Arranged love

GRAVE

I ENTER THE room with Titan, about to beat the shit out of the kid myself. “I warned you,” I growl.

He ignores me as he stares at a woman before him. My eyes start at her black high heel boots, that lace up her ankle. Then they travel up over her dark skinny jeans that fit her bubble ass perfectly. Dark purple hair falls over her back. It can only be one woman. “April?” I ask.

She spins around, and her eyes meet mine. Tears run down her perfect face, and her blue eyes widen when they see me. “What are you doing here?” Why is she in this room? How in the hell did she get back here? Did he bring her with him tonight? Thinking I wouldn’t beat his ass if she was with him? The kid doesn’t know me.

“Fuck!” Ethan hisses, turning his back to us.

She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she turns to him. “Grab your shit, we’re leaving!” she orders.

“What’s going on?” I ask, coming up behind her. They ignore me. I grab her shoulder and spin her around to face me. She pushes me away. “What’s going on?” I demand this time.

She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Did you send them?” she demands.

I look at Titan. He shrugs, just as clueless as I am, and leans up against the wall. His eyes looking her up and down, wondering who the fuck she is. “Send who? Where?” What is she talking about?

She turns to her brother again. “How much do you owe him, Ethan?” she snaps.

His jaw tightens, and I frown.

“Fucking answer me!” she screams, fisting her hands down by her side.

When he looks away from her, she rounds on me. “How could you do this?” Fresh tears fill her eyes. “You should have just come to me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say honestly.

She begins to dig in her purse. She removes a checkbook before she lets her purse fall to her feet. “I’ll pay you. Right now. If you promise to let it go.” She licks her wet lips.

“April, I don’t know …”

“Fifty thousand,” Ethan mumbles, interrupting me.

We both look at him. Her checkbook falls to her feet where her purse already sits, and she gasps. “You owe him fifty grand?” she asks, blinking in disbelief. Then her hands ball into fists. “They destroyed the shop. They broke everything, Ethan. What am I going to do now?”

“Wait. What?” I ask, looking at her.

She bites her bottom lip and bows her head, quietly crying. Her hands cover her face, and her shoulders begin to shake.

I cup her face and force her to look up at me. “Did they touch you?” I demand.

She pulls back and looks away from me. “They did whatever you told them to do.”

Why does she think I did this?

“I’m sorry,” he tells her softly. “I didn’t know …”

She runs for him. Her body throws them both into the wall before she takes him to the ground. He brings his hands up to shield his face while she balls her fists and starts punching the shit out of him. “They destroyed everything! They’re going to kill you!” she cries, swinging her fists at him. She’s kicking his ass more than his opponent was in the ring.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

I wrap an arm around her waist and yank her off him. She kicks and screams as I toss her into Titan’s arms. “Take her to the office. I’ll be right there.”

He drags her out, kicking and screaming. I turn on Ethan. He picks himself up off the floor and wipes the blood from his lips. “Fuck! She’s crazy …”

I punch him. He stumbles back into the table. “Who the fuck do you owe fifty thousand dollars to?”

He grinds his teeth and takes in a deep breath. “I got into some trouble … had to borrow some money.”

“For what?”

He reaches up and rubs blood off his chin. “I lost in a poker game. And I needed a loan. They said I had a month to pay it back. It’s only been two weeks.”

I run a hand through my hair. He’s not old enough to gamble so it has to be somewhere that is under the table. I’m praying it’s not where I think it is. “Who is they?”

He hangs his head. “The Mason brothers.”

I lean my head back and take a deep breath. Motherfucker! “How do they know about the flower shop?”

He swallows. “I had Turner Mason meet me there the other day when he loaned me the money. In the alleyway.”

I fist my hands, reminding myself I can’t kill this kid. Fuck! “Was April there?” He nods and then looks away. “Get the fuck out of here!” I order, pointing at the door.

“I never meant for her to get hurt. Or the shop …”

I grab him by the back of his neck since he’s still shirtless and yank him to me. “I’m going to pay your debt.” His eyes widen at that. “But your ass is gonna pay me back every fucking cent. Do you understand that?”

He nods quickly. I shove him to the door. “Get the fuck out!”

Cross sighs, standing by the door. I never saw him enter. “Grave, man, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“I didn’t ask you!” I snap. Then I run a hand down my face. Fuck. I need a drink. Or to get high. Pulling out my cell, I make a call while exiting the room and head toward the thirteenth floor in tower one where our offices are.

Getting off our private elevator, I walk past the empty reception desk and down the hallway, knowing she’s in my brother’s office. Titan would take her there.

I push open the door to find her sitting in a chair with her back to me. My brother sits behind the desk, as usual, with his eyes on her. Titan leans up against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

She spins around and jumps out of her seat when her watery eyes meet mine. I walk up to her and place both of my hands on her tear-streaked face. “I’ve taken care of it.”

“Did you do this?” she asks, her ice blue eyes searching mine.

“No.” I sigh. “I had nothing to do with it. But I’m gonna handle it.”

She sniffs.

“How bad is the shop?” I ask.

“Destroyed.”

My chest tightens. “Did they hurt you?”

She bites her bottom lip but stays quiet. There’s a small bruise on her cheek. I remove my hands from her face and begin to run them over her shaking arms, looking for any sign of damage. Her hands have small cuts all over them, the blood now dried. I then run mine through her wild purple hair, and she hisses in a breath. I feel a cut, and my teeth clench. “How many were there?”

“Four,” she whispers.

“When did it happen?” Titan asks, surprising me.

She stays looking at me but answers him. “Tonight. Maybe an hour ago.”

My brother sits back in his seat, releasing a sigh. “Do we know who did it?”

“I don’t know who they were,” she answers him, but I nod.

I know them. Very well. “I’m gonna take you home,” I tell her, and she doesn’t argue.