smiles as she steps back, readjusting her boobs in her tight bra.
“So, you wanna go have some fun? I always liked you better.”
She runs a finger up my chest and I snatch her wrist.
“No, Lyla. The agreement is over. You know the rules.” I keep my voice stern. I might not be as harsh as Reggie all the time, but I can be fuckin’ worse than him if I want to be.
“I don’t touch you without permission, Lyla. Don’t fucking touch me without it either.” I keep my voice flat.
She smirks at me, ripping her hand back.
“Sorry. My mistake. Forgot you have morals outside of here.”
She bites her lip and my anger bubbles.
“Paint me however you want, Lyla. I’m not interested. We’re done. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
She steps out of my way, hand on her hip.
“Tell Reggie I need to speak to him. He’s not answering my calls.”
I grit my teeth and spin back to face her.
“Reggie won’t answer, because he’s busy. This was never a relationship, Lyla. Be very careful how you play this.”
She bats her lashes at me.
“Oh, look. Getting protective over your brother. That’s hot.”
I blow out a breath and shake my head.
“Whatever. Just leave us both alone and find another toy to play with.”
With that, I don’t look back; I storm out and head right to where my heart wants me to be.