“Rowan,” Brock says, his voice weak, “you don’t have to do this.”
A burst of anger surges up inside me like a gasoline tsunami. I jerk my head his way and hiss, “Mind your own fucking business.”
Brock gapes at me. Staring at him, it makes me realize how young he looks. He doesn’t have the dark five o’clock shadow like his father. He doesn’t have the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes or the slight bit of grey at his temples.
He’s a boy.
Turning, I smile at Eric.
My man.
“Thank you, Eric.” I beam at him so hard, my cheeks hurt. “I love it.”
“Don’t ever take it off,” Eric says, his voice turning cold. It makes me shiver.
“I won’t,” I rush out, wanting to appease him.
His handsome face breaks into a boyish grin that makes me want to rub my thighs together. “Good girl. You learn quickly.” He takes my hand and kisses the back of it. “Go home. We’ll continue this tomorrow.”
He releases me, and I know I’m dismissed. With a soft sigh, I walk way. Before I reach the door, Brock spits out, “So, it’s like that, huh? We break up and you bone my dad? Are you fucking kidding me? I always knew you were a wh—”
“Finish that fucking statement and I’ll make sure your life is a living hell,” Eric roars, rising to his feet. His chest heaves, his fury nearly knocking me over.
Brock shrinks in his seat, avoiding eye contact with me.
“Goodnight, beautiful.” Eric is once again all smiles.
I wave to him before darting out the door. The necklace is heavy, but I know it must have cost a fortune. My lips curve into a smile as I all but bounce through the foyer. As soon as I reach the front door, I let a small giggle escape.
This is unreal.
I’m seriously with the Eric Pearson.
He’s rich and powerful and hot.
Not his sons.
Him.
“What did he do to you?” an angry voice demands the moment I step onto the front porch.
Hayden leans against a pillar, a cigarette between his teeth. His scowl is fierce, and he puffs on his cancer stick as though he’s trying to punish it.
“What?”
He glowers at me. “Don’t fucking play dumb, Rowan.”
I wince at his tone. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” he demands as he flicks the cigarette to the ground and stomps on it. “Your screams sure as fuck didn’t sound like nothing.” He stalks over to me until he’s towering above me.
Holding my ground, I lift my chin and face off with him. “If it sounded like something more than nothing, maybe you should have done something about it.”
His eyes narrow. “What. Did. He. Do?”
I shove his hard chest, but he doesn’t budge. “None of your business!”
He grabs my wrists when I move to shove him again. “Did he rape you?”
“What?” I hiss. “Are you serious?”
“Tell me. I’ll kill that bastard if he hurt you.”
Jerking my hands from his grip, I turn on my heel and run through the yard toward my house, his heavy footsteps thudding behind me. I almost make it up my porch steps and into my house before he has his arm wrapped around my waist. He twists me around and pushes me up against my front door.
“I’ll kill him,” he murmurs before he tries to kiss me.
Fury, once again, explodes from within me. Like a cat straight from hell, I rake my claws across his face. He hisses in shock and stumbles away.
“Do not ever touch me again,” I seethe.
His anger is gone, and he flashes me a wounded expression. You lost your chance, buddy. When he starts for me again, I hiss, “Don’t come near me.”
“Rowan.” His voice is choked and pained, like he’s upset.
I’m upset.
How dare he?
“Leave. I’m home. Safe. Now, leave before I call your father.” I smirk at him.
His gaze darkens. “He’s going to ruin you, babe. He ruins everything he touches.”
My ass still burns, and I know I’ll be sporting some bruises. I feel as though I’ve been raped by a baseball bat. Everything hurts, aches, or burns, yet I’ve never felt so cared for.
“Maybe I want to be ruined.” With a sassy wave, I turn on my heel and go inside. It isn’t until I’m soaking in a hot bath and touching my new necklace that I take a moment to let it all sink in.
This was the best birthday of my life.
Chapter Five
Eric
“Nope. Next,” I grumble, looking at my Rolex for the eighteenth time in the past twenty minutes.
Levi sits up in his chair and raises a brow at me. “What crawled up your ass and died?”
My jaw clenches. “I have something I need to get to and this shit is a waste of time.”
Levi, the bastard, laughs. “Well, too fucking bad. You’re going to hear this shit out and then you can go run to your high-dollar whore.”
Mateo smirks, and I pin him with an icy stare.
“So, you two assholes are tag-teaming me now?” I snap, then turn to glare at Trevor. “You too?”
Trevor holds his hands up in mock surrender. “I didn’t say a word.”
“Who’s the lucky girl?” Mateo probes. “Last time you acted like this big of a dick was when you started seeing Julia.”
Nosy bastard. I push back, because that’s the kind of motherfucker I am. “How’s Karelma?” I lick my lips. His daughter is eighteen and has quite the ass on her. I’ve often thought about tapping that ass just to piss him off.
He scowls, his features growing stormy. “I sent her away. Ever since Valencia died, she's been acting out.”
“Anyway,” Levi growls, slinging a folder my way. “They’re every bit as profitable as DSL. They’re up and coming. We buy now at this price, and we take that territory and market share.”
Unimpressed, I flip open the file. The numbers are fine, but Trevor will make a better assessment. I shove them over to him. He takes the file and leans back in his chair, resting his ankle on his knee, a half smile on his face.
I check my watch again, which has Mateo and Levi both laughing at me. Fucking pricks. I just want to get home. Yesterday afternoon was just the tip of the iceberg. Tonight, I’m going to defile Rowan Wheeler.
“What’s the deal with Jax Wheeler?” Trevor asks out of the goddamn blue.
I snap my glare his way. He’s no longer looking at the folder, but instead has a worried expression on his face. Does he think I’ll run into trouble with that asshole? Nobody fucks with me. Jax Wheeler will learn that the hard way. I’m going to ruin his daughter’s sweet cunt and there’s not a damn thing he can do to stop me.
“It’s not about Rowan,” Trevor groans. “It’s about Lucy.”
“Who the fuck is Lucy?” Levi demands.
Trevor’s normally playful disposition is replaced by one of worry. “She’s my…never mind. I just want to know what Jax’s deal is. I thought he was a pharmaceutical rep.”
“Yeah? So?” I’m already bored of this conversation. I’d much rather discuss how Jax’s daughter is going to squeal like a pig soon. I check my watch. Again.