Roman: Book 2 (The Hunter Brothers Series) (12 page)

“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.”

“Chas is always on
that. Are you friends with Tyler?” she asked.

“No, I’ve shut
down my profile,” I said, wishing immediately that I hadn’t.

“Why?” she gasped,
staring at me. “You have over two thousand friends. I thought you said it
helped to get leads for Elite,” she said as I took a deep breath. I had never
intended on telling her this.

“I got some prank
messages a while ago, so I decided to disable my profile,” I said as Charlie
turned to look at me, concern etched on his features.

“What kind of
messages?” he asked as I took a deep breath, glancing at my sister. There was
little point in lying, I was terrible at it.

“Just a freak who
was pretending to be our Dad. He claims he’s had amnesia for twenty two years
or some nonsense, and his memory is only just coming back,” I said as Jess shot
upright in her chair.

“Why the hell
didn’t you tell me?” she shouted, taking everyone aback.

“What was the
point, Jess? He’s obviously some internet, stalking, prankster wanker. I
wouldn’t give it the time of day, why should you?” I said, shaking my head as
she stared at me intensely.

“What if he isn’t?
What if it is Dad?” she said and this was the thing I’d been most afraid of,
and the reason I’d never told her.

“What if it is? So
what? He left us Jess, abandoned us. He didn’t have amnesia that day, did he?
No, he left Mum to raise us on her own. We had to nurse her through her death,
try and make ends meet and suffer and struggle like kids should never have to
do,” I said, looking up as Lucas walked in, glancing around and sitting next to
Jess.