“She flew back to Cali yesterday.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. Guess I better lawyer up.”
“Fucking oath,” Connor said. “Anyway, how’s the other troublemaker?”
Jesus, I needed a drink before I could answer that one.
“Who?” Ari asked.
“Lourde.” Connor deadpanned.
“Fine.” Short and sweet, the best way to answer anything about Lourde.
“What can I get you, Mr. Black? Your friends have already ordered.”
“Rare ribeye, side of greens, and truffle mash. And a Peroni.”
“Of course, sir.”
The waiter retreated.
“Why is he asking you about Lourde?” Ari questioned. Out of all the boys, it was Ari and I that clicked immediately. Connor and I started as a business relationship, but as soon as he introduced me to Ari, he was like the long-lost brother I never had. I didn’t know if it was because he was the most down-to-earth guy in the group but still loaded from late grandmother’s fashion house fortune. Or because he just treated me like he did Connor and Magnus, even though I didn’t have a trust fund to fall back on. Sometimes, with Magnus and Connor, I got the feeling I was still inferior, all because I was new money rather than old money.
“Hunter cheated on Lourde, so she’s single and in the Hamptons.”
“She has some serious bad luck with men.” Ari shook his head.
“Maybe one of us should show her that the older men are where it’s at.” Magnus laughed, knowing exactly what reaction he was going to get.
“Not funny, cocksucker. Actually, she’s meant to have a babysitter, and he’s fucking here.”
“I’m no babysitter, Connor,” I snapped.
“Jesus, settle down. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I’m going back tonight. Pipe the fuck down.” Where the heck did that come from? Guess I am now.
“Fuck, let me call her. She better not be wearing that scrap of material she had on yesterday.”
Connor slid out his phone and stood up, pacing to the nearby steel windows.
“So you got your eye on her, then?” Ari asked, a slight smirk spreading onto his lips.
“I don’t know why. She’s a big girl.” I took a long swig of my Peroni.
“Just don’t get any ideas. She’s a honey pot, but he’s a fucking wasp,” Magnus chewed out, pointing to Connor.
“No ideas from me. I hardly see her anyway. I’m at work, and she’s usually out when I get home.”
“So, she’s living with you?” Ari questioned, a little too hyped.
Dammit, would he just quit it already?“Hunter fucked her over, remember? They’re all staying at a place for the summer he arranged. Connor asked me to take her in.”
“Ooh boy. I wonder if the delicate angel will break the dark playboy of Manhattan.”
“Many have tried and not succeeded,” Magnus added.
“Not interested.” I gulped my beer back.
“Yeah, but she is. Hasn’t she always had this crush on you? I see the way she looks at you. You're the mysterious one. The bad boy everyone wants to dabble in before they settle for Mr. Responsible from a good family,” Ari said.
A good family. Fuck, I didn’t come from the sort. From their sort. My family was gone. My sister was all who remained before my father, El Diablo himself, could take her too.
It was the sight of my mother, lying lifeless, that haunted me—every damn day. The bullet that was meant for him, pierced her heart. And it killed her instantly. I killed my mother. Dad pulled the trigger in a fight, but I held the gun in my hand. The state ruled it an accident. A terrible accident. An act of self-defense against an abusive father and husband. But it was my mother lying on the floor not him. And her screams have haunted me every day since.
“Stop daydreaming about Lourde’s panties, Barrett.” Magnus laughed.
At the same time, Connor returned to the table. Great.
“What the fuck?” Connor rubber-banded his head, his gaze piercing mine.
“He was kidding, Connor,” Ari joked. Connor’s scowl replaced the looped, lifeless image of my mother in my arms.
“Barrett isn’t interested one iota in your sister. In fact, he was just saying how much he loathed babysitting her.” Ari nodded toward me. His look as stern as Connors. A friendly warning, no doubt. I nodded. Nothing going on. I haven’t touched her. Technically.
“Everything all right?” I looked up at Connor. My curiosity got the better of me, and I wondered if she was heading to another party tonight.
“She assures me she’s fine. She checked into the Inn with the girls and their boyfriends. Then going back home.”
“No party then?” A relief came over me.
“You sure seem interested in someone who’s not meant to be.” Magnus grinned.
“Shut the fuck up. What are you trying to do here?” I glared at him. I didn’t care if he just caught his wife screwing around. He was skirting on landing a punch to the face if he wasn’t careful.
“He wouldn’t fucking dare touch her.” Connor glared at me.
“It goes without saying.” Fuck.