Forbidden Love

“You made it,” Conner said, already seated with the boys at Sky Deck, overlooking the glow of Central Park below.

“By the look of you, I think you should get that man a drink,” Ari said, taking me in.

I raked a hand through my hair. “Make it a bottle,” I said. The sinking feeling hadn’t left me. It had only grown stronger when we went to Soho. The crane’s metal package lay in a twisted ruin on the site. Solid structural metal beams had fallen, and the crane operator had no idea why it occurred. None of his equipment had malfunctioned, which meant either they did not secure the package properly or someone tampered with the braiding cable.

“What happened, Barrett? I heard it on the news on the way over,” Magnus asked.

“I’m still getting to the bottom of it. But I think someone tampered with the cable.”

“What? Why would someone do that?” Conner asked.

“I don’t know. But first, there was the fire at 21 Park, and now this.” I shook my head. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Shit, man. That’s crazy if that’s the case,” Ari said.

“I know.” I poured three fingers of scotch and drank it down in one long gulp.

I slammed the tumbler down, and three sets of eyes took me in.

“We’re here for you, buddy,” Connor said, slapping me between the shoulder blades.

A slash of guilt tingled up my spine, but I couldn’t deal with that right now.

“Have you got the police working on anything?” Ari inquired.

“I’ve got my own team who get me answers quicker than the police ever could.”

“Good idea,” Connor said.

“Aren’t the sites locked down each night?” Ari asked.

“Yes, and I’ve got security on them twenty-four-seven. I have more security and safety measures in place than any other construction company.” I poured another three fingers. “Which makes me think maybe it could be an inside job.”

“Jesus Christ, Barrett,” Magnus huffed out.

“Are you safe, man?” Ari leaned forward, concern on his face.

“I couldn’t care less about my safety. But the person fucking with me and my business sure as fuck should be worried.”

“Makes my dramas seem trivial in comparison,” Conner said. “Sorry to barge in on you today. I could tell you had a lot going on.”

“That’s fine, Connor.”

“Did I hear your sister is working for you, Barrett?” Magnus asked, and my chin nearly hit the floor.

“Lourde? What the hell, Barrett?”

“Actually, I was going to tell you today, but it slipped my mind. She’s just helping on the interiors of the Brooklyn townhomes, seeing my second-in-charge just quit and basically ghosted all of us.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, piercing blues questioning me behind hooded eyes.

“Why Lourde?”

“She’s always liked design, so it was a good fit. It’s only short-term till she figures out what she really wants to do.”

“I thought it was a Diamond policy that no women could work,” Magnus questioned.

“Yeah, well, Dad changed her mind on that. Seems he’s changed his mind on a lot of things lately. I wonder why she didn’t tell me?”

I shrugged. “Can’t tell you.”

Ari regarded me, not believing me for a second, then changed the subject completely. Fucker knew me too damn well.

“Connor, I received an invitation to the annual Diamond Charity Ball.”

He groaned. “Oh, fabulous.”

“Got mine,” Magnus said.

“Mine too.” I grinned, hoping by then we could be out and proud of our relationship in the next three weeks.