Page 36 of Beautiful Things Obey
I think I have found a new unhealthy obsession. It’s for a woman who constantly dresses in black, pushes me away at every turn, and tells me she wants to shove my own cock up my ass. And at the same time, she looks at me with those haunted emerald eyes as if she can see straight fucking through me.
I sent her flowers two days ago, after I left. I sent one of my men to check in on her to see how she did with the body, and when he returned he said that the roses were lying on the ground out the front. Discarded. I really shouldn’t have expected any less from her.
The temptation to dispose of another body just to see her runs through my veins. That is, of course, if I wasn’t already doing it. Sending one Nero member to the grave, as promised, with a message carved in their chest.
Hunting them is easy, though they’ve definitely tightened their activities. That might have everything to do with the phone call I received from Elias Nero to meet him tonight at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town.
Two cars full of my men follow Valen and me. Although I respect Elias, I don’t entirely trust him. It could be an ambush. One, quite frankly, I invite so I can take out more than one at a time.
But when he called, he sounded serious and down for business.
We pull up toward the warehouse, where a single car idles and only the outlines of two men standing beside it—waiting.
One I immediately recognize as Elias. My lip curls up when I recognize the second. It’s the eldest son, Michalis. They look like brothers, though Michalis is a fraction smaller and leaner. Black hair and brown eyes, with a trimmed beard.
It puts me in a sour mood, knowing that once again, it’s not Apollo who is meeting me. It’s fucking rude.
We come to a stop, and I step out of the car, slamming the door behind me. Valen is on my heels as my men begin to spill out of the car, but I raise my hand for them to wait back.
“Mr. Vescari,” Michalis says, far too chivalrous, as if we’re old friends. I ignore him and look straight at Elias.
“Why am I out here?”
Michalis doesn’t seem at all impressed by being ignored, but I also don’t take kindly to someone who has made passes at my sister. He’s lucky to be fucking alive, and ballsy to speak to me directly.
“I have something for you. It took me a few days to track it down, and I apologize for its condition. I would’ve preferred something more respectful; however, I didn’t want to touch anything.”
My eyebrows crinkle, and I finally look at Michalis, who seems to look … proud of him-fucking-self?
Then it dawns on me. “Is it my uncle’s body?”
Elias slowly nods, obviously on edge as he looks between Valen and me.
“Who the fuck brought him here?” I demand, stepping into his space, but Elias doesn’t step back as he holds his ground. His brother, however, pulls out a gun.
“Don’t!” Elias snaps at him. “You told me if you were coming, you wouldn’t be rash.”
Michalis scoffs. “You seem to forget you’re only the middle son. Besides, we’re doing you a favor. You should be a little more respectful.”
Elias’s eyes close as he sighs, knowing me well enough. My lethal gaze slowly cuts to Michalis, who holds a gun to my head. Valen is behind me now, holding his own up, aimed at Michalis.
“Be more respectful. You killed my uncle, then stole his fucking body from a morgue.”
“Not me,” Michalis growls, all bite for a shitty replacement of the head of Nero when his father passes.
“Then who?” I growl and look back at Elias. The only reason they’re not dead is because I don’t yet know if this is a setup.
“I can’t tell you that,” Elias says quickly, and I grab the collar of his shirt. He seems to let me as he simply watches me.
“Then tell me something that might stop me from blowing both your brains out.” He’s quiet for a moment, and I see it then, that he’s holding his tongue, most likely to protect someone else. Whoever killed my uncle. I lean in. “Give me the name, and I’ll make you head of the Nero family within the week.” I click my tongue, promising a bloody vengeance.
“What the fuck,” Michalis says. “I’m the next head. If you’re offering anything to anyone, it should be me.”
Elias’s gaze remains on mine. I have no doubt he wants his brothers out of the way, but unlike the others, he’s not yet willing to cut them down for his own gain.
“Was it you?” I ask him one more time.
“No,” he says simply, and I shove him back, as if his clothes are filthy. My blood boils, rage consuming me, but among it isa cold relief, that perhaps, even if I’d given up on the body, that maybe it’ll be returned. That we can have a proper funeral for him. It doesn’t stop vengeance, but it’s something I can return to my family.To my sister.
