Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 148434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
He’s not wrong.
Donnelly enters the line and starts asking questions since he’s not at the bar anymore. Their chatter escalates and starts drowning out Akara, who’s still searching for Quinn.
I click my mic and speak hushed. “Shut the fuck up.”
Comms quiet.
I add, “Thank you.” Then I drop my hand.
Tom leans back with a grin. “You even fooled our mom and dad.”
Weight situates on my strict shoulders. I blame myself for how my relationship with Jane started out on a bed of dishonesty. Us lying to her parents and siblings.
I could’ve pulled the trigger earlier.
I should’ve. Even if they don’t care.
Eliot threads his palms behind his head, lounging back. “You could teach a master class on How to Deceive a Genius.”
My brows cinch in confusion. He’s impressed?
Tom lifts a finger. “I’d enroll.”
They both are. I glance at Jane for confirmation.
She leans in and whispers, “They’re devious little devils.”
Right.
I should be happy that two out of five brothers already somewhat like me. But I’m not jumping for fucking joy that they see me as a third devil in their merry gang of terrors.
Eliot grins. “As would I, Tom.”
Ben lets out a pained sound. “Stop sucking his dick—”
“It was just the tip,” Eliot laughs.
“—he’s a liar,” Ben continues.
One of them cares that I lied.
Eliot is serious in a sudden flash. “Ben—”
“A liar is dating our sister!” Ben motions to me. “That should worry everyone. Why am I the only one in this family who’s upset about that?”
Eliot and Tom share a glance I can’t decrypt. Maybe they’re concerned about Ben or they’re more suspicious of me.
“Hey, kid,” I say.
“He’s not a kid,” Charlie chastises.
I forgot the Cobalts hate that.
I nod, raking a hand down my mouth, and I tell Ben, “I’m being straight forward with you now. I’m sorry I couldn’t before.” I’m lost on how else to right this wrong and rebuild my integrity. But I’m trying.
His eyes redden. He pounds his head back, chin lifted higher. When I’d been the Epsilon lead, I was in charge of protecting the minors. Of Ben. He has a big heart.
He fights for what he feels is right.
But I lost count of all the times I had to inform bodyguards that Ben would be staying late in detention. For fuck’s sake, I’m not even a lead anymore, and I just heard on comms that Winona and Ben got in a fight at Dalton Academy. She jumped on a senior’s back because he called Ben a crybaby pussy.
Jane scoots towards her youngest brother and gathers his hand in hers. “I lied too, Pippy. If you fault Thatcher, then you have to fault me.”
Ben lets go of her hand. “I don’t know anything about him, Jane.”
“We’re about to fix that,” Charlie says smoothly.
Beckett snuffs out his cigarette on an ashtray and then fans out a deck of blue cards on the table. Gold lions are hand-drawn on each one.
Can’t be ordinary playing cards.
For all I know, this could be tarot and Beckett is about to read my future. Rich, poor—I don’t care. I just want her.
Jane steeples her fingers to her lips in focused thought.
“What are these?” I ask them.
Charlie flashes a half-smile. “It’s a game called What Would You Do for Jane Cobalt?”
I cross my arms and nod. I’m Oscar Mike. Ready to move out in whatever direction they point to. But honestly, this isn’t my normal.
Where I come from, we’d throw some punches then crack a beer and laugh about the old rift. Or we’d just never talk again. Grudges have detached friends and family like broken 1000-piece puzzles. Pieces missing or edges too worn to fit back.
At least they’re offering me a shot.
Jane screeches her chair forward. “I request a modification.” She folds her arms on the table. “I’d like it to be called: What Would We Do for Each Other?”
She wants in.
I almost smile. I’m not stepping on her toes or holding her back. Not unless this spins into a place that scares her to death.
“It won’t be easy, sis,” Beckett warns.
“I’m prepared.” She waves to the cards. “How do we play?”
Eliot slides down onto the seat. “Pick a card and complete the instruction.”
Sounds too simple. “That’s it?” I ask.
“You won’t flip all the cards tonight,” Charlie explains. “Whenever we tell you to turn over one or two or five, you’ll do it. Until you’ve gone through the entire deck.”
I get it. I finish the game and I gain their respect or trust or both, and without wavering, I turn to Jane. “You pick.”
She drums her lips, then slides out a left-center card. She flips it over, and I narrow my gaze on the gold script.
Tell us the number of people you’ve had intercourse with.
Unholy fuck.
I rub my mouth.
She intakes a sharp breath.
I haven’t even told Jane my number, and she hasn’t told me hers. Now we’re about to announce this shit in front of security, her cousins, and brothers.