Stupid. So stupid to forget they were up there. They could’ve heard our entire conversation. And from the sly look on the Natasha’s face as she sashayed forward in a swingy black dress that barely hid her crotch, she surely had.
“Well, who’s this? I don’t think we’ve met.” Her statement—and her smile—was for Simon, as if I didn’t even exist.
That I felt a moment’s hurt at the dismissal just proved I’d had far too much to drink.
Simon cursed and turned away. “Fucking skanks.”
Natasha gasped.
“Listen, Natasha, you and Tammy should leave. My brother and I are having a wee chat.”
“I am not your fucking brother.”
“If you’re still doubting reality, the birth certificate makes it clear.” When Simon pivoted back toward me, I gave him a bland smile. “Assuming you can read. American schools aren’t the best, now are they?”
“Brother? Well, isn’t that interesting?” Natasha tapped her chin while Tammy frowned.
“My name is Tanya. Not Tammy. You’re a right bastard, aren’t you?”
No doubt there.
“This isn’t for you.” I didn’t spare the women another glance. “It’s been fun, but all fun comes to an end. Here, let me see you home.” I reached for the wallet in my jeans, found it missing.
Lovely. It had better be on the floor in the loft or these two ladies and I were going to get personal again. In the meantime, I knew where there was a stash of cash.
I bent over and hissed a breath through my teeth as I gathered a few bills off the floor. Rising, I handed them to Natasha. “There you go. Off with you. Be safe.”
“Off with us?” Natasha pushed me, and I set my jaw. “Who do you think you are? Wannabe rockstar.”
Her sneer along with the contempt in her voice so soon after Simon had used the same tone on me shoved me over the edge.
Not tonight.
Not ever again.
I’d had just about enough of that kind of mockery to last a lifetime.
Music, is it? Think you’re like Simon, do you? But you’ll never be like him. Never.
I turned and stared down at Natasha, tilting my head as I gave her a cold smile.
“Better a wannabe rockstar than a confirmed nothing. Scurry along now.” I pointed at the door and fought to keep my sore arm steady. “Before I help you to leave.”
“You think you’re so important now that you’re on the telly. Wrong. You’re so wrong.” Natasha’s smile reeked with insincerity. “Wrong about a lot of things.” She stooped to pick up a bright pink bag on the couch and reached back for Tanya’s arm, propelling her toward the door.
/> Tanya giggled as she broke away and scuttled forward to snatch up one of Simon’s strewn-about bills, waving it gleefully in her fist. Natasha snatched her arm again, cursing under her breath, and yanked her toward the door. At the last moment, she turned back and pulled out her mobile phone from an unseen compartment in her bag, aiming it at me and Simon.
“Say cheese, pretty boys.”
I swore and rushed forward, barely managing to snatch the handle of her purse before she dashed into the hallway. I struggled to hold onto it, but she was moving fast and my fucking hand was practically useless after plowing it into Simon’s iron gut.
She yanked free and disappeared down the hall in a blur of blond hair and cold fury with her sister keeping pace at her side.
I shut my eyes. Could this night—nearly morning now—get any worse?
Oh, yes, it could. I still had my brother in my flat and Jerry to speak to. And I might be missing my goddamn wallet.
After kicking the door against the wall—and nearly howling at the agony—I walked through the flat, bypassing Simon entirely to aim for the loft ladder. I faced the stairs as a hiker might view Mount Everest, then I began to climb.