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“I like it,” Claudia said. “It should come with a ring pop.”
The girls giggled, but I pretended I didn’t hear them as I made them another round of drinks, then wrote down the recipe so my brothers could make them on their own.
“I need to talk to you.”
A loud male voice raised above the conversations along the bar, and I looked up to find myself staring into eyes that looked so much like Matson’s, the sight actually made my heart hurt.
Both Nick and Frank’s heads swiveled at the angry tone, and without a word, they dropped what they were doing and moved to stand behind me, obviously presenting a united front.
“Why are you here?” I pretended to sound bored as Derek’s gaze bounced between me and my brothers.
“You again?” Frank’s mouth tightened into a straight line. “Didn’t think you had that much fun last time.”
“I need to talk to you, Fisher,” Derek demanded. “Now.”
I wanted to ask him who the hell he thought he was, but knew there would be no point. The man was a loose cannon, and ignoring him wasn’t going to work.
The girls looked at him, both assessing the situation, but thankfully stayed quiet. I didn’t want them involved or saying anything that might set him off.
“First of all, calm down. You don’t tell me what to do or when to do it. Understand?” I folded my arms over my chest and could sense Nick and Frank tensing up behind me, wary of the situation escalating.
Derek laughed as he looked between us. “You’re all looks and no bra
ins, aren’t you? Figures. We need to talk, and it can’t wait.” Without another word, he turned around and walked out the front door, obviously expecting me to follow him.
“Want me to come with you,” Frank asked, and I shook my head. “He seems a little crazy, man.”
I agreed, but I wasn’t concerned. I was more annoyed than anything.
“I’ll be right back.” I tossed down my notebook and headed toward that asshole outside. Part of me hated that he’d made a demand, and it looked like I was following orders like an obedient dog.
I pushed the door open, on guard for any sneak attack that might come my way. But Derek leaned against the wall of the bar, his foot propped up like a cowboy in an old Western movie. All he needed was a Stetson and a toothpick to complete the picture.
“Wasn’t sure you’d listen,” he said without looking my way.
“What is it this time?” I stood in front of him, hoping to get this over with sooner rather than later.
“I want you to back off.”
“Back off?” I repeated his words as if I had no idea what he was saying.
He pushed away from the wall and squared his body with mine, even though I towered over him. “Yeah, back off. Go away. Leave Sofia and Matson alone.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I do that?” Derek sounded insane, making a demand like my relationship with them was something he had a say in.
“I need you out of the picture.” He spoke with confidence as if it would change everything, when in fact it changed nothing.
“Why?” I asked, hoping for a little clarity into his otherwise fucked-up mind. What did he want, and why couldn’t he let it go?
“To get what I want. I need you out of the picture in order to get it. Think you can do that, pretty boy?” His lips formed a snarl I wanted to smack right off his smug face.
Struggling to stay calm, I forced myself to shrug. “Probably not.”
“You’re not listening to me, Ryan.” He sounded like I was an annoying tick he couldn’t get off his back. “Do you want me to stop showing up and scaring Sofia?”
My blood instantly boiled inside my veins, and my self-control slipped a notch. I hated hearing him say her name, would banish it from his vocabulary forever if I could.
“Yes,” I ground out.
