A Kingpin Love Affair: The Complete series(8)

“Did I not tell you I eat pretty girls for breakfast? Or did you block that out of your mind?” I had warned him. I had told him all I was good for—he needed to learn to open his ears and stop trying to implant the good he saw in others into them. There was no room inside of me for Zerro’s positive thoughts.

“Did I not tell you that I don’t give a f*ck?” He snarled stepping into my space. His chest was almost touching mine as fire filled my veins. What the f*ck? He needed to pick a beef with someone else because my give a f*ck was broken.

“I’m pretty sure you tell me you don’t give a f*ck all the time. Not much has changed there. I say I don’t want to do something, you make me do it anyway...” I mocked him with a smug smile. I knew all the right buttons to push to send him over the edge. That’s why, when his fist hit my face, I should’ve been expecting it. His knuckles slammed against my cheek causing me to stumble on my feet unsteadily. I fell to the ground a few steps back as I rubbed the side of my jaw, feeling the pain radiate downward into my chin.

Fucker.

“What the f*ck was that for?” I blurted out, jumping from the floor. He could try and beat the responsible sense he wanted me to have into me, but it wouldn’t do him any good.

“For being a f*cking prick. You need to look at her like a life that needs protecting, not one of your blonde bimbos. I’m not even sure what the f*ck is going on with you, but all I can say is to get your shit together and be prepared to fight for her. She’s not just a thing. Her life, body, every part of who she is, belongs to the Russian Mafia. She’s lost, used, and abused, and you need to take care of her.” He leaned into me, and I swear to God, the look he was giving me was one I had seen many times when he was the King. “Or I’ll take care of you. Understand?” He pressed harder against me until his chest was vibrating against my own in anger.

We were nose to nose, our anger on the verge of boiling over. I took a deep breath. I wasn’t going to have a f*cking fighting in my house. This was my sanctuary—that and I had just cleaned it.

“If I wanted your advice, I would have asked for it. I might not be the best guy in the world, but as of right now, I’m the only one you have, the only one you trust. So if you want me to keep up my end of this deal, I suggest you take a step back and clear your head. If I need you, I will call you. Until then, get the f*ck out of my house.” I was pissed that he had come in here and threw his weight around as if he owned the place. I was doing him more than a favor by not handing him his ass.

He shook his head and looked at me sideways. “You’re lucky you’re Bree’s brother and my best friend because, if you weren’t, I would’ve laid you the f*ck out by now. Get your head in the game.” He acted like what he was saying actually meant something to me. I loved Bree and my father, even him in a brotherly way, but I had never felt so disconnected from them as I did right now.

“You’re lucky I respect you and see you as brother…” I sneered wanting nothing more than to push back. I felt like a ticking time bomb waiting as if everyone was trying to push me until I blew.

“You’re asking for a reason to fight. Something is eating away at you, and I have no idea what that thing is. All I know is it won’t help you to fight others over your own internal struggle.” His admission was a smack to the face and a slam to the chest. I tightened my fists forcing myself not to punch him or lash out with words. Even if I didn’t want to admit it out loud, he was right. My problem had nothing to do with him or my family. It had everything to do with me.

“Leave. I don’t need your philosophical analysis. ” I gritted my teeth. The energy between us grew building and building. Seconds ticked by before he turned, raising his hands above his head as he headed back toward the door.

“I’ll check in with you soon…” I watched as he left, a smug look crossing his face as he slammed the door behind him. I stood staring at the large wooden door, my eyes gliding over the wood. My fist itching to hit something, to feel pain even if it were only for a second. Silence surrounded me and a vein in my head started to bulge. How could I protect someone when I didn’t even care if I lived or died?

Prying my eyes from the door, I contemplated what I should say or even do. The second I turned around, my eyes landed on hers. How long had she been standing there?

I stared into her eyes, the coldness in them sending a chill down my spine while the darkness in them called to something deeper within me. There was something inside of them. The way she held herself on the couch told me she knew fear—pain. It seemed she was broken into so many pieces and there was no way anyone could reach her. Darkness was her favorite, and we both were so very much f*cked.

Two people full of darkness, hate, and hurt colliding was like a tornado waiting to destroy. And I would destroy. After all, I wasn’t very good at keeping things in one piece, especially hearts.

“You don’t have to look at me like a broken piece of glass. I won’t cut you unless you get to close.” A smile pulled at her lips, but it was tight.

Forced and fake.

For some unforeseen reason, it made me want to make her smile, not only that, but I wanted for it to be genuine. To see her teeth, her lips no longer hiding them. I wondered if mischief would twinkle in her eyes or if that small amount of light left in her would shine through?

“Well, I will. I’m not a good guy. I might not be like the people you were rescued from but believe me when I say I’m no better.” I eyed her face for some type of reaction but got nothing. She was like a chalkboard washed cleaned. Nothing gave way to what she was feeling. She was void of all emotion. Just like me. Fuck.