Page 140 of Savage Empire

My brother thinks about it and hums. “Yeah, actually that sounds right. He’s better than me.”

“Oh?” I lift a brow, lifting my keys. “So you don’t want to take it for a spin?”

“Well, I didn’t saythat?—”

“It’s not too pink for your fragile masculinity?”

“My masculinity is not fragile,” he protests, hands on his hips. “I would just prefer another color if it was mine. But I mean, if it’s my sister’s, I should probably give it a test drive. To make sure it’s safe.”

“How chivalrous of you,” I drawl, rolling my eyes. “You can drive it if Elio goes with you and Apollo says it’s okay.”

“It’s your car and Apollo has to say it’s okay?” His nose crinkles. “You know, if you’re the one adopting me, shouldn’t you be in charge?”

“I don’t know shit about cars,” I tell him patiently. “And as the adult adopting you, I’m responsible enough to consult the people who do. Apollo will know if it’s safe to let you out in this thing. I have no idea what the differences are between my car and yours. What if mine is dangerous?”

Yordan opens his mouth like he’s about to explain every difference between his birthday car and my brand new one, but he can’t get a word in before he’s interrupted.

“When I told you to spend money, I expected you to buy yourself something you’d actually like and enjoy having.” All three of us turn at the sound of Apollo’s voice, finding him strolling over to our spot in the driveway.

“I do like it,” I quip, a smile growing. “I like that it means you’re not happy after commanding me to do something.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t happy.” He scans my face, blue eyes searching. “You’ll get the hang of it eventually.”

My jaw tightens, fists twitching at his implication. He turned my act of defiance into a failure meant to be taken as a lesson in improving. I take a menacing step toward him, heels clacking on the cement.

“You little?—”

“Elio,” Apollo says suddenly, cutting me off. “Take Yordan out for a drive, won’t you? Rayna and I need a word.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” his brother agrees, snatching the keys from me and tossing them to Yordan. “Let’s get out of here before they start making out.”

“Gross,” Yordan grimaces. “They don’t actually do that, do they?”

“Oh, you sweet summer child.”

The two of them make record time speeding out of the driveway, leaving me alone with my prick of a fiancé.

“You are the most infuriating motherfucker, do you know that?” I demand, eyes flaring. “I don’t have toget the hangof anything. Spending money isn’t some skill I need to hone because your kink is rich girls.”

Apollo isn’t fazed by the name calling, nor my anger. “Similarly, I don’t need to piss you off because your kink is arguing with me.”

I flush beet red. “It isnot!”

“What did you think I would do,micina?Did you think I would get upset about a luxury purchase? Did you mean to make me eat my words; to regret telling you to spend more money like it was a requirement? Did you think I would punish you?”

My head rears back. “Punishme? I—who do you think you are?”

“Your soon-to-be husband,” he answers, tilting his head slightly to one side. “The man who’s realizing that you don’thate the idea of being spoiled, you dislike the concept of being instructed to spoil yourself.”

“You think you’re so smart?—”

“Turn around.”

“—you, what?” I sputter.

“Turn. Around.”

My heart races, beating wildly in my chest. “Stop telling me what to do.” It’s meant to be a yell, but it comes out more like a rasp.