ANTHONY
The hotel room smelled of expensive sheets and sex.
Calliope was bent over the edge of the king-sized bed, moaning loudly as I fucked her from behind, one hand fisted in her elegant dark hair, the other gripping her hip hard enough to leave bruises.
She pushed back against me desperately, chasing her pleasure like the greedy bitch she was.
"Harder, Anthony, fuck.."
I slammed into her deeper, grunting with each thrust. She was tight, wet, and furious, exactly how I liked her. We'd been doing this for months now, ever before she even realized Alexander would never choose her again.
I came with a low groan, spilling deep inside her before pulling out and slapping her ass once for good measure.
Calliope collapsed onto the bed, breathing hard, then rolled over with a satisfied but bitter smile.
"You're sure your brother will never find out?" she asked, pressing her bare breasts against my back as she kissed the side of my neck.
I turned to face her, smirking as I traced a finger down her throat.
"No. I made sure of it," I said smoothly. "I had one of my people in Biomedical Engineering swap the faulty lead data with a clean log. The official RCA report will conclude it was a rare manufacturing defect with no tampering or fingerprints"
Calliope's eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.
"Good. That little autistic husband of his looked like he was about to have a breakdown in the meeting. Pathetic."
I chuckled, pulling her closer so she straddled my lap.
"You really hate him, don't you?"
"I hate what he represents," she hissed, grinding slowly against me. "Alexander was supposed to be mine. Then that soft, stuttering little neurologist showed up and suddenly he's married? I wanted to make him suffer. Make Alexander see how weak his precious Dashiell really is under pressure."
I gripped her chin, forcing her to look at me.
"You caused the lead failure during my brother's surgery," I said, voice low and warning. "You put a patient's life at risk just to hurt Dashiell. That was stupid, Calliope. Very fucking stupid."
She grit her teeth, eyes flashing with anger.
"Why not? Alexander took everything from me. He deserves to lose something too."
I smiled, cold and arrogant.
"I won't deny that Dashiell is pretty. Very pretty. And I do want him. But not because I'm jealous like you." I leaned in, biting her bottom lip hard. "I want to take him from Alexander. I want to watch my perfect little brother realize that the one thing he's obsessed with can be stolen. That's the real fun."
Calliope's expression twisted.
"I'll try again," she muttered.
I gripped her jaw tighter.
"No. You won't. Not yet. Alexander will never go back to you, stop deluding yourself. And if you do something that reckless again, he will find out. And when he does, he won't just ruin you. He'll destroy you, you know what that psychopath's capable of."
She pouted, still grinding against me, trying to regain control.
"And what about you? You don't care that I risked a patient's life?"
I laughed.
"I don't give a fuck about the boy. But I care about keeping my hands clean. So behave. Or the next time you try something stupid, I won't cover for you."
Calliope's eyes narrowed, but she leaned in and kissed me anyway, hungry and venomous.
"You Astor men are all the same," she whispered against my mouth. "Cold. Cruel and addictive."
I flipped her onto her back and pinned her wrists above her head.
"Exactly," I said, sliding back inside her with one hard thrust. "Now shut up and take it."
******
I stepped out of the hotel and slid into my Aston Martin, the engine purring smoothly as I pulled away. A glance at my watch told me it was 8:30 PM.
Perfect timing.
A cold smirk tugged at my lips. Alexander and his little toy should be leaving the hospital any minute now.
I drove straight there and parked across the street in a shadowed spot with a clear view of the main staff exit. Leaning back in the leather seat, I waited, fingers tapping lazily on the steering wheel.
Ten minutes later, they walked out.
My brother first, of course, tall, cold, and radiating that insufferable aura of control. But my eyes locked immediately on the one beside him.
Dashiell.
Fuck, he looked beautiful even after a long, exhausting day. White coat folded neatly over his arm, soft brown hair slightly tousled, cheeks carrying a faint flush. He walked on the balls of his toes, that subtle little habit of his, fingers tapping rapidly against the strap of his bag. He looked so small next to Alexander. So delicate and sexy and Clinging to that emotionless monster like he's safe.
My grip tightened on the wheel, a dark heat curling low in my stomach.
Look at him. So soft and pretty. And my psychotic brother thinks he can keep something that perfect all to himself.
I hated Alexander with every fiber of my being. The one Father always protected no matter how monstrous he became. The one who took whatever he wanted without consequence.
I wanted to take everything from him.
Especially Dashiell.
I started the car and followed them at a safe distance, keeping a few vehicles between us. I watched as Alexander opened the passenger door for him like some twisted knight. Dashiell hesitated for half a second before climbing in.
*Soon,* I thought, eyes narrowing. *You'll be getting into my car instead.*
I trailed them all the way to their secluded home, eventually parking a few blocks away under the cover of trees. From there, I had a partial view of the house lights turning on.
I leaned back in my seat, a slow, vicious smirk spreading across my face.
Alexander had stolen enough in this life.
It was time I started stealing back.
And Dashiell Harper-Astor?
He would be my sweetest victory.
I pulled out my phone and sent a message to one of my most trusted private contacts:
"Put discreet surveillance on the Harper-Astor residence. Daily reports on their routine. Especially the younger one. I want to know everything."
I slipped the phone away and stared at the distant glow of their windows.
Enjoy him while you can, brother.
Because I'm coming for what's yours.