Page 24 of We The Depraved

My mouth parts and a slight gasp escapes my mouth. Niki Safaryan grins down at me.

He rolls off of me and to the side.

I don’t realize it but I’m breathing hard, just a little bit.

“Ivan will take you home,” Niki says. “Don’t leave your house until morning.”

“Just as a precaution, whoever that was strangling you to death might know where you live. I’d tell you to spend the night here but I know you won’t stay.”

He backs away and leaves from the room, and I hear him call for Ivan. My breathing returns to normal and I turn my head to get a whiff of the cologne that lingers. It’s subtle and smells like a thunderstorm. Uncertainty rides low in my stomach and my pussy continues to tingle.

She likes him.

I don’t.

Swallowing, I force myself from the mattress and head out the door. Ivan, who averts his gaze upon my approach is waiting by the door.

“Let’s roll, Jeeves,” I flash him a smile.

He doesn’t return it and instead clears his throat in an annoyed fashion. I chuckle to myself and head home hoping my door key is where I left it.

CHAPTER9

Niki

My day to day at Safaryan Holdings can either be quiet or it can be like walking into hell. Today, I’ve been grateful things have been heating up in the kitchen. When it feels like hellfire is pouring down on me from every end, the day passes quicker.

Safaryans were forged in fire. It’s in our blood and what makes us so ruthless whether we’re beating a man to death or raiding another corporation. My father was small potatoes compared to what I built us into.

My assistant and I watched the news report on the screen. She glances at me, tapping her chin with the remote.

Damien sits off to the side of me typing away on his computer. He has his own office but we took lunch together and he never left.

Even as he pauses to watch Ryan Grey make the announcement.

“Turn it up a little,” Damien says to Katie, my assistant.

She obliges him, and I see her red nails from where I am push against the remote control buttons. The volume goes and I begin to listen to the report.

Ryan Grey leans into the microphone and begins to tell all of Texas how his company is going bankrupt. There is no hope for him or the thousands of people that he employees.

Damien smiles over his shoulder at me.

“He should have taken the deal,” I reply and shrug.

“That he should have,” Damien replies.

My assistant who is still fairly new to Safaryan Holdings turns to me and gives an awkward smile. She has adult braces and shaggy hair that looks unkempt. I don’t react to her appearance she came highly recommended.

“Sir, I’m going for a coffee and I have a few meetings to schedule for you next month. Can I get you anything?”

I’m thoughtful but it only lasts for a moment before I reply. “No, Katie, you can go.”

She gives a nod and slips from the room, closing the door behind her. My skin prickles and I can feel my brother’s eyes on me.

“What?”

“You know her name isn’t Katie, right?”