SWNOVELS Brutal Savage: Chapter 34
When I wake up the following morning, she isn’t in our bed. I hated seeing her upset yesterday and in fear for her life.
All I’ve been thinking about is ways I’ll kill Jerry and his father. The things I’ll do to them before I finally let them die. It satiates the possessive beast in me. The one who needs to keep Elara safe.
She barely said much last night after everything that happened with Sloan.
I tried to talk to her about it, but she said she was tired and wanted to go to bed. I didn’t push. It wouldn’t help. It would only further destroy what we’ve started to build.
It’s like we’ve stepped backward, and it fucking destroys me. I want to return to how it was before Sloan ruined it all.
Too bad I can’t bring him back to life just to kill him again. Just when she was finally starting to ease into this marriage, it all blew up in my face. Now I don’t know where her head is at.
I take a quick shower, needing to see her, to try to talk to her.
Getting dressed for work, I head down to the kitchen, registering Ruby and Elara talking.
As soon as they see me, they both stop.
“There he is, Mister Sleepy,” Ruby teases, pouring me a cup of coffee and handing it to me.
“Wife kept me up all night.” I wink at her, but Elara’s mouth only slightly thins into a barely there smile.
Fuck. That kills me.
“Good morning, bud.” I kiss the top of Brody’s head, and he doesn’t recoil anymore like he once used to.
Things are finally starting to get better with him. I just hope things between Elara and me aren’t ruined for good.
“Can we talk?” I whisper, pulling up a stool beside her while Ruby washes a pan in the sink.
She exhales a sigh. “Maybe later. Just a lot for me to process right now.”
She’s closing off again.
Fuck!
Grabbing her hand, I bring it to my mouth for a kiss.
“Eat.” I gesture my chin toward her pancakes.
She picks at her food like she once did when we first met. But her appetite has returned recently, and I need it to stay that way.
She forces a small piece into her mouth.
If she withdraws any further, we might never go back.
So I make a promise to myself that I’m gonna fix this, no matter what it takes.
“Where are you going?” she asks, seated on the edge of our bed as I come out of the shower after work.
Her eyes fall toward the towel wrapped around my hips.
“I have a meeting with Konstantin. I’ll be home late.”
He called hours ago to tell me I have to hop on a plane to Jersey to meet the new contact at one of the clubs the Marinovs own.
“Oh.” Her eyes go downcast. “How late?”
“I don’t know. I’ll call you, though.”
“Okay.”
She plays with her fingers, an obvious wedge between us, but I have no time to fix it. Not properly anyway. I have to go and make this deal happen. I don’t want to rush the conversation she and I definitely have to have.
I head into the closet and take out one of my suits and a dress shirt.
As soon as she sees me walking back out, her face contorts with horror.
“Please tell me you’re not wearing that.”
“What’s wrong with it?” I let a smirk fall to my face. “My wife bought it for me, so I plan to let the world see it.”
She slaps a hand to her forehead. “Oh, come on, Tynan. I was playing. I didn’t actually expect you to wear them.”
I fling my towel off, my smirk only deepening when she stares right at my cock, swallowing thickly.
“Can’t keep looking at it like that, love. You’re gonna make me late.”
Her fingers run up and down her neck as she clears her throat, making sure to look at my face this time. But she just can’t seem to help herself, stealing small glances, and that only makes the blood rush to my dick.
“Please, Tynan. You don’t have to wear that yellow suit. I can return them all. It was stupid of me.”
I start slipping into my black shirt, buttoning it up before sitting on the bed and putting on the ugly-as-hell pants. “Don’t you dare return a thing. I’m gonna make sure everyone sees what great taste you have.”
“Ugh…” She groans, dropping her face in her palm for a moment. “Just promise you’re not gonna kill anyone for making fun of you.”
I tug her hand in mine, my gaze growing with affection. “For you, I promise.”
She sighs, and I don’t think she believes me.
We start down the stairs, and when Brody sees me from the foot of the staircase, his eyes bug out. Before I can make a joke about my appearance, he bursts into a laugh.
And in that instant, all the air stills in my lungs.
I remain motionless, not believing what I just heard.
My pulse pounds endlessly because he just laughed.
He just laughed for the first time since his parents died.
Emotions cling to the back of my throat.
And Elara’s eyes? They’re on mine, filled with tears as we experience this moment together.
I’d wear every goddamn suit in the rainbow if I could make him laugh like that again.
“Oh, you think that’s funny, huh?”
His laughter continues, and I rush down the rest of the way and flip him upside down in the air.
“Not laughing now, are you?”
But he continues to giggle, punching me in the stomach.
“Geez, you’re strong. What have I been feeding you?”
Elara sniffles, wiping under her lashes.
I still, my gaze on hers.
My heart beats frantically. This is all I’ll ever want.
Her.
Brody.
My family.
This need to tell her how much she means to me overtakes me completely.
But I don’t have the right words.
I arrive at Konstantin’s club. I didn’t exactly know it was a strip club.
It isn’t my scene, but it’s something I have to do if I want this damn deal to finally happen.
I’m ushered into a private room, where the Marinovs all wait with a man I assume is the new contact.
He’s around my age, hair as dark as his skin. Never seen him before.
“Ah, there you are, Quinn.” Konstantin drops his cigar into the ashtray. “I want you to meet my friend Darnell. Darnell, this is Tynan.”
The stranger outstretches his hand for mine, and we shake before I’m offered a seat across from him.
“Nice suit.” Darnell grins.
“Thanks. The wife got it for me.”
Konstantin chuckles. “Another one of her jokes?”
I nod.
“Funny woman.”
“She’s that, alright.”
And more. A lot more.
“So…” Darnell picks up a crystal cut glass filled with amber-gold liquid. “I hear you’re looking to get strapped and need a connect to bring the metal to the States.”
Darnell gets right to the point, and I respect that in a man.
I nod. “Think you can help with that?”
He looks me up and down. “It’s gonna cost you extra. I don’t come cheap.”
“How much more?” I fold my arms over my chest.
“Another two hundred grand for security. My route is secure.” He tips the glass to his mouth, finishing his liquor.
Konstantin gestures for one of his men to come near, whispering something into his ear.
Before I have to wonder what, six women dressed in nothing but G-strings walk in.
Fucking great. Just what I need.
“Thought we’d have a little fun while we talk business. And bring us the best bottle,” he tells his guy, who immediately retrieves some shot glasses and a bottle of Russian vodka.
He starts to pour while the women dance on the three poles in the room, the music low so we can still hear ourselves.
I definitely need to get the hell out of here.
One of the women approaches me, bending over, rubbing her hands on my chest. “Want a dance, pretty boy?”
I fling her palms away.
“Or more? I do more too.” She straightens, squeezing her tits together.
But my dick doesn’t even move.
“No. I’m married.” I stare right at her. “Happily.”
She politely moves on.
Darnell whistles. “Damn. You’re one loyal son of a bitch, aren’t you?”
“Can we return to business?” I’m trying hard to remain calm, but I just wanna get the hell out of here.
I can’t even text Elara because there’s no damn service. Pretty sure Konstantin did that on purpose.
“Of course.” Darnell brings another drink to his mouth. “But look, I don’t like problems, and new people? They cause problems. Konstantin did vouch for you, and that means something to me, but I want to hear it from you. That this will go smoothly.”
“I promise to do my part. We don’t like problems either.”
His foot bounces as he stares at me for what feels like minutes. “Okay.” He flips a hand. “I’m good with working with you, as long as my price tag is acceptable.”
I reach out my palm for his. “Got yourself a deal.”
He shakes my hand, and that’s it.
It’s finally done.
“Now we celebrate!” Konstantin gestures with a hand toward one of his men, and the music turns louder.
“I’ve gotta go home.” I start to get to my feet, but he stops me.
“Come on, brother. Not yet. Stay and have a few drinks with us before you go crawling into your wife’s bed.”
“Fine. But just one drink. Then I’m going.”
“Horosho.”
Shit. I’m not getting out of here, am I?