Page 56 of Savage Suit

“He has valid reasons for them, Nick,” Reid said. “Misinterpreting someone’s behavior could lead to a wealth of charges.”

“Against Noah?” Nicholas spat, then looked at me. “I’m waiting for you to fuck up. I wished you’d fucked Megan. I would’ve taken pleasure in running her off, just to make you eat your fucking rules.”

“Nick, shut it,” Reid warned. “You’re fucking drunk. Swallow your false bravado and shut the fuck up.”

“No. Fuck him.” He hadn’t turned away from me, so he continued his diatribe. “You sit on your throne, wishing they could remove me from the board. But I’m good at my fucking job. I wish I would’ve thought about going behind your back and swiping a majority of the shares like you did, asshole. Fifty-one percent wasn’t good enough for you. I’m waiting for you to fuck up. Find a woman desperate enough to marry you and then you cheat on her, and I find out. I’d sing like a fucking canary. Even better if you break one of your own rigid workplace rules.” He laughed wildly. “A little embezzlement. Maybe, acting fucking human so overwhelmed with personal problems, they interfere with your fucking work. I’ll write you up like you wrote Tina and me up. You didn’t care what the fuck was going on.”

“He’s over imbibed, Noah,” Reid said, as if I didn’t hear my brother slurring. “He might not even remember all he’s said to you tomorrow.”

True. He was still a fucking asshole.

“Fuck you, Reid,” Nicholas blared. “Don’t fucking talk for me. You’re nothing but a drug addict dickwad.”

Hurt and anger crossed Reid’s features, but my brother saw neither because he looked at me.

Nicholas jabbed me in the chest. “You’re a fucking crybaby mama’s boy. You had to steal the fucking company. You weren’t satisfied with being the reason for Mother’s death, fuckhead.”

I got to my feet, braced my hands on the table, and leaned toward my brother. “If you don’t shut the fuck up, I’ll do it for you and make sure it’s done so that your trap will be wired shut for months.”

A muscle ticked in Nicholas’s jaw. He knew he’d pushed me too far, however, and I was ready, willing, and able to deliver my promise.

“Jesus, calm the fuck down, both of you,” Reid ordered. “You’re drawing attention. Call our waiter over, Noah. It’ll seem you were getting Nick’s drink order.”

Fury twisted my gut, but I backed away and glanced around. When I’d walked in, the place had been all but empty. Now, several tables were occupied, and businessmen sat at the bar. Reid was right, though. More than a few heads looked in our direction.

Drawing in a deep breath, I dropped back into my seat and signaled the waiter.

“Fuck, smile,” Reid admonished. “You’ll frighten Frankenstein with the look on your face, Noah.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Keegan, sir?” the waiter greeted.

He was new, so I didn’t know his name. “Another whisky for me. An old fashioned for the blond Mr. Keegan. Thank you.”

Nicholas cleared his throat. It was only after Reid’s lifted his eyebrows and made a slight nod toward the room at large that I placed the third order.

“Nicholas wants a martini, stirred, not shaken,” I said, anger in my voice.

Our uncomfortable silence lasted for several minutes after our drinks arrived.

“Is there anything you can tell me about Q’s sister?” Curiosity drove me to remain at the table with my brother when I wanted to punch him into the ground. “Was she in blue?”

Reid studied me. The only child of my father’s brother, he was Nicholas’s age. Any closeness between us faded years ago. As I isolated myself, he distanced himself. Lately, he seemed more introspective, even slightly sad.

“Who would’ve thought you’d fuck a random woman?” Nicholas sneered. “Please spare us the details. Give me a name and I’ll check into it.”

Again, Reid subjected me to scrutiny. “Once you do, throw away the file. Delete it from your database,” he advised. “We all know of the policies at Keegan Enterprises.” He gulped some of his cocktail. “Suppose this woman isthe one? Having to fire her wouldn’t serve you well. If you didn’t fire her for the no fraternization rule, you would drive her away because of how you feel about women in the workplace.”

“I want you to pay me the speaking fee I lost,” Nicholas announced.

I frowned at him, but Reid spoke again.

“You’re head honcho, so you could override the former and go to a therapist regarding the latter,” he said.

“Fuck, no,” Nicholas growled. “He’s had me release some damn exemplary employees because they broke the rule. He doesn’t get a pass.”

“Unless I cut you a check,” I barked. “Then I’m sure your attitude would change.”

Reid tsked. “You’re flinging accusations and insults to Noah, Nicholas, and yet you’re a fucking hypocrite. Your fuckingwifeworks there.”