Page 13 of Arseni
A huff blows past his lips as he drops his hands to his sides.His frown flattens.“You love this shit, don’t you?Watching me grovel.How long is it going to be before you get over yourself?”
How long will it be beforeIget overmyself?
What level of arrogance does it take to be unable to comprehend that somebody might not want to be around you?
I shake my head.“It isn’tyouI’d like to see grovel.If you want results, you should send your sister over… Or Lucia.”
His eyes pop at the mention of his wife, his face reddening.I don’t even bother smirking at the reaction.Nothing used to get to him.Now, it’s too easy.
“Shut yourfuckingmouth,” he says, knocking my beer out of my hand when I go to take another drink.The bottle shatters on the kitchen tile, soaking the bottom of my shoes in beer.I laugh when Luka grips me by my shirt and shoves me against the counter, towering over me with so much anger, a jolt of excitement puffs my chest.
I wish he’d hit me.For months, I’ve wished he’d hit me.Anything to give me a reason to hit back.
“Do we have a problem?”Zinovy asks, walking up behind Luka.Fox hovers behind him.
“Whoops,” I whisper to Luka, my smile pulling wide.“You forgot you were in my house.”
His hand shakes with anger as he lets me go and takes a step back.He runs a hand through his hair while closing his eyes.
“Pussy.”
He doesn’t react to the remark.My smile falling, I grab another beer from the fridge and head to my room.Like a fucking dog, Luka follows.
No, not like a dog.I like dogs.He’s more of an ugly duckling.
Roscoe, Fox’s pit bull, is laying on my bunched-up comforter when I walk in.He perks his head up, and when I cluck my tongue with false disapproval, he hops off the bed and goes to me.I set my beer down to scratch behind Roscoe’s ears while Luka stands in the doorway.
“This place is disgusting,” he says.I can just see him scrunching his nose.
I hum as if I’ve just noticed.“Maybe If I had a sexy little Latina to pick up after me?—”
My words cut off as Luka jerks me by my shoulder and shoves my back against the wall.For a moment, I’m certain he’s going to throw a punch.His fist is clenched and reared, his lip curled with a snarl.I lift my chin and wait for it,begfor it, but the coward just shakes his head and lowers his fist.
“I love you,” he says through gritted teeth.“You’re my brother… But if you keep talking about my wife like this, I swear to God, you’ll regret it.”
“Too vague.”I lift my chin, my voice low and mocking.“Tell me what you’ll do, big man.You gonna sick your brother-in-law on me or do you think you’ll finally grow a pair?”
Luka rears back and stutters out a taunting laugh.“You thinkI’mthe one hiding behind power?”He scoffs.“You think I don’t know what you’re doing with Nikita?”
I show my palms.“Enlighten me, oh wise one.What have you heard?”
“Doesn’t matter what I’ve heard.Iknowyou.All the guy had to do to get you by the balls was tell you that you’re special.”
Fire flickers in my veins, heating my ears.I open my mouth, but Luka continues before I can tell him to fuck himself.
“I bet he makes you feelrealimportant,” Luka drawls.“Probably tells you how different you are.How much smarter you are than the rest of us.Meanwhile, you’re such a fucking idiot you can’t see he’s lubing you up before he fucks you.”
I nod, my lips puckering.“Nice metaphor.”
“Goddamn it, Arseni.I’mserious.”Grinding his teeth, he rubs at stubble on his jaw.When he drops his hand, he sighs.“If you’re not careful, the guy is going to eat you alive.You don’t mean anything to him.”
I shrug.“Well, it’s convenient then that I don’t mean anything toanyone.What do I have to lose?”
“Your life.”
I mock gasp at the drama in his tone and flatten my hand on my chest.“Should I be scared?”
“Yes,” Luka growls.“The engineer Vitaly tried to hire just ordered a restraining order against him.Iknowthat shit was because of you.”
