Chapter 16

"Idon't care what you have to do. She stays," I snap to my assistant as I aggressively pull at my tie. Hanging up, I toss my phone onto the bed and let out a heavy sigh as I shrug off my suit jacket.

Seeing Jade just now... it took everything in me not to pull her into my arms and kiss her until she was a puddle of slick.

My mind drifts back to the other day when her gorgeous body was naked and underneath me as she moaned my name, taking my knot like the good fucking girl she is.

My cock thickens in my suit pants as her screams echo through my mind while remembering the way her pussy clamped down on my cock, back arching as she came so damn sweetly. Her peaches and cream scent filled the air, turning me fucking feral.

And now she's here... in my brother's hotel room... with his lovers.

I'm a little annoyed with the fact that she refused to come back with me when I suggested she take time off work and spend a week with me in LA. But as soon as the three of them waltz back into her life, she's willing to take off with them?

I'd expected her to say no, so I wasn't surprised when she did. Jade has closed off her heart to the world, making it really hard to get past her walls. I've been doing my best to chip away at them whenever I can. But work has me busy, and I've only been able to make it out to see her a few times a month.

Every time I leave The High Roller, I feel like I'm leaving a piece of me behind. Because I am. I've already claimed Jade as my omega, she just doesn't know it yet. But she will... soon.

Things are complicated, to say the least. Starting with the fact that I know my brother has been looking for Jade for the past five years. While I didn't know the whole time, I knew exactly who she was as soon as I walked through the doors of that club six months ago.

There was no denying she was the girl from the photos my brother carried around. Same bright red hair, piercing green eyes, and a smile that lights up a room, even if it's clouded by the darkness that followed her.

Only now, she's older, an omega, and mine. From the moment she greeted me with her musical voice and flirty smile—among other things—I knew I had to have her.

I should have had second thoughts, knowing who she was and what she meant to my brother. But I didn't. I was blinded by her. She was all I saw, all I wanted, everything I needed. I knew I'd pay for my actions later, but at the time, I didn't care.

She wasn't taking on clients at the time, so requesting her was out of the question. I was in town for a week-long trip, so I kept coming back every night, sitting in her sections, requesting her as my server.

Eventually, I wore her down and got her to agree to spend the night with me. Although, I'm sure the hefty check that came with it is what sealed the deal. And I had no problems continuing to add numbers to the end of that check until she changed her mind. That"s how badly I wanted to have at least one night with her.

That night ended up being the best night of my existence. If I wasn't hooked on her before spending the night with her, I sure as hell was afterward.

After that first night, I did feel a little guilty over the connection between Jade and my brother. I've been trying to build a relationship with the broody bastard for years, but he wants nothing to do with me. From the moment I came into his life, he's been determined to hate me. And our father.

I can't blame him for the latter. Our father is not a good man, and I'm glad he wants nothing to do with Zane. If he did, it would make things a lot harder on my end.

At least we have one thing in common—hatred for our father. I guess two now with our deep desire for Jade.

Maybe I should have done the right thing and walked away. But with a girl like Jade Love? It's not that easy. I see why he's been so obsessed.

I'm pretty sure I just fucked up any chance of having that brotherly relationship with him, though, now that he knows I've slept with Jade. If not, I will when he finds out I knew who she was and where she was, and didn't tell him.

But I'm done caring. I can only do so much on my part. I can't make the guy see me as his brother. And honestly, he's a fucking dick. I don't hate him, but he's not my favorite person, either.

Maybe it has to do with the way he grew up, maybe it has to do with being away from Jade. Or, it could be the fact he is dead-set on thinking I lived some amazing life that he was robbed of and now he hates me for it.

Doesn't change the fact that he's a moody dickhead who doesn't think before he acts and uses his words last and fists first.

My point is about to be proven when there is banging on the hotel door that has my eyes snapping up. "Fuck," I groan. I know who it is. I'm surprised he didn't try to kick my ass back in his room.

"Open up, you motherfucker!" Zane roars.

Sighing heavily, I get up and make my way to the door. "You know, if you don't stop with the noise," I say, opening the door. "You"re going to get us kicked—"

I should have seen it coming. As soon as the door is open, Zane's fist is in my face. Pain bursts through my skull as his fist makes contact with my jaw, making my head snap to the side. "Fucking hell," I shout, stumbling back as Zane takes another swing.

"I'm going to kill you," he seethes, body heaving as he glares at me with a murderous look in his eye.

"This is why we've suggested anger management classes," I mutter, holding my throbbing jaw. Fucker busted my lip. It's going to swell. Lovely.

"Fuck you!" he spits, coming at me again. He's fighting with blind rage, making him very sloppy, so when I move out of the way, it sends him tumbling to the floor.

He gets straight back up, chest heaving, eyes wild as he gets ready to charge at me again. "Would you chill the fuck out! We can talk about this like grown adults." I try to reason with him, licking my bloody lip.

"Or I can kick your ass!" he shouts and comes swinging at me again. I duck a few times, but he keeps coming.

"I don't want to hurt you," I growl. Zane might be a big guy, but I'm bigger. I have a good few inches on him. If he wasn't my brother, I'd have him on the ground out cold by now.

He's so furious at the world and me at this moment that he's out of control.

He scoffs. "Full of yourself much? I'd like to see you try."

Zane can fight, I've seen him working out at the gym in the past, taking a few classes here and there with professionals, but he's not consistent with it. Plus, his work outs are more about letting off steam, while I focus more on strength training.

He's good when his mind is clear and he has the discipline needed. But right now, all that is out the window. He's an obsessed man. A man who found out his brother fucked the girl he's been in love with for years.

Well, he's about to learn a life lesson: You can't always get what you want, and life doesn't always go the way you wish it would. He might think Jade is his, but I know she's mine. Or she will be. Brother or not, I'm not giving her up for anyone.

I'm also not going to let the little shit use me as his personal punching bag. "You had enough?" I ask and grunt a second later when he gets a shot in, hitting me in the stomach. "Fuck it. That"s the last one I'm letting you have," I warn through clenched teeth.

When he comes at me again, I trip him up, knocking him on his ass. He goes down with a loud thud.

He scrambles to his feet, face red with anger, frustration, and embarrassment, looking pretty feral right about now. "You fucked my girl!" he shouts.

"Yeah. I did." I nod, dusting off my dress shirt.

"Did you know? Did you know it was her?" he demands the answer, eyes boring into mine.

Licking my lips, I nod again. "I did."

"What the fuck! Why would you do that?! You knew I was looking for her. And you've been fucking her this whole time while knowing who she fucking was! Not to mention, you knew where she was and didn't tell me!" he roars. He charges me again, and all bets are off.

He tackles me to the ground, and I go down hard. Pain splinters through my back as I let out a wheezing breath. He gets a hit into the side of my head before I flip him onto his back, straddling him as I give him a good punch to the jaw. "Only for six months," I shout, hitting him again.

He tries to get a few more shots in, but I block them. He uses his strength to roll us. He's on top now, and I roar in frustration as he punches me again. I don't want to hurt him. But he's not giving me much of a choice.

"You still knew!" Zane scrambles back, looking like a feral animal. "Jade is mine. Stay the fuck away from her."

"I can't do that." I get to my feet, sucking in deep breaths.

He gets to his feet, too. "Yes, you fucking can. Jade is mine," he growls low, deep, dangerous. "She's Everett and Griffin"s too. You really think she's going to pick you over us," he scoffs, looking me up and down before spitting out a glob of blood onto the floor as he wipes his bloody lip.

"Sure, you have money and power—all that bullshit—but that won't win you Jade. She doesn't care about that. Never has. You"re nothing but a rich dickhead who thinks the world owes him something while living off Daddy's money. You"re a vapid, prissy, rich bitch who could only offer her money. You would try to control her, mold her into some trophy omega you can show off at red carpet events like she's some fucking accessory. Us? We have history. We can give her everything she needs, everything she wants."

He grins, blood coating his teeth. "She was always meant to be ours, even before she became an omega."

This fucking guy. He knows nothing about me. Has no idea what he's saying. He is so far off on who I am and how I can be the alpha Jade needs. He would have known that if he didn't make me out to be the enemy from day one. If he wants me to be the bad guy, then why the fuck not?

"I get it. You had a childhood crush. She meant something to you. You want her back. How cute. But grow up, Zane. This is the real fucking world. You can't just walk back into her life and expect her to be yours. I'm surprised she came back here with you at all. I know Jade and that club is her life."

"Shut up!" he screams. "You know nothing about her!"

"And you do?" I chuckle, which pisses him off. "I'm sure that's not true."

"Fuck you. I know Jade better than anyone else in the world."

"Oh, really?" I taunt with a smirk. "Again, I don't think that"s true. You knew Jade from a pre-teen to a teenager. A lot of things change when you grow up, Zane. Me, however, I've gotten the privilege of getting to know Jade as the woman she's become. The sexy, sassy little thing she is."

"Shut the fuck up," he warns. "Jade is not yours. She will never be yours." He gives me a cocky grin. "And I'm not just saying that because I want her for myself. The fact is, big brother, Jade is my scent match." He grins wider as my face drops and my stomach twists.

"That"s right," he laughs. "Jade is not only my scent match but Everett and Griffin's too. And when she realizes it, you won't stand a chance. She's going to forget you ever existed."

Now, it's my turn to be filled with uncontrollable rage. "You're lying," I snarl.

"Oh, there"s no lie," he chuckles.

I have never wanted to beat his ass more than I do right now. It would only cause issues in the long run. But I'm done playing nice.

I step forward with the real need to poke the bear tonight. "I bet you don't know that she has a sweet spot." I cock my head to the side, running my finger down the side of my neck. "Right under her ear. When I suck on it, she fucking mewls so beautifully. God, Zane, the way she strangled my cock with her tight pussy," I groan. "Pure. Fucking. Heaven."

He snaps, as I knew he would. I wanted him to. He lets out a roar as he throws himself at me again. And then it's on.

We beat the shit out of each other, rolling around on the hotel floor until someone finally hears the noises and comes barging in.

"Let me go!" Zane yells as someone pulls him off of me. Our security team. About fucking time.

"That"s enough," Rubin grunts as Tyler steps in between us.

"You good?" he asks me, holding his hand out.

"I'm peachy." I let him pull me to my feet.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Gianna stands in the doorway, eyes wide with panic.

"I hired you to keep him and his buddies under control," I chide. I never liked Gianna, and the only reason why she still has a job is because of my father.

"Zane," she snaps. "What did you do?"

"I beat his fucking ass," he grunts.

"Why would you do that?" Gianna sighs.

"Because he fucked my omega."

Gianna's eyes snap over to mine. "What? When?" she demands loudly. But with her next breath, she mutters. "Wow, she works fast."

"What did you just say?" My voice comes out low, in a dangerous growl.

Fear flashes in her eyes. "I'm just saying. We know nothing about this girl. She's been here for a few hours and look at all the trouble she's already causing. Maybe we should send her home."

"She stays!" both Zane and I snap at the same time.

Her face falls into a frown. "Fine," she says tightly. "But if this keeps happening, then it's a risk for not only the band but the label. You have a show tomorrow." She looks Zane over. "You better hope makeup covers that up."

"Whatever," Zane grumbles, looking at me. "This isn't fucking over," he threatens, shoving his way out of Rubin's hold.

"I'm sure it's not." I grin just to piss him off.

"Go back to your hotel room and get some rest," Gianna tells Zane.

Zane heads toward the door, following Gianna out, Rubin and Tyler behind them.

My head is pounding, body sore. I need a shower, some meds, and a good night"s sleep. I'll deal with the rest of this shit in the morning. I go to close the hotel door, but Zane shoves his foot in the way, keeping me from shutting it.

"What now?" I growl, done with his shit for the night.

"I mean it, Calvin." He glares at me. "Stay away from Jade."

Using my foot, I kick his out of the way. His lip pulls back in a snarl, but he doesn't try again. "Sorry, I'm afraid that"s not possible. Because you see, there's yet another thing we have in common."

"What the fuck does that mean?" He narrows his eyes.

Before slamming the door in his face and locking it, I leave him with these parting words. "It means, little brother, that Jade isn't just yours, and your pack"s scent match omega." I give him a wicked grin. "She's mine too."