Filed To Story: Craving The Wrong Brother Book PDF Free by Elysian Sparrow
It’s weird to admit I’ve missed this man.
Our friendship started like a joke. I’d just blackmailed Obsidian away from its last owner, was scouting for new clients, and thought-why not rub shoulders with the elite degenerates who fill up these overpriced cigar clubs?
I hated those clubs. Still do. But I bought my way into every last one because wealthy people are predictable. And usually horny. Which was useful, considering the services I offer.
That day at the cigar lounge, Hunter stood out-not because he was charming or intriguing. No. He looked like he belonged to a church men’s group. Polo shirt tucked into belted jeans. Hair perfectly parted. The kind of man you’d trust to hold your wallet and water your plants.
I didn’t even bother giving him a card. A man like that wouldn’t go to a sex club.
I was outside, standing by the curb, when some woman stormed up to me. She didn’t look happy as she asked if I was the owner of Obsidian.
“Yes,” I’d said cautiously.
“You need to cancel my husband’s membership,” she replied, like I was a restaurant manager who got her order wrong. “Ever since we opened our marriage, it’s the only place he wants to be. He’s in there almost every night. I agreed to explore other people, not lose my husband to some brothel in disguise.”
I suggested she become a member herself. Seemed reasonable to me.
She didn’t like that.
Next thing I knew, she pulled out one of those flip-open knives from her purse and started stabbing the tires of a black BMW. Didn’t even hesitate. Just- stab. Stab. Slash.
I stood there, not stopping her, just watching. When she started scratching long white lines into the paint of the door, that’s when Hunter came running,
“Ma’am! What the hell are you doing to my car?”
She went stiff. “I-I thought it was… his.”
That was our first real conversation. As Hunter and I waited for the tow truck, we talked. We didn’t mean to. But somehow, we did. He made me laugh. I made him say “fuck” for the first time. It was the beginning of our awkward friendship-one where I’ve corrupted whatever goodness he had left to the point that kidnapping someone actually made sense to him.
“You always manage to land yourself the worst enemies, Knox,” Hunter says, breaking into my thoughts. He adjusts his posture and folds his arms. “How many people have you pissed off in this life?”
“Am I supposed to keep count?”
“I went to see your buddy, Mateo, about you.”
That gets my attention.
“Turns out he’s pretty mad,” Hunter continues. “I’m talking serial killer mad. Man’s unhinged. He sold his grandfather’s company. Liquidated almost all his assets. Mortgaged his fucking house just to get majority shares at the company your girlfriend works at.”
“Seems rather melodramatic.”
“He’s not even hiding how much he hates you. And he’s recruited your ex-wife.”
I say nothing. But my jaw clenches. Hard.
“She’s mad at you too,” Hunter adds. “For reasons I still can’t figure out. You need to work on your people skills, Knox. They’re kind of shit right now. I don’t even know why I’m helping you. I’ve just committed a crime to quarantine Soraya from spreading the Knox-hate virus around.”
I can’t help it. I laugh.
Hunter glares at me. “After all that, you laugh?”
“I’m sorry,” I say, coughing into my fist. “You sound like my girlfriend.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“It’s an observation.”
He stands up, brushing imaginary dust from his pants. “What are we going to do about the woman in my guestroom?”
“You really kidnapped her?”
“You thought I was joking?”
He heads toward the stairs, and I follow.
The wood creaks slightly beneath our steps, and halfway up, I ask, “What exactly did Mateo say to you when you met him?”
Hunter stops and turns. His face is more serious now.
“He said you took everything from him. That he wants to return the favor by taking the most important thing in your life. His words, not mine. And yeah, he’s pretending like he doesn’t know what that is yet. But we both know that’s bullshit. He bought shares in your girlfriend’s workplace. He knows exactly who your weak point is.”
I stare at the wall just past Hunter’s head, my jaw clenched. Well, I guess that settles it. That woman’s going into early retirement-locked in a tower, guarded by a fire-breathing dragon if I can manage it.
“He wants to hurt her,” says Hunter. “Maybe even Soraya. She’s stupid enough to think it’s a mutual transaction in whatever twisted deal they have going on.”
“Mutual transaction?” I ask. “What could she possibly need from him?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Ask her. But for the record, I think I’m on the list of people he wants to hurt to get to you. So you’re paying for the extra security
I hired. I told a psychopath to get lost yesterday and resigned from the CEO position in his company. You definitely owe me.”
He turns around and starts climbing again, and I find myself staring at the back of his head while following him up. So this is where we are-Mateo’s decided I’m the scapegoat for what went down all those years ago. Figures. The man clearly skipped therapy and went straight to plotting,
And now I’m the outlet.
I don’t even know what the hell I want to do about him. There was a time I would’ve taken a bullet for that bastard-no hesitation. Which is probably why I can’t think of anything that goes beyond sitting across from him and forcing a conversation. One where we lay it all out.
Because anything else just feels like history repeating itself. And I’ve already bled for this once.
We reach the guestroom, and Hunter pushes the door open.
Soraya’s there, bound to a chair, duct tape over her lips, her arms twisted behind her back. Her eyes snap up when she sees me. Narrow. Furious.
She starts mumbling against the tape.
I cross the room and tear it off.
“Fuck you, Hunter!” she shouts, spitting hair from her mouth. “When I get off this chair, I’m going to skin you alive.”
“Calm yourself,” I say.
“Get these ropes off me! I have to meet someone in a few hours.”
“Who?” I ask. “Sloane’s father?”
She looks at me in surprise. “He told you we met?”
“What do you want, Soraya?” I ask. “To see me angry? Because you’re doing a hell of a job. You’ve been busy. Looking for ways to get my attention. Well, now you have it. Use it wisely. Say what your problem is right now or forever hold your peace.”
Her face shifts. Just slightly.
“We’ve been friends for over five years, Knox. That should have counted for something. You threw me under the bus because you suddenly got yourself a girlfriend.”
I fold my arms. “You wanted me to stay married while dating someone else?”
“I just wanted you to have the decency to talk to me first before you served those papers. That’s all. A conversation, Some respect. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be going about your day-having a decent one, even-and then, out of nowhere, someone you care about hits you with legal documents? No warning. Just… boom. You’re the only family I have in this country. You know that. Aside from Yara, you’re the closest thing I’ve got to a real friend. And then this woman shows up, and suddenly she’s got you wrapped around her finger, and you’ve forgotten who’s been there all these years. I tried to protect you, and you stood there and let her put her hands on me like I was some stranger. That’s the part I can’t move past. That’s why I can’t forgive you.”
“In summary, you’re saying I messed up for not speaking about it with you first. Great. How do we solve this problem? A time machine?”
Behind me, Hunter mutters, “I think she’s trying to tell you she’s in love with you, Knox.”
“Shut up,” Soraya snaps. “Shut that banker mouth of yours.”
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“This isn’t Afghanistan, woman,” he replies. “People talk about their lustful cravings here. You had five years your losses and move on.” to make a move.
You didn’t. You gotta count
“I don’t have feelings for him.”
“Whatever. If it were up to me, you’d stay in that chair until I’m sure you’ve come to your senses.”
Soraya turns to Knox. “Untie me, Knox. Don’t listen to your bitch-ass friend with the pear-shaped head. Just untie me.”