Old Wounds

 

POV: Eli

"What am I doing here, Eli? Got tired of fucking my wife, so now you're gonna fuck with me again?"

Barry Carrolton snarled as Roman shoved him brusquely into the detention area.

Eli unbuttoned his blazer as he took the seat opposite the disgruntled man.

Barry Carrolton, a medium-sized man in his late thirties with short-styled dark hair and pale blue eyes, was wearing a crisp white buttoned-down shirt and brown slacks. But even with his expensive apparel, he didn't hold a torch against Eli, who towered over him at six-foot-two with his Adonis-like features, short dark blonde hair, blue-gray eyes, thin lips highlighted by the dimple on his chin.

"Oh, Barry, I've only screwed Lorena once and it was more of a hate lay on my part," Eli replied offhandedly, remembering Barry's wife, Lorena, who'd been all too eager to jump in bed with Eli as soon as he took the head post in the company.

Lorena was beautiful and useful, but she was a typical gold-digger. Eli had no patience with the likes of her.

It was also through Lorena that Eli found out about Barry's indiscretions.

Barry hissed as he shot daggers at Eli. He was shaking with rage, ready to pounce on The Ghost. But he was stymied in his chair by Roman's firm hands grabbing his shoulders.

Eli waved his hand at Roman, dismissing his head of security. He didn't need Roman for this. He could handle Barry's hissy fits all by himself.

"The Obsidian Ace's hospitality really went downhill since you took charge. Tell me, is this how you treat all your guests? Or is it just me?" Barry asked dryly.

"Just you," Eli replied coolly as he studied Barry across from him. "I don't like your stench of desperation clinging to my guests."

"You're a fucking asshole!"

"Tut-tut, I'll be doing the talking here, Barry." Eli chided. "Just when I thought you couldn't sink lower, you did. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Letting a girl throw her hand just so you could win?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please. It's one thing to screw with my whales, but to insult my intelligence, too?" Eli tsked as he shook his head in mock disapproval. "Let me cut you a deal, Barry. Tell me what you're planning to do and I will let you go with maybe just a little scratch. With a promise, of course, that you will not set foot in any of my casinos."

Barry scowled before he leered at The Ghost. "It must be so frustrating to be you. Having everything but knowing nothing."

Eli leaned back in his chair, never taking his eyes off Barry. A devilish smirk broke across his lips. "How's your hand, Barry? Still throbs when it's cold?"

Barry dropped his hands on his lap, which made Eli grin even wider.

"Have it your way, Barry boy. I'll let you go since you're not worth a space in my cell. But first I want you to take a long, hard look at my face. This is the face that took everything from you once. I can do it again. Don't try me."

Eli raised his index finger at the one-way mirror behind Barry. "Besides, your girlfriend's still with us. There are many ways I can make her scream."

A flicker of concern flashed in Barry's eyes, but he shook it off immediately. He composed his features to remain unperturbed.

The door swung open and Roman, Eli's stocky Grecian henchman, strolled in with a menacing look on his face.

"Escort Mr. Carrolton to his car. And make sure to send word to all employees that Barry here is no longer welcome in any of my hotels. If he dares to challenge me again, feel free to do what you deem fit. I see his left hand's still good."

Roman savagely pulled Barry by his arms, but the smaller man shook Roman off as he straightened his shirt. "Your arrogance will be your downfall, Eli. And when it happens, I'll be there spitting in your grave."

"Oh, Barry. Don't delude yourself. You'll die before I do. I'll make sure of that," Eli said with a devious grin.

He watched Barry get hauled out of the interrogation room that looked like the ones used by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Eli had designed it to look that way so as to confuse and intimidate the ballsy cheaters and infuse a sense of dread in them.

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