ENZO GARCÍA
“How many times, Killian? Stop starting fights in my club just because you feel like it.” I sighed, watching the city bleed neon through the panoramic window of my office. The club throbbed below, a heartbeat I’d grown used to ignoring.
Killian just mumbled something and tossed an ice pack onto my polished mahogany desk. It thudded against the scotch glass.
“You sent him to the hospital with a cracked skull.” I ground my teeth, but Killian wasn’t listening. He was staring at the wall like it held the secrets of the universe. “Killian!”
“He asked for it.” The shrug was a muscle twitch. I let it drop. Trying to reason with him when he was in this mood was like arguing with a brick wall.
“Unbelievable.” I muttered, pouring another scotch and downing it in one go. The burn was familiar, comforting.
Out of the two of us, Killian was the unpredictable one. The lack of affection he’d gotten as a kid…it had twisted him into something raw and volatile.
We’d been best friends since I was fifteen, him thirteen. I’d been the one patching him up after fights, slipping him food when his parents left him alone for nights on end. No denying he’d had a hard life. He just…didn’t know how to handle it.
We were both dominants. Finding a submissive willing to play along—actually play along, not just take the money—had been a nightmare. Most women pretended for the cash, then crumbled when it came to the real stuff. Or Killian just didn’t like them. Which was…most of the time.
I think it frustrated him more than it did me. He *needed* control, and when he didn’t have it, well…he punched people.
We weren’t looking for commitment. Just someone to share, until we were ready to settle down. Well, *I* was ready to settle down, eventually. Killian? He’d probably never settle for anything, ever.
I watched the tall, tattooed man stand up, walk to the window overlooking the club. His shoulders went rigid.
“What is it?” I rushed over, trying to see what had caught his attention.
“Nothing.” He grumbled, turning back to his chair. He ran a hand through his curly brown hair, giving me a blank look.
My gaze drifted, and landed on her.
She sat at the bar, looking lost and scared. Wide, dark eyes scanning the room. She was gnawing at her nails, nervous little bites. Beautiful. Brown-skinned, wearing a satin dress that clung to her thighs. Thighs I’d happily wrap myself around. I had to look away.
Was she the one who’d finally snagged his attention?
“You need to go home.” I told Killian, but he shook his head.
“Too quiet.” He muttered, and I slowly nodded.
“What were you looking at out there?” I pointed to the window, wanting to know what had made him tense.
“I told you, Enzo. Nothing.” He grit his teeth and grabbed a bottle of vodka, unscrewing it with a savage twist and taking a massive gulp.
God, he was a mess.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath.
Someone knocked on the door. My right hand man, Gabriel, walked in.
“What is it?” He glanced at Killian, who was slumping further into the chair.
“He alright?” Gabriel chuckled.
“Shut the fuck up.” Killian snarled at Gabriel, who held his hands up in defense.
“Ignore him. What’s the problem?” I shrugged off my suit jacket, tucking a Walther PPK into the waistband.
“Some guy causing trouble downstairs.”
“Get security to kick him the fuck out!” I snapped.
“Look, the guy claims to be your brother.”
You have to be fucking kidding me.
I stormed out of the office, Gabriel following. I shouldered past drunk bodies, descending the spiral staircase until I was face to face with my idiot half brother. And he was, predictably, plastered.
“Bro!” He slurred, reaching for me.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I grabbed the back of his shirt and began dragging him towards the exit. He protested, but he was too drunk to put up a real fight. I was surprised he was still upright.
The harsh wind hit me as I shoved him onto the concrete.
“That wasn’t very nice.” He slurred.
“Well, I’m not very nice.” I growled, watching him stumble. He had to brace against a brick wall to avoid falling.
“What are you doing here?” I pointed a finger at him.
“Wanted some fun, get free drinks because we’re brothers!” He grinned, gap-toothed and stupid.
“Half brother. And no, you don’t get free drinks. You’re getting a taxi ride home, or so help me, I’ll shoot you right here.” I shoved past him and handed him off to security, ordering them to never let him back in.
As I turned back towards my office, I bumped into someone small. Ready to yell, to tell them to watch where they were going, I froze.
It was her. The beautiful girl from the bar. She looked up at me with wide, watery eyes before stumbling back. My mouth fell open as she brushed past me, disappearing into the crowd.
I released a sigh and looked up at the blacked-out window of my office, knowing Killian was standing there, watching.
She was exactly who he was looking at.
A/N What did you guys think of the first chapter? ????