Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“I thought my luck would come back.”
“There is no luck, you idiot. He was playing you. And you fell for it. Then instead of admitting you had a problem, you show up at the Maple and lose money there too.” I shook my head. “I should kill you just so your idiocy would stop hurting my head.”
“You can’t. My father—”
I cut him off. “My debt to your father is paid. In full. It has been for years. The only thing keeping you alive right now is your sister.”
At the mention of Una, his face changed. The fear drained away, and he became cocky. “Well then, I guess we’re good? At least the bitch can come in handy to look after your frustrations.” He winked as if it were a joke. As if I planned on revenge-fucking his sister for his debt. My vision turned red, and I heard Niall’s low groan of disbelief.
“Well, now you’ve fucking done it,” he muttered.
I lost it, my fist crashing into Brian’s jaw so hard, his head snapped back. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he fell, unconscious, to the floor.
Niall whistled under his breath. “Nice one.”
“Pick him up. Get him in a chair and tie his hands. Wake him up.” I shook off my jacket. “We’re not done.”
Brian groaned as his hands were released. I stood in front of him, my knuckles bruised and bleeding. My chest heaved from exertion, my anger still bright but my message received. His face was bleeding, his nose smashed, but it was his ribs that had taken the brunt of my fury. Not broken, but he was going to have trouble taking a deep breath.
I hunched in front of him, gripping his hair and lifting his head, forcing him to meet my eyes. “You understand me now, Brian? No gambling. You will pay your debt to me. Your cushy job just got ten times harder and will keep being such until your debt is paid. And the next time you disrespect your sister, I will end you. There is nothing between us, and for you to infer that also disrespects me. She is worth your weight in gold. Your father would be disgusted.” I paused, going in for the kill shot. “And so disappointed in you. He had hopes for you. High ones. None of which you have lived up to.”
His eyes widened, and I knew my words had hit their mark. Jim had been a good man. Tried to instill his beliefs into his kids, of hard work and loyalty. Una had learned her lessons well. Brian had been too eager to take the easy path. As the eldest, he should have been protecting Una, but it was the other way around. She would defend him to the death. I feared if the roles were reversed, he wouldn’t offer the same sacrifice.
And I knew I was going to be the subject of her wrath once she found out what I had done to him today.
But he deserved it and more. If it had been anyone else, chances were they wouldn’t be breathing.
“You go home and clean up. Be at the hotel on Monday, ready to start your new duties.”
He had the audacity to speak. “Doing what?” he asked, a dribble of blood running down his chin.
“Running. Driving. Delivering. Working the warehouses. Whatever the fuck I tell you to do.”
“That’s grunt work!”
I bent down again. “Would you prefer the alternative?” I hissed, still angry.
His already-pale skin whitened. “No.”
“Then be grateful for my leniency.”
I could tell he wanted to mouth off. Tell me where to go. But for once, he kept his mouth shut, glaring instead at the floor. I could almost hear his curses inside his head.
“Clean him up and take him to the safe house. Watch him this weekend,” I instructed, picking up my jacket and slinging it over my shoulder.
Brian had to push it. He always did. “Watch him,” he mimicked under his breath.
He didn’t see it coming. I delivered another blow to his stomach, one so hard, even I grunted.
He gasped, vomited, and passed out.
I looked at him in revulsion. “I need to head to my suite.”
In the car, Niall was quiet for a moment. “You showed great restraint,” he muttered. “I thought you were going to kill him.”
I glanced his way. “I’m sure that’s not how he’ll tell his story.”
“What are you going to say?”
I shook my aching hand. “The truth. Una is smart, and she knows the drill. I had no choice. I was going to let him walk with a threat and the new duties, but he had to mouth off. Twice.” I shrugged. “He brought it on himself.”
“Will Una see it that way?”
I shook my head, then stared out the window, knowing the answer.
She would not.
Niall didn’t speak the rest of the way back to the hotel. I used my private elevator and headed to my suite, standing under the hot spray of the shower, letting the water run off my back to help relax me. I flexed my hand, trying to ignore the ache. I was pretty certain that Brian was suffering far more.