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A sharp crack echoes overhead and instinct drives my movements. I splay my body across my brother’s an instant before scorching pain razes across my back. A soundless scream tears from my mouth, and I descend into eternal night.
The sharp blare of a horn jolts me from the vivid nightmare, and my eyes snap open. My chest is heaving, sweat beading along my brow and pooling above my upper lip. Fuck. I haven’t had a nightmare like that in months. I thought the endless years of therapy had finally paid off.
Ghostly flames flicker across my back, and my spine snaps straight. I shrug out of my jacket and toss it to the floor. Some scars would never heal. Despite how many tattoos cover them.
Max slows the car to a halt, and I glance out the tinted window. Shit, how long had I been asleep for? Gemini Tower looms over the BMW, dwarfing the surrounding skyscrapers. Heaving in a deep breath, I search for the calm. This building means everything to me, countless years of perseverance, a symbol of the epic phoenix rising from the ashes.
I jerk the back door open, not waiting for Max to get out. I’m so late I’ll be lucky if I catch the tail-end of the meeting. Darting into the lobby, I speed past the reception desk and shoot the woman a smile.
“Happy Monday, boss,” she calls out.
“You too, Amber.”
Melanie’s head pops out from around the corner a second later as I approach the elevator bank, holding the door open.
“Thanks,” I mutter as I slip in beside my executive assistant.
“Of course. Marco told me to keep an eye out for you.”
“How mad is he?” I toss the assistant my brother and I share a grin.
She shrugs as the elevator zips up to the penthouse. “You know Marco. Nothing really ever gets to him.”
From the outside. On the surface, my brother is as charismatic and easy going as they come. All smiles and winks, he can charm any woman into bed, but like me, a monster lies below the surface just waiting to be let loose.
We all have our demons, what differentiates me from my sibling is the way we handle them. I like to let mine loose on joy rides whereas Marco keeps his on a tight leash. One day, it’s going to come back and bite him in the ass.
I only hope I’m far away from the fallout zone.
The elevator doors glide open, and I jump out through the crack, heading straight for the conference room. My hand is on the modern black handle when it jerks open, and I nearly barrel into Commissioner Gordon.
I leap back, placing a hand on my chest. “My apologies, commissioner, both for my tardiness and nearly running you down.” My lips slide into a practiced smile.
“Nothing to worry about, Nico.” The silver-haired snake who’s involved in more underhanded dealings than the Kings and Geminis combined turns to my brother behind him. “Marco has handled everything.”
I shoot my sibling an appreciative smile, and he counters with a stiff nod. He’s pissed, and I don’t blame him. I’m the numbers guy, he’s the sales guy, but clearly, he’s pulled it off.
“Please, excuse me, commissioner, I have a call. It was a pleasure as always.” Marco dips his head and disappears down the hallway.
“I said you can’t go in there!” Melanie’s shriek jerks my attention over my shoulder.
My other recurring nightmare stalks across the foyer. Fucking Dante.
“Commissioner Gordon, what a happy coincidence.” My half-brother barrels by my assistant and thrusts his hand at Gordon.
The man flushes bright crimson. For weeks, he’s been ruthlessly pursued by Gemini Corp and King Industries for the lucrative new docks project. He’d been under contract with my half-brother’s company before all his equipment mysteriously vanished. Conveniently, we were able to swoop in and pinch the deal.
But Dante wasn’t giving up that easily.
The commissioner clears his throat as Dante’s hold on his hand lingers longer than appropriate. “Ah, scusi. Sometimes I forget how fragile the tiny bones of the hand are. So easy to break…” His lips curl into an ominous smile. “Commissioner, I certainly hope you aren’t planning to renege on our deal.”
“Dante—”
“Signor Valentino,” he corrects.
I’ll give my half-brother one thing, he’s got fucking huge balls to threaten one of the most powerful men in New York City.
“Yes, Signor Valentino, I’m afraid I cannot wait any longer. Per the original terms of our deal, ground should have been broken by now.”
