Eros
As I stride away from the front desk, the weight of my conversation with Lance still heavy on my mind, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that settles over me. His threats linger in the air like a foul stench.
With each step, my thoughts churn with a mixture of anger, frustration, and a growing sense of paranoia. Lance’s words have ignited a fire within me, fueling my determination to protect what’s mine at all costs. I can’t help but shake the feeling that whatever storm Lance is about to bring in with him, is something I’m not as prepared for as I thought.
As I enter the dining room, my gaze scans the room, searching for Juliet’s familiar figure amidst the sea of faces. There she is, tucked away in a cozy booth at the far end of the room. A strange sense of calmness washes over me when I see her looking down glued to her phone.
“Good morning again, Juliet,” I greet her with a polite smile, though the tension in my voice betrays the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. “Mind if I join you?”
She hesitates for a moment before gesturing to the seat opposite her. “Sure, Eros,” she replies, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. “Please, have a seat.”
“So, how’s your morning been?” I ask, attempting to steer the conversation away from the turmoil brewing within me. “Did you manage to get some breakfast?”
Juliet nods, a faint smile playing at the corners of her plump lips. “Yes, thank you,” she replies, her tone polite yet distant. “I grabbed a few things, you see, there’s this big burly dude who resides within these walls and he told me breakfast is a must. The cereal was surprisingly good.” She rolled her eyes and shrugged at me, bringing her eyes back down to a stand alone muffin she had left on the table.
I nod, a flicker of relief washing over me at her response. “Glad to hear it,” I reply, though the words ring hollow in my ears. My mind is still reeling from my conversation with Lance, the weight of his threats pressing down on me like a vice. He wasn’t the kind of man that gave out empty threats, and he certainly wasn’t above murder or torture. Unfortunately, neither of us were.
“Listen, Juliet,” I begin, my voice low and measured. “I know things have been… tense lately. But I want you to know that I’m here for you. If you ever need anything, anything at all, you can count on me. I’m not a huge talker and quite frankly would like to avoid all emotions if possible,” I lower my gaze down the the untouched muffin on the table and fix my gaze on it, “but I can see you’re dealing with some stuff and I understand you have your own life with your own people in it. But if you ever needed someone outside of your realm, I might be able to lend some understanding in a situation like that.” I shift uncomfortably in my seat and give myself a moment before raising my gaze back to her.
Juliet’s eyes were wide in surprise, a flicker of uncertainty hung heavy on her features. “Thank you, Eros,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. “I appreciate the offer.”
Before I could respond, a heavy voice flooded the room, slicing through the air like a blade. I watched as Juliet stiffened immediately, her eyes growing wider and glassy, the thrum of her heart slamming against her chest. “Where the fuck is he!” The words reverberated around us, a tangible wave of tension filling the room.
“It’s okay, stay here. Stay exactly where you are and don’t move. Just breathe pretty girl, I will be right back.” My voice soft as a small panic clenches my chest at her obvious fear. My muscles tense as I registered the voice.
Lance.
My brother’s name echoed in my mind like a thunderclap, igniting a fierce surge of anger deep within me. I could feel the rage pooling under my skin.
“No, fuck you, Elliot. I said where the fuck is he!” Lance’s voice grew louder, more insistent, each word dripping with venom and malice. The sheer force of his presence seemed to fill the room, casting a shadow over everything in its wake.
With a sense of grim determination, I pushed out my chair and rose to my feet, my movements swift and purposeful. The air crackled with tension as I made my way towards him, His back to me looming over Elliot.
“Has no one ever taught you manners, brother?” I boomed, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. Lance whipped around to meet my eyes, his expression a mixture of anger and disdain.
His eyes bore into mine, a silent challenge passing between us as we faced off in the dimly lit room. I do a once over on him. Significantly more toned than the last time we got into an altercation, but if anything, that just meant this time would be more fun if it was a fight.
I stood my ground, refusing to back down in the face of his intimidation tactics. “You have no right to barge in here and disrupt my business,” I continued, my voice steady despite the adrenaline starting to vibrate within me. “Whatever petty grievances you have with me, take them elsewhere. I won’t tolerate this behavior in my hotel.”
Lance’s jaw clenched with barely contained rage, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to maintain his composure. For a moment, it seemed as though he might lunge at me, his fists clenched at his sides in a silent display of aggression.
“You think this is petty? I just shot one of your drug runner outside of my house. My actual fucking house Eros. Are you trying to provoke me? Are you trying to anger Alan?” Lance spits out like my actions have poisoned him. Satisfaction rolls in my stomach at the sight of his distress, he always gave the best reactions when you proded him.
“If one of my associates has caused you trouble, I assure you, it was not at my behest,” I replied evenly, though the accusation stung nonetheless. “I’ve made it abundantly clear that I have no interest in encroaching on your territory.”
Lance’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of doubt crossing his features before being replaced by a steely resolve. “Don’t play games with me, Eros,” he growled, his voice dripping with venom. “You know damn well what’s at stake here. You may have your fancy hotels and your flashy lifestyle, but you’re still just a pawn in Alan’s game.”
Lance’s words hung heavy in the air, I fought to suppress the surge of anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. The mention of Alan’s name always stirred up a maelstrom of conflicting emotions within me—resentment for the mentor who had once promised to guide me, and a gnawing sense of betrayal for the secrets he had kept hidden.
“I don’t need your threats, Lance,” I shot back, my tone laced with a barely concealed edge. “If Alan has an issue with me, he can address it himself. I won’t be manipulated by either of you any longer.”
Lance’s lip curled into a sneer, his eyes flashing with contempt. “You always did have a way with words, Eros,” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. “But words won’t protect you when the time comes to face the consequences of your actions.”
The threat hung between us like a heavy cloud, suffocating the air with tension. I knew that my decision to break away from Alan’s influence had put me in a precarious position—one that could have dire consequences for both me and those closest to me.
But despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind, I refused to back down. I had worked too hard to build my own empire, to carve out a path separate from Alan’s shadow. And I would be damned if I let anyone, especially my own brother, tear it all down.
With a final, venomous glare, Lance turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the bitter taste of betrayal lingering on my tongue. I walked away from the confrontation with Lance, his words still ringing in my ears, my thoughts drifted inexorably towards Juliet. The fear that had flickered across her features at the sound of Lance’s outburst lingered in my mind like a haunting melody, tugging at the edges of my conscience.
In that moment, I felt a surge of possessiveness and protectiveness wash over me, an instinctual urge to shield Juliet from the dangers that lurked in the shadows. She was like a fragile flower caught in the midst of a raging storm, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was my duty to protect her, to keep her safe from harm.
But even as I grappled with these conflicting emotions, another part of me couldn’t help but acknowledge how incredibly sexy the imagine of Juliet standing beside me prepared for any challenge or fight was. There was something undeniably intoxicating about the thought of her fighting beside me, her strength and determination matching my own as we faced the challenges ahead.
Yet, beneath the surface of my desire lay a deeper truth—a truth that whispered of the responsibilities that came with power, and the sacrifices that must be made in the pursuit of greatness. Juliet was more than just a pawn in my game; she was a queen in her own right, and it was my duty to ensure her safety, even at the cost of my own desires.
I make my way back to to the table we were sitting at, to find that Juliet isn’t there. There’s not even a streak on the table showing that someone had eaten here. She still had time before we had to leave for her to get to work, so maybe she was finishing up whatever she had to do, or just wanted to get away from the confrontation down here. Regardless of what it was, I found myself mindlessly wandering the hallways of my hotel, my mind awash with conflicting emotions, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for us. Would Juliet stand by my side as we faced the storm together, or would the currents of fate sweep her away, lost to me forever? What about that fiance of hers? How long was she going to stay here?
A pang of something hit my chest, and it felt heavy and acidic. Only time would tell, but one thing was certain: I would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant sacrificing my happiness. If Juliet was truly meant to be mine, then fate would find a way to bring us together, come what may.
I don’t really give a fuck about a fiance.
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