Roman: Book 2 (The Hunter Brothers Series)

by L. J. Dee

  “I’ll get the train. I’m not relying on that stupid sat nav again,” I laughed, trying to focus on the here and now and distract myself from thoughts of Roman leaving. I’d only known him a couple of days and this wasn’t loves young dream. The whole reason we were cramming so much in was because we were short on time. It would have taken weeks, if not months, to let down my sexual guard with anyone else the way I had with Roman. We hadn’t cultivated trust, or togetherness and that was the whole point. One weekend. No promises.

  “You can come with me, we’ll travel together,” Charlie smiled as I nodded, glancing at Roman who was busy with his pasta and paying neither of us any attention.

  “I thought you’d be going with your girlfriend,” Roberta quipped as my skin bristled and Charlie tensed.

  “No, I’ve just said I’ll be going with Chas, not Scarlett. And who the hell told you she was my girlfriend? I’m pretty certain that I have never used that word,” was Charlie’s retort and it was sharp and hostile. Roberta’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. It was clearly a word that her friend Scarlett was banding around. I began to wonder if Roberta wished she’d just stayed at home.

  “On the subject of devious bitches,” Lucas said as everyone turned to stare at him in surprise, except Charlie who gazed at him intensely, shaking his head. “You need to fire Melody, Roberta.” Well that was left field and Jess looked just as confused as I was.

  “No, Lucas, she’s a brilliant P.A, which is why I snapped her up when you let her go,” Roberta shot back as Lucas glared at her hard.

  “I won’t work with people I don’t trust, Roberta. I fired her for a reason, and if you want to continue in our joint ventures, you need to do the same,” he said as Charlie finally looked up.

  “That’s harsh, Lucas,” he said in a firm tone as his brother shook his head.

  “Lucas, this is business. I won’t fire someone who is good at her job, simply because she doesn’t like your girlfriend,” Roberta shot back. “Melody is not only a valued employee; she is a long term friend.”

  I raised my eyebrows. It would be interesting to see how this one played out. They were equally as adamant, and both of them were determined to win. As a widely acclaimed, successful businesswoman, she was obviously no pushover and I was more than a little intrigued.

  “You should know me better than to question my judgement by now. This isn’t personal, Roberta. Melody has connections to Dimitri Gorav that I’ve recently become aware of. She already knows far too much about my business dealings and they both have an axe to grind with me. If she works for you, then she has access to me. Fire her, or I’ll dissolve our arrangements,” he said fiercely as Charlie stared at him hard.

  “That isn’t just your decision, Lucas.”

  Roman broke the unbearable tension. “Why the hell are you involved with someone like Gorav?” he asked, looking between Lucas and Charlie.

  “We’re not. He wanted to do a deal with us, but I wound up throwing him out of the office when he turned on Jess,” Lucas replied as Roberta raised her eyebrows, staring at Lucas hard.

  “It looks like you’re allowing your personal life to interfere with your business in more ways than one, Lucas. Melody upset your girlfriend; this Dimitri character upset your girlfriend. What are you planning to do, cut ties with anyone who looks at Jess the wrong way?”

  This was getting tense...and interesting. Lucas looked livid and it was a menacing sight. His fists were clenched, knuckles white and if Roberta had been a man, he’d have probably knocked her out.

  He turned to face her, his gaze never wavering and he spoke in such a low, deep tone, that even I swallowed hard. “As I said before, Roberta, this is not personal.” He said nothing else, just staring at her hard. He wasn’t giving an explanation or any further justification and it was Roman who eventually ended the deafening silence.

  “He’s a dangerous bastard, Lucas. If he’s out for blood you need to watch your back. He doesn’t operate in your world. He won’t post a summons or flood the market with whispers and rumours. He’ll just put a bomb under your car,” Roman said seriously as Lucas nodded and Jess gasped.

  “I’m aware of that, which is why I need all ties with Melody severed,” he reiterated, staring again at Roberta.

  She looked dazed for a moment, and not entirely certain what was going on. “Fine,” she huffed as I heard Dex whisper to Jess.

  “Roman swore,” he said and Lucas had been right. Tensions were way too fraught in this house at the moment. As usual, we all heard Dexter’s attempt at secrecy.

  “I’m sorry little fella,” Roman said as Dexter climbed onto Lucas’s lap, clearly still afraid of Roman Hunter and it was the prompt Roberta needed to excuse herself.

  “I’ll leave you all to it, and if you need anything, Lucas, you know where I am,” she said, leaning to kiss his cheek. I watched my sister closely as she turned and caught my glance. I smiled at our silent, knowing look as she managed a tight smile back.

  “Well that was a fun dinner,” Charlie quipped sarcastically, leaving the table and not bothering to put his plate in the sink.

  “Would you watch Dex while I have a word with Lucas?” Jess asked, and Tyler wandered off in the direction of the makeshift studio.

  Dexter looked up at Roman tentatively before burying himself into my leg and I decided we needed to end this right now. “Do you think Roman’s scary, Dex?” I asked as he nodded silently. Roman was smiling and shaking his head.

  “Well you know how Lucas is a bit like Superman?” I asked as he nodded. “Roman helps him and deals with the real bad guys,” I whispered as he stared up at me, eyes saucer wide as he turned them on Roman.

  “That’s right kid,” he winked. Dexter sat watching him closely as I collected the plates and dishes, putting them in the sink to soak, amazed once again at how no one had even bothered to clear their own plate. “I have to look frightening so I’ll scare the bad guys off,” he whispered to Dexter as I smiled, turning around as Roman pulled a series of decidedly terrifying faces at my nephew.

  Dexter was yet to be convinced.

  “Come on, I’ll show you the games room,” Roman said as Dex took my hand and we followed him down the corridor into the bowels of the house. Before long, Roman had shown him his war wounds and Dexter was mesmerised, promising not to tell the others as we played pool and table tennis, trying to wear him out and keep him away from the tensions that were no doubt building in the rest of the house. Jess would have something to say about ‘the pop question’, I was certain of it, and Charlie was none too happy about being overruled on Melody. At least Roman was calm, whispering where he wanted to “sink his balls,” the second Dex was out of earshot.

  Chapter Nine

  We returned to the lounge after a couple of hours. Dexter ran to Jess and she pulled him onto her knee. He ran through excitedly what he’d been up to, telling Lucas that his family house was almost as good as the apartment.

  “What do you think we should do with it?” Roman asked as Charlie and Tyler walked in.

  “Good timing,” he said as they both sat down, and it was clear he’d been giving the subject some thought.

  “Does anyone have any firm ideas on what should happen to the estate?”

  “It would be nice for it to stay in the family, but it’s a big place to take on and I don’t want to run it. I need to be in the city,” Charlie said.

  “I agree with Charlie, but I never know where I’ll be week to week and I’m not around enough to take care of the place,” Roman said, looking at Tyler.

  “I’m too young to be saddled with a place this size. It’s great for a family, but I don’t want to rattle around on my own. I’d rather stay where I am. It’s right in the city and there are four lap dancing bars within walking distance,” he smiled as Dexter asked what lap dancing was.

  “It’s dancing on someone’s lap,” Jess answered as Dex startled wriggling vigorously and shaking his arms about wildly, accidently smacking her
in the face.

  “Like this?” he giggled and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Go and do it to Aunty Chas, Dex,” she grinned, flashing her eyebrows at me as he dived across the sofa.

  “I think you should do it to Tyler, since he’s the one that likes it so much,” I said as he nodded, bouncing onto Tyler’s knee, gyrating and thrashing like only a five year old can.

  Thirty seconds in and Tyler had his hands up, protecting his head. “Okay, I learnt my lesson,” he laughed at Jess as she ordered Dex down and patted the couch beside her.

  “So it looks like the house is down to me then, for now,” Lucas announced, glancing at Jess and smiling gently. “I’ll keep it on for the time being with an option to buy out. We’ll take the decision later what to do with it long term. The housing market is pretty slow now and we won’t get the best price. I’ll have a fair valuation done and you can decide if you want to keep your money in bricks and mortar or take it out now, it’s up to you,” Lucas offered as they all nodded.

  “Now there’s just the small matter of Tyler’s record company,” Lucas said as Charlie raised his eyebrows and Tyler sat back, surprise etched on his features.

  “What about my record company?” he asked as Lucas nodded to Jess and she took Dexter out of the room under the pretence of getting him some ice-cream. This looked way too juicy to miss and I decided to sit put as Roman moved closer beside me.

  “It’s up for sale,” Charlie said as realisation dawned across Tyler’s face and he looked between his brothers.

  “Don’t you fucking dare,” he said seriously as Charlie gazed at Lucas, and Roman relaxed into the couch, watching the whole thing unfold.

  “I’m serious. I don’t want to work for the family firm and I don’t want you two being my employers. This is my career. Do not fuck about with it. There are plenty of businesses you can acquire on your mission to rule the fucking world, and you don’t need a record label,” he said and I could see he was starting to lose it.

  I understood his point.

  “It’s a good investment now, Tyler, but it won’t be soon. We know how good you are, and once you break, the price will skyrocket. Lucas and I won’t be involved day to day; we’ve got too much on. As far as you’re concerned, you’ll be managed by someone else,” Charlie said in an effort to reassure him.

  “No. I don’t want you to buy it, and if you do I’ll pull the band and sign for someone else. I mean it. Back off and let me do things my own way.”

  “Sometimes Ty, its better the devil you know. There will be a lot of people out to exploit you if you break big. That won’t happen if Lucas and Charlie are in charge. Besides, you’ll make more money this way. From your music, and from the shares in the business,” Roman said as Tyler listened intently.

  “It’s not just about the money. I’m a Hunter, Roman, but so are you, and you of all people must understand. You do things your way and I just want the same. I don’t have the head for business, but the music is mine, where I excel. I’m as much a part of this family as the rest of you, but I want my independence. Christ, I’ve been living off Mum’s handouts for years. I was happy doing the poor musician thing, but this is my chance to make it,” he said as Charlie interrupted.

  “I don’t know many poor musicians who replace their new Porsche every year, Tyler,” Charlie quipped as Roman laughed.

  “It’s not my fault. Mum didn’t want to see me struggle. The old man would have happily seen me on the streets for following my dream. I know he had no interest, but I was about to prove him wrong,” Tyler said sadly and I understood his need to make it on his own, although I doubted he’d have enjoyed real poverty if he’d ever had to experience it. I’d been there and the reality was harsh.

  “Dad was proud of you, Tyler. He told me in the letter. He knew everything you were doing and kept just as close an eye on your career as he did on the rest of the business. You need to know that,” Roman said as a deep wave of sorrow and relief washed across Tyler’s face.

  “Really?” he asked as Roman nodded, standing up and flicking a Marlboro light from the packet in his pocket. “Please don’t buy it, guys,” he muttered softly, making his way out onto the patio as the brothers exchanged glances.

  “What do you think?” Lucas asked Charlie as he shook his head.

  “If he pulls Heat from the label, it will be practically worthless. They haven’t signed anyone in the last twelve months who have done anything of note and their back catalogue isn’t brilliant. Heat are the future for that label. I’d buy it. He won’t pull the band.”

  “He will,” Roman said as Lucas sighed deeply. “You can sue him, but he has his inheritance now to fight you. Do you really want a court case with your brother? It’s a big risk,” he said and I had to agree with Roman. Silus had said it in his letter; they were stronger as a unit.

  “We need to put some serious thought into this. We have a meeting with the owners on Friday. We’ll thrash it out then,” Lucas said as Jess came back in with Dex. He jumped onto Lucas’s knee asking him if he’d take him to bed and tell him a story. Lucas smiled broadly, picking him up as he said his goodnights, kissing everyone in turn, including Roman.

  “Does anyone fancy a night out tomorrow?” I asked as Tyler walked back in, wondering if being cooped up in the house was sending everyone a little stir crazy.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Roman said as Tyler and Charlie nodded.

  “I think it would do everyone good,” Jess smiled.

  “One of my friends just opened a club in the city. We can go there if no one has any objections. It might be quiet on a Sunday, but he assures me the VIP section is something to see,” Roman said as Tyler’s face brightened.

  “I need a blow out. It’s alright for you three with your pussy on tap, but I swear if I go any longer my balls will burst.”

  “Tyler,” Charlie shouted, throwing an apologetic glance at me and Jess.

  “Sorry ladies,” Tyler said, smirking and not really sorry at all.

  “I can’t imagine you’ll get many ladies with a tongue like that in your mouth,” I said, raising my eyebrows at him as he chuckled gently.

  “Good, I have no interest in ladies. There is a particular kind of woman I’m interested in, and that’s one with loose morals and even looser clothes,” he laughed as I shook my head. I could hardly talk. As far as this weekend was concerned, he may as well have been describing me.

  “You’ll get plenty of those when the single charts, just be careful, Tyler,” Roman said as he rolled his eyes.

  “I’m young, dumb and full of cum and I have every intention of making the most of it,” he laughed as Lucas walked back in, passing by his chair and clipping the back of Tyler’s head with his palm.

  “What age do I have to be before you quit that shit, Lucas?” he asked, rubbing his head as I laughed.

  “I’ll quit when you stop acting like a dick. Show some respect to the company you’re in. You’re not a rock star here, Tyler, and you’re not sixteen anymore. I don’t care how much you sing about ho’s, pro’s and bitches, you show manners when you’re around my girlfriend and her sister. You were raised better than that,” he said, having clearly stepped into Silus Hunter’s role and already taking on the responsibility of keeping his youngest brother in check.

  “I’m not a rapper,” Tyler snapped, “And I’ve never used the word ho or pro. Bitch features once in ‘Obsession’. Considering you’re so interested in buying the label, you might at least do your homework on the biggest fucking band they’ve signed. My songs are mainly about love, mostly when it’s twisted and evil.” He slumped back in his chair, still rubbing his head.

  “We’re going out into the city tomorrow night,” Jess smiled, looking at Lucas as he smiled back.

  “Good idea. Have you brought anything suitable to wear?” he asked her as she frowned, looking across at me as I shook my head. I’d brought nothing for clubbing, I’d assumed it would be the last thing we’d be
doing.

  Lucas pulled out his phone. “Hi Germaine, I wondered if you’d mind opening the boutique tomorrow morning for an hour. I’ve got some guests staying and they need new outfits. Let them have whatever they want and put it on my account,” he said as I stared excitedly at my sister, wondering just how much I could get away with. She read my thoughts, narrowing her eyes as I started to laugh.

  “I’ll run you down to the boutique at ten, I’m pretty certain you’ll find something you like.” I nodded enthusiastically.

  “Thanks, Lucas,” I smiled as he grinned broadly, searching the shelves for something as Jess watched him. He was still grinning as he pulled out an old book, wiping the dust from the cover.

  “What is it?” asked Jess as he held it up.

  “Animal farm, it’s a classic,” he said as Tyler burst out laughing.

  “Don’t you think he’s a bit young for that? Roman showed me the video when I was about ten. I couldn’t believe what that woman did with that horse. I never knew we had the book,” he smiled as Lucas walked out, taking the opportunity to swipe the back of his head again. This time with the hardback and we all felt it.

  “Ah, what the fuck was that for?” he shouted, but Lucas took no notice, closing the door as Charlie and Roman burst out laughing.

  “It’s not the same animal farm you’re thinking of, you dumb fuck,” Charlie said, shaking his head at Tyler before turning to Roman. “Ten? Seriously, that’s a bit irresponsible. I didn’t even see that porno until I was fourteen.”

  “I know, I rented it to you,” Roman laughed.

  Tyler pulled out his phone, snapping a shot of himself at arm’s length, fiddling about for a second as we all looked on, wondering what the hell was going on. Jess was the first to ask.

  “What are you doing, Tyler?” she asked as he shrugged.

  “Updating Heat’s Facebook page, just letting them know I’m chilling out with my family and thanking all the fans for the kind words of sympathy about my father.”