Chapter 8 Theo
THEO
IRUMMAGED THROUGH the fully stocked bar until I found a bottle of cognac that was one of Benoit’s favorites, and figured our fellow brother wouldn’t mind my indulging in his stash.
The villa—as with all of the places we collectively owned around the world—was outfitted with each of our favorites: spare clothes, luxury toiletries, and anything else we’d need just in case.
I was grateful in that moment that it included alcohol. I’d seen the way Shep had been staring, and the way he’d tried to fight it, and that was an interesting development.
The in-demand bachelor everyone creamed their pants over was having thoughts about going another round with me, and I had to admit I was hoping he’d fall off his high horse and onto my dick.
But he was a stubborn ass who didn’t do things lightly, so the reality he’d come back for seconds was slim to—
“Theo!”
Shep’s voice echoed through the house and had me stopping mid-pour. He didn’t sound desperate or needy for an orgasm, unfortunately, more like he wanted to throttle someone with his bare hands.
“Sounds like someone needs a drink,” I called back before grabbing a second glass and giving him a healthy pour.
His footsteps were quick and angry, and as he entered the room, I held out one of the glasses for him to take.
“Here,” I said. “Take the edge off.”
Shep ignored the alcohol, his eyes shooting daggers into mine as he walked over and reached for my arm.
“What are you—” I started, but then he pushed up the cuff at my wrist to reveal a small scar…and I was fucked.
Shep’s fingers dug into my wrist to the point of pain, but I didn’t flinch, not even when he took a deep breath to steady the sheer fury vibrating off him.
“What the fuck have you done, Theo?”
I jerked my arm out of his grasp and set his cognac aside. “It’s not what you think.”
“No? Because it looks like you took the tracker out of your arm, the one all of us have for our safety. All of our safety, you selfish shit. So don’t tell me it’s not what I think, because I know better.”
So this looked pretty bad, but he didn’t know that—
“The video wasn’t a fake,” he continued, taking a menacing step toward me. “It took place in Istanbul, yet somehow your tracker was in Monaco at the time of the bombing. Care to explain that?”
I crossed my arms and leaned back against the counter. “Not really.” But I wasn’t an idiot; there was no getting around what I’d really done at this point, and I’d just have to suffer through the incoming wrath from all sides.
“Dammit, Theo—”
“Fine,” I said, and then grabbed my glass and took a long sip. “I wasn’t in Monaco. I was in Istanbul. But I didn’t blow up any buildings. Why would I?”
“Oh, we’ll get to that later, but for now, why don’t you explain what you were doing in Istanbul in the first place?”
I shook my head. “Can’t tell you that.”
“Come again?”
“Well, I would if you’d take your pants off—”
“Goddammit, is this a joke to you?” Shep shoved my chest, making the edge of the counter dig into my hips.
He didn’t give me an inch of breathing room as he caged me in, and though I could feel all his rage, it only reminded me of the hate fuck yesterday…
and there went my dick. Rising to the occasion with every vitriolic word out of Shep’s mouth.
Something might’ve been seriously wrong with me that I wanted to get off to his wrath. It wasn’t my fault he was even hotter with his eyes flashing and all that fire aimed my way.
“No. But it’s also none of your business.”
“None of my—” Shep let out an exasperated sigh and held his palms up. Then he took a step back. “Okay, you know what? Let’s start over.”
“How about we don’t?” I threw back my cognac and turned to refill my glass.
“Come on, Theo. You’ve got to give me something here.”
“Why?” I glanced over my shoulder to see Shep eyeing me like I’d lost my mind. “It’s not like you’re going to believe me.”
“Then give me a reason to.”
“So you can run off and tell King? No thanks.” I picked up my glass and stared at the amber liquor in the bottom, wondering who the fuck had sent that video and how quick I could track them down.
Then I’d put an end to this once and for all.
Shep moved past me to stand on the other side of the counter. “Look, I’m trying to help you here.”
“Really? It seems more like you’re trying to find out whether or not I betrayed my brothers.”
He opened his mouth, about to say something, but cut himself off.
“Which I didn’t, by the way.”
“Then help me understand.” Shep rested his hands on the counter and stared me down. “Give me something, anything.”
“I already did. I was in Istanbul.” I held Shep’s stare as I took another sip of the velvety alcohol and swallowed it down.
If he thought I would break, he was in for a shock. Unlike my other brothers, I didn’t bend the knee—unless it was for something pleasurable.
Yes, I’d been in Istanbul, but I sure as fuck didn’t blow up any building. I was too smart for that, and I resented the implication I’d be so careless. Plus, if I wanted to get rid of someone, I’d never be so obvious about it.
“So you were in Istanbul. To do what?”
“Sightsee?”
Shep’s eyes narrowed. “And…?”
“Try the local cuisine? Their kebabs are to die for.”
Shep raised a brow, and I couldn’t help my smirk.
“Sorry. Poor choice of words.”
“Were they? Or did you choose them on purpose?”
I pursed my lips and leaned over the counter. “Are you asking me if someone died in Istanbul?”
“Are you trying to tell me someone did?”
My eyes drifted to the stubble surrounding Shep’s lips, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like pressed up against mine. Would his kiss be punishing or soft? Or maybe a little of both? If I just moved in a little closer, I could—
“Theo?”
“Huh?”
“Did something go wrong in Istanbul? Did someone…you know? Is that why you don’t want to talk about it?”
Ugh, why is he still talking about this?
I straightened and eyed him as I swallowed the remains of my drink.
“I’m done,” I said, and placed the glass down on the counter with a loud clang. “This has been…annoying. But if you don’t mind, I think I’m going to head home and do what I was trying to do here. Relax.”
“Theo—”
“Look, I have too many family obligations this week to deal with this shit. We’re done, Shep.”
At least with this conversation. If he wanted to revisit other things we might have in common—naked things—I was open to that. But judging by the frown forming between his brows, I knew that wasn’t in the cards.
“Tell Lucien and Kai I said goodnight.”
“This isn’t going to go away just because you want it to,” Shep pointed out as I started down the hall.
“No, but I can.” Then, just because I knew it would piss him off, I added, “Be sure to tell King he can kiss my ass the next time you talk to him.”