Conceal

“And you look like shit.”

“So fucking what? Why are you here? Don’t you have something better to do?”

“I’m here because this is my company.”

“Same, dude, so lay the fuck off. I haven’t fucked up. Yes, maybe I look like shit today, and maybe I even smell, but no one is coming to my office today. And you shouldn’t even be here. When you asked for my help with River, I was good enough, so why am I not good enough now? You never asked then what I was wearing or when I came home the night before. You trusted me to find out what you needed.”

“It’s different.”

“How so? I’m damn good at what I do. I’m damn good at anything I do, including your job and my own, so get off my back.”

“I can’t. Not when you show up at the office looking like a homeless man.”

I shake my head, then pivot in my chair to face the city. “I’m done with this conversation.”

“I’m not.” He holds his ground. Legs spread, arms crossed at his chest.

“Well, that seems to be a you problem.”

Since he’s not leaving, I stand from my chair and walk past him. Straight out of my office.

“Where are you going?”

“Well, since you’re here today, and I have no work other than yours to do, I’m not needed.”

I don’t wait for him to respond before I push the button to the elevator.

“I need you to get info . . .”

I turn around and glare at him.

“You need me to hack someone, you mean?” Again, he just stares at me. “Funny . . . that also seems like a you problem. I’m cool. If you need info, find it out yourself.” I can hear the elevator open behind me, and I step back. His mouth opens to respond, but with a smirk on my face, the elevator door closes on his.

That’s the end of that conversation.

Once I’m on the basement level of the building, I walk toward my car. I need to go home and crash.

I would have sucked it up if Gray didn’t come in today, but since he’s here, fuck it.

Luckily for me, traffic is minimal this morning. It’s still early, since after I left Willow, I came straight to the office.

It never dawned on me that my brother would show up.

But even if it did, it shouldn’t matter what I look like as long as I get my shit done.

Before long, I’m parking at my loft. Then I’m lying on my bed.

My eyes close of their own accord, all the anger and animosity drifting from my body as sleep catches up to me.

* * *

With a stretch of my arms, my eyes flutter open. Light drifts in through the blinds as I try to remember what happened and why I’m still in bed.

Looking over at the clock, I see it is now noon.

Fuck, I needed to sleep.

Now what to do with my day? It’s rare that I have nothing to do. It’s been months. But it feels good to have a day off.

Even before, when my workload for Price Enterprise was low, I always had side jobs.

Someone always needed something from me.

And like the idiot I was, I did it, never asking for anything in return. Yet no one appreciated me.

Now, as I sit here, I wonder why I bother.

Every time I look into someone, every time I hack, I put my life on the line, and for what?

My family has no respect for me.

Done.

I’m done helping them.

Let’s see how much business they can do without my area of expertise.

A smile lines my face. Yeah, this is my new game plan. There is only one person I have any interest in helping, and she’s the only one who hasn’t asked.

Speaking of . . .

I wonder if she’s okay.

I grab my phone from beside my bed and fire off a text.

Me: Just checking in.

Willow: Hi.

Me: Are you okay?

Willow: I am. Thank you.

Me: What are you doing tonight?

Willow: Working.

That’s right. Tonight is Friday, which means she’s probably working the poker game at Cyrus Reed’s house. I have no intention of going, but remembering she will be there, I’m reconsidering my plans for tonight.

Me: Poker?

Willow: Yep.

Me: Funny you should say that. I’ll be there too.

Willow: Why does that not surprise me?

That makes me laugh.

Me: See you later.

Willow: Okay.

I close out the text and fire one off to Trent.

Me: Poker tonight.

Trent: It’s on.

Even though I’m not necessarily in the mood to play, the need to be near her and watch out for her to make sure she’s okay is too much to say no to.

It’s odd.

I have never been this protective over anyone before. Sure, I was protective over Addison with Oliver, but this is different. She’s not family. I just care about her.

Once I stop texting with Trent, I look through my missed phone calls. I’m surprised I don’t have any from my brother. I also don’t see one from Addison.