Page 23 of Monster
“Thanks, man.” I sipped from my bottle, my eyes on Angela where she was standing talking animatedly to Gypsy and Darcie. Things seemed to be going well. I couldn't see any awkwardness in anyone's body language and I was glad of that. It would make the next year easier if she got along with the other old ladies.
“She seems to be making herself at home, which is good.”
I nodded my head in agreement. “Why are you here Gio? Not that you're not welcome but…”
His laughter was mocking. “I came to help you celebrate. The sooner the news of your engagement gets out the better, so I am here to offer what help I can.” His eyes took in the room before settling on the figures of Iris and Keeley who were both sitting on the sofa, laughing away like they were not in the middle of a party and were instead in one of their living rooms, alone and sipping tea.
Flicking my eyes between Gio and Keeley, I frowned. I didn't like the way he was looking at her. I didn't like it at all.
“Who’s the blonde?”
“Which one?” I pointedly ignored the obvious. Drinking from the bottle in my hands was doing nothing to calm the rage I could feel bubbling up. “There are lots of blondes here.”
Gio turned his head towards me. “Curly hair, curves to die for.” He pointed. Keeley caught us staring at her and her face flamed with embarrassment when she saw him point. “That one right there. With the pouty lips that would look great…”
“Stop right there. She's not available.”
“Your woman?” Gio arched an eyebrow. “Jesus, Monster, I know you guys play around on your significant others but I didn't expect you to agree to marry Angela if you had a woman already. Fang made out that you were single. Still if you don't mind sharing...?” He laughed, throwing his head back. “Or is that why you like having two? Both at the same time, right?”
My hand closed into a fist at my side. “She's my cousin.”
“Oh.” Gio didn't sound sorry at all and neither did he stop looking at Keeley. It was a mistake bringing her there. She always drew too much attention without evening meaning to. “Single then?” His interest was clear.
“She's not available.” I’d had enough of this conversation. Gio’s interest in my cousin was sickening. I knew what kind of man he was because I was that kind of man myself. He would use her up and spit her out.
“Shame.” Gio shook himself. “So, how do you feel about having the big day…” Just like that he changed the subject. And I was glad. Even if I wasn't exactly glad about the subject matter.
Me, Monster, talking about my upcoming wedding in the middle of a party where I should be getting my dick sucked.
God, how times had changed.
19
ANGELA
It wasn't asbad as I was suspecting it would be. For the most part, everyone left me alone, but there was a certain group of women who seemed to try at least to make an effort in welcoming me. Which was nice, seeing as Monster did not seem at all interested. He was too busy drinking with his buddies.
Was this what it was going to be like? Me being ignored whilst he partied without me? And more importantly, why did I care?
“Sometimes it's like that.” The curvy woman leaning against the wall next to me nodded in Monster's direction, where some skank who was barely dressed was bouncing her ass at him, trying to look seductive as she glanced over her shoulder. I frowned, mentally shaking myself. Was my jealousy so obvious?
“Like what?”
“The club girls.” Darcie shrugged. “They can be a bit full on. The first time I came here with Havoc, one pressed her tits against the window of his truck while we were kissing and then offered to suck his dick. They are desperate to get a property patch of their own and it makes them a little…” she searched for the right word, a wide smile on her face. “skanky.”
My laughter joined hers. Yeah, skanky was the right word.
“They soon move on to their next victim when they realise it's not going to happen. Don't take her interest in Monster personally. She isn't interested in him as a man and will move on to the next dick she can ride as soon as she realises he only has eyes for you.”
I frowned. That was the problem, I couldn't be sure that Monster only had eyes for me. We weren't in the kind of relationship where any romance or feelings were involved, it was nothing more than an arrangement. Although I couldn't help the twinge of jealousy I felt.
We would have to discuss the boundaries of our relationship soon. Very soon. Otherwise I would go through the next year feeling the way I did right then and I already hated it.
“You really like him, don't you?” Darcie shot me a knowing look.
“What? No, I hardly know him. It's just…”
Her laughter filled my ears. “I know it's meant to be an arrangement. I know all about arrangements with the Savage Sons, Angela. That's how I met Havoc.”
