“Because someone pointed out today that it’s really stupid to make judgements on people based on someone else’s opinion.”
“That’s true. So what were you doing? Basing it off of Linc’s?”
“Don’t throw me in this!” Lincoln shouts.
“Will you butt out?” Graham shouts back. Shaking his head, he focuses on me once more. “I need to trust that
you know what you’re doing. You’ve never given me a reason to doubt your judgement—not really.”
“Oh, give me one bad decision I’ve made.”
He crooks a brow. “Ten grand ring a bell?”
“That hasn’t been proved to be a bad decision. Just like the idea of you proposing to Mallory hasn’t been proven to be a bad one.” I crook a brow back. “Catch my drift?”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re an adult and I need to give you the benefit of the doubt. Just be smart about things, Cam. Please. And if you need anything, whether you’re mad at me or not, call me.”
His features soften and I feel my anger wane. “Thanks, G. But I think I’ll call Dom now. Maybe I’ve outgrown you.”
“I wish Lincoln would,” he groans.
“Not a chance!” our brother shouts from the porch again.
Graham and I laugh before he pulls me into a hug and all is right in my world.
Dominic
“It’s busy in here tonight.” Joe stumbles through the door of The Gold Room and takes his usual seat on the end. He smells a little like urine and a lot like whiskey and I wonder which bar he hit up on the way here. “Do I got room on my tab for somethin’ to eat?”
“I’ll check.” I head to the back, without checking his tab, and grab the hamburger I made for myself before we got busy. “Here you go,” I say, sliding the plate to him.
He doesn’t say thank you, doesn’t acknowledge me in any way, just scoops up the sandwich with both hands and eats nearly half of it before I can look away.
“Where’s Nate?” Billy calls from the other end.
“He’ll be here in a second.”
“Gotcha.”
I lean on the bar and watch the television that hangs overhead. It’s covering the Landry Charity Gala at Picante. The anchor is talking about how charities get so much more attention, and money, when the Landry’s are attached to them.
They have a mini-red carpet set up leading into the hotel lobby. Baseball players, a B-level movie star, and a few musicians have all been interviewed before they disappear through the doors.
I’ve seen this before. It’s not unusual. The Landry’s are well-known for their charity work. But now that I know Camilla and know she’s there . . . it’s weird.
“What are you thinkin’ about, baby?”
I look up to see an older woman, leather skin and bright red lips, leaning towards me. Her tits are resting on the bar, laying it out there that if I want it, I can have it.
“Just wondering what it’s like up there tonight,” I say truthfully, nodding to the cameras.
“Fancy clothes, fancy cars. More money than they know what to do with so they give it away.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right,” she breathes. “They’re a whole different level than us.”
I’m on the verge of admitting how right she is when my phone buzzes on the shelf below me. I see Cam’s name on the screen.