Series: The Rossi Crime Family Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 66960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“He didn’t deserve to die, and you know it.” She spits the words at him.
The waitress arrives then, five glasses of whiskey on her small tray. She places them on the table and walks away once more. I wonder if she can sense the hostility wafting from our table.
“Believe that all you want, but I don’t make a habit of killing people who don’t deserve it. Your brother stole from me… so he paid with his life.” Xander’s tone is all matter-of-fact like, and as he takes a gulp of his whiskey, his eyes slowly move from Keira and to me. I sizzle under his heated gaze.
“Whatever, Xander. You’ll never apologize for anything because you have no heart. You don’t know what it’s like to lose someone you love. But someday it will happen to you, and when it does, I hope it hurts. I hope it hurts so bad it breaks your black soul in two.”
Keira shoves from her chair, wiping at the stray tears that stain her cheeks. She walks away from table and out of the room completely. Damon looks conflicted, but he gets up from the table, chasing after her.
Xander downs the rest of his whiskey, slamming the glass down onto the table. I don’t dare say a word. I’m not dumb enough to do that.
“See, Mouse… I’m nothing but a monster. An evil bastard with a black soul.” He reaches for another glass of whiskey, and tears sting my eyes.
Xander and I have crossed a line. Somewhere, somehow, we’ve decided we care for each other, and it hurts me more than I want to admit that he lets others think so harshly of him. Yes, he's a monster but he has it in him to do better. If only more people believed in that part of him, maybe, just maybe, he would make better choices.
“You aren’t… we both know that.” I want to throw my arms around his neck and pull him into my embrace so badly it hurts. I want to hug and kiss him, take his pain and self-doubt away… and I do just that. I scan the room we are in; no one can see us right now. I close the short distance between Xander and me, seeing anger simmering in his dark eyes, but I don’t care.
“Consequences be damned, Xander, you’re worthy of being loved. Even if you don’t think so.” My lips press against his. He tastes like whiskey and sin. At first, he does nothing, as if he is in shock but as soon as he realizes I’ve kissed him, his fingers weave into my hair, pulling me closer. I gasp as his tongue pushes into my mouth and my hands grip onto the front of his suit. I never want this kiss to end… but way too soon, it does. Xander releases me, and I slip back into my seat, my lips swollen, and my mind reeling with all the different things I want him to do to me.
Damon and Keira return after a few minutes, and Keira seems to be in a much better mood. About the same time they come back, dinner is being served. We eat in silence for a few minutes, and I stuff my face, the food melting on my tongue with every bite I take. I’m slightly startled when Damon suddenly clears his throat to get our attention.
“Here comes our guy,” he says under his breath, looking past Xander to someone.
“I can’t believe my eyes. The Rossi brothers are back together again.” I keep my eyes trained on my plate, trying not to look at the face connected to the creepy voice.
“Benny, it has been a while, hasn’t it, old friend?” Damon greets him, standing to shake his hand. I really hope they are not actually friends. “This is Keira, my wife.”
“Damon Rossi a married man… who would have thought? Very nice to meet you.” I watch him walk around to our side of the table, an uneasy feeling festering in my gut. “Xander, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen you.”
“Benny, you know how business goes.” He stands to shake hands just as Damon did.
“And who might this beautiful creature be?” Benny asks curiously, and I can feel his eyes on me. I bite the inside of my cheek, hating the way this situation makes me feel.
Xander sits back down and shrugs nonchalantly. “Just something to play with when I’m not working.”
It’s like I'm a prized piece of meat or something.
“Quite the toy you have.” I can hear the interest in his voice, and it's sickening.
“I’ve grown rather tired of this toy. I think I might buy a new one soon.” Xander sounds bored and completely unattached. And even though I know he is just acting this way, it still hurts to hear him talk like this about me.