Reading Online Novel

Cousins: An Alpha Bad Boy Romance(48)



Using two fingers, my father slid a thick accordion-styled folder across his desk with several papers inside including a ten-page contractual agreement already signed by him and notarized. I picked it up and read it with glazed eyes. I wasn't processing any of the words on the pages. As crazy as it sounds, all I could think about was how this deal between Joseph and I was effectively eliminating any possibility of me ever exploring this thing with Elizabeth (not that she was necessarily having any of it, but a guy can hope). This was my father's way of saying that I was back in his good graces, that he trusted me, and that there was no room for error. The door to anything happening with her would be ceremonially closed shut if I added my John Hancock to the signature line of the last page.

I signed it anyway.

Yet as I watch her right now with another man's hands on her body, I can't help but feel like a man possessed. No matter how sick this shit is. No matter the risk of Joseph finding out. The truth is, is that I'm not even sure I have it in me to stop myself.

She's mine.

"Whatcha doing?" Jade asks curiously while standing behind me. I didn't even see her walk over. That's how off my game I am.

"Nothing."

"Staring down your cousin's throat while she's dancing with the cutie is definitely something. You either want to kill her or him," she says apparently amused.

I turn my head slowly to look down at the tiny terror.

"Mind. Your. Fucking. Business."

I stick my hand in my front pocket and dig out a couple of M&Ms.

"You're a sick boy my friend. I hope you know what you're doing. This is Juliette's niece right?"

After popping the candy in my mouth, I scrub my face several times with the palm of my hand. Gah! Jade knows me too well. There's no point in trying to hide it.

"I need you to do something." I say to her.

"What?"

"First, shut up. Second, I need you to investigate Elizabeth's ex-boyfriend for me. I'll text you the deets later. Third, right now I need you to go over there and dance with the pretty boy."

"Uh ... he seems to have a partner already asshat."

Typically I'd enjoy the back and forth snarky banter between Jade and I, but tonight it's grating my nerves. Everything is grating my nerves.

"Just do it Jade."

"Is that an order?" She asks incredulously. The lines between friendship and boss/employee have always been blurred but respected between us.

"Obviously."

"Fine then!" She huffs and stomps away.

I don't like that I have to send Jade on this type of ridiculous mission, but Elizabeth won't look at me. I need her to look up at me. Maybe if she did, she'd stop gyrating her ass around the dance floor and putting on a show for good ole' boy. Maybe if she saw my deadly serious face, she'd stop, so that this very strong desire I have to hurt him will dissipate, because I'm itching to smack that grin off of his face.

I watch as Jade orders a glass of wine and a beer from the bar and then two-steps her way over to Elizabeth and pretty boy with drinks in hand. She hands Elizabeth the glass and she smiles back in gratitude and then hands the dude the beer. She dances with them while talking their ears off about God knows what, and the next thing I know Jade ends up in between them dancing primarily with the swimmer. His eyes seem to be drawn to Jade's boobs, which are sitting up high and proud in her tight t-shirt.

Good. I've identified a weakness. He likes tits.

Elizabeth whispers something in Jade's ear and walks away. That's when Jade looks up towards my direction and gives me the mission completed nod. Sloan and her friend Tiny seem to still be completely engrossed in one of Cutter's many stories about the celebrities he's met (he's got a big ass mouth), so I go downstairs and cut Elizabeth off before she can make her way back up to our seating section. She's walking with her head down and doesn't see me at first, but stops when she recognizes my boots.

"I want to talk to you." I say.

"Now?"

"Right now. Walk with me to my office. It's just at the back of the hallway there."

I see the hesitance in her face. She's contemplating what she should do, as if this was a life or death decision. But I guess my approach may make it appear as if whatever I have to say is life or death. I've been told that even when I smile, thanks to the scar on my face, I still look like I want to rip somebody's head off.

"It'll take five minutes." I assure her.

She looks back over at the swimmer. His eyeballs still stuck to the front of Jade's shirt.

"Umm ... ok."

Relief settles in my gut that she's agreed. Another unexpected emotion.

"So what's up?"

Elizabeth makes sure to stand at least five feet away from me, as she takes a nervous gulp of wine waiting for me to speak. I've never noticed before, but her eyelashes are long, black, jut straight down and do an amazing job of highlighting her almond shaped eyes. She's blinking a little more than usual. I figure it's because I make her a little nervous on top of the fact that the alcohol is starting to hit her bloodstream. She's had a large lemon drop shot and now a glass of wine, which she's drinking like it's grape juice. I take a few steps closer to her as she backs up further into a metal desk. I need to be near her, and if I don't keep a handle on it, I'll be inside her next.