14. Vince
Vince
I needed to start my breathing exercises again. Dropping the glass bottle. What a fucking mess. “Alright, next one.” Stepping over the limp, bloody body, walking out of the cell room.
They always want to waste my fucking time and be difficult. For once, I would like to ask a question, get an answer without having to break their very weak loyalty.
Reaching for my phone. Nikolai. Probably wondering if I was back.
“I’m busy brother, I’ll call you back.”
“It will have to wait. I’m out the front.”
It wasn’t just what he said, it was his tone. Walking up the hall of the cellar. “And what is suddenly so important?” typing in the code for the door before stepping outside. Sure enough, he was here.
Ending the call, I walked to the black SUV and opened the back door. “What is this all about?”
“Did Sofia pass her test?” He looked at me, putting his phone down.
Why couldn’t he have asked me that on the phone? “Yeah, she did.”
“I’ll call her later.”
“She’s going to ask you for a convertible. It’s a no. First few years, I want as much metal around her as possible.”
“Agreed. Come on, we’ve got a lunch.”
He could not be fucking serious. “Do you see me right now?”
He nodded. “It’s not that noticeable. Clean your hands and face on the way.”
It was good to know that the sight of me covered in blood didn’t affect his appetite.
“I’m not hungry. Nikolai, I’m busy.” That look in his eyes. Fine. Fuck it. No worries. I’ll just stop mid torture to attend a lunch date with my needy brother. Getting in the car, slamming the door. “Fine. Let’s go. Not as if my time schedule matters to you.”
“You don’t have a time schedule.”
I scoffed, “Obviously, not one I can keep with my siblings.”
Every day, every single day, one of them needs me. I’ve already had a call from Rome, who I have to meet in two hours. But why bother explaining that to Nikolai. No. The man is hungry and I’m suddenly his lunch bitch.
I’m going to kill him. He said lunch. Not a lunch function with other people. Glaring at his back, walking behind him.
Whose fucking wedding anniversary is this, and why did I have to be here? Practicing my breathing exercises before I throw him through that obnoxiously large cake.
He must have woken up this morning and thought, how can I make Vince suffer? Oh. Great idea. I’ll drag him to some old fuckers’ wedding anniversary.
Wait. That sign said Voss.
Only now did I notice how silent the room went as Nikolai walked towards a table. Looking around at the guests. Are we crashing this wedding anniversary?
Every muscle in my body went tight, as I saw Noah Voss at the table Nikolai had stopped at.
If he brought me here to make some fake peace or a gesture of respect. I might just end up hurting my brother. Throwing him through the cake would be less painful.
“Nikolai Crow,” Noah’s father, Chris stood up, “What do we owe this unexpected visit?”
Glaring at my brother’s back. He better not ask me to shake that fucker’s hand, because I’d break it.
The room was silent. Everyone staring at us. I hated people. Even more so when I could feel their attention.
“I just need a moment with your son, Chris. I’m sure you understand why.” Nikolai looked down at the table. Noah got out of his chair while I kept my focus on Nikolai.
One wrong look from Noah: I could end up strangling him. Though, if this was his family event. I looked at the empty seat beside him. Madeline mustn’t have attended.
“Lay down on the ground.” Nikolai kept his hands in his pocket.
I was confused as I watched Noah listen.
Nikolai applied his foot to his throat. I had clearly missed something. He stomped repeatedly on his neck with enough pressure to fracture his voice box.
My smile got bigger when he started coughing up blood. With enough luck, he might drown on it.
Even as Nikolai walked away, not one of his family members risked getting out of their seats.
It was a glorious sight to see that man in so much fucking pain.
“Wait until he fully recovers,” Nik stood at my side, “then you can kill him.”
My grin got bigger, watching him choke, struggling to breathe. Fuck. I hoped he didn’t end up drowning now.
Walking backwards a few steps before turning around to walk beside Nik. I grabbed his shoulder, pulling him to my side. “So how about that lunch, brother?”