Page 5 of Sizzling

Grinning, she grabbed the pillow and hurled it back at me. I liked seeing her this way. It had taken her almost a year before she actually smiled. Now, I got to see her smile all the time. Sure, there were shadows in her eyes sometimes. They would always be there, lurking, just like the horrors she’d endured, but she would overcome it. I would do everything I could to make sure of it.

“Okay, go back to your reading. I’ve got to go make myself pretty.”

“That’s not hard to do. You wake up pretty,” she signed.

“Aww. Are you trying to bribe me for more book money? Because it’s working,” I replied, then winked at her before leaving the room.

The apartment complex was safe. I’d made sure to get one in the nice part of town with security and an alarm system. Having to leave Dovie alone in a big city wasn’t my favorite, but she was smart, and I paid a lot in rent to make sure no one could get to her.

I missed our movie nights. We’d gotten into a pattern of doing them every Friday night until I had to pack up and move us to Atlanta. The rent was outrageous, but the city was big and easy to blend into. We stood out less here. Small towns made me nervous. People were too nosy. The drawback to this life was the cost of living. Which was why there were no movie nights for us right now. I had to be at the beck and call of a man. One I really couldn’t stand.

• three •

“Just keep talking, kitty.”

Storm

“Why the fuck are we here again?” Thatcher asked in a bored tone.

“Because Jameson Chester owes us money,” I replied, although he knew the answer already.

He grunted as he slid his sunglasses on and walked over toward the bar. I didn’t want to be here either, but we had to send our warning to the dipshit who owed us over half a million dollars. He’d made the mistake of ignoring Stellan’s call. So, we were here to collect. Surrounded by rich, uppity assholes that we were expected to mingle with for the sake of appearances. King was getting out of all kinds of shit with a new baby at home. Since he was the first one to have a kid, I wasn’t sure how long that would last and when he was going to have to get fully invested in family stuff again.

Stellan turned to look at me, and the slight nod of his head meant I had to start talking to folks and stop standing off alone, looking like I was here to kill someone. Which wasn’t the plan. We were going to hurt him first.

Jameson Chester was an asshole. He’d been born into this life and not done a damn thing to deserve the successful business he was given. His father had been the one to build the whiskey empire that he was now running into the ground with his inability to handle funds. Taking him out of this world wouldn’t be something to mourn. But that wasn’t my call.

I saw Joel Highland, the state’s chief justice, headed my way. It was too late to join Thatcher at the bar. I had to pretend to care what he had to say. The man was powerful, but he too was indebted to us. He’d had to ask for more than one favor over the years. In return, he was ours to control. Even if he liked to pretend otherwise.

“Storm Kingston,” he said with a smile breaking across his round face. “How’s your father? I didn’t see him with Stellan.”

“He’s good. It’s his and Mom’s anniversary. They’re off celebrating,” I explained.

He chuckled. “Well, now, you gotta keep the wife happy. I hear Stellan has a horse in the Derby this year that’s already being predicted to win. That’s normally Garrett’s good fortune. He’s not racing one this year though, it seems.”

I shook my head. “Not this year. Blaise is sitting this year out for the main race. Next year though, he’s already preparing for.”

He nodded. “Ah, yes. Blaise is now handling the horses too, I see.”

I wasn’t answering that. Not his business. What the boss did or did not handle within the family was something only we knew. Blaise Hughes had taken over his father, Garrett’s, position as boss more than a year ago now. Stellan, along with my dad and the other older members, hadn’t been sure about that move at first. Blaise was known for his brutality. However, he’d managed to gain more influence and power in a short time, proving everyone wrong and justifying Garrett’s decision.

Joel shifted his gaze to the left and smirked. “He’s got balls, that one,” he muttered, then shook his head. “Sol Mercer will demand her daddy get his head on a plate if she finds out he’s already cheating. But then you have to commend him on taste. His new one looks like a supermodel. Even makes Sol seem plain.”

Sol Mercer was the youngest daughter of Dorian Mercer, owner and CEO of the Mercer restaurant chains. I had met her once, and hopefully, I never had to suffer the experience again. I turned my head to see what female Jameson Chester had arrived with while I straightened, preparing to alert Thatcher that he was finally here. I froze when my eyes locked on the woman Jameson had on his arm.

Fucking hell. This had to be a joke. I’d thought she was stunning in a pair of jeans, cowboy boots, and a halter top. I blinked, slightly stunned. Jesus, that woman was lethal.

“Beauty, isn’t she? How did Chester manage that?” Joel asked.

I was pissed at my own reaction to her. I knew what she was, and I hated it. She was as shallow and manipulative as she was gorgeous. Sure, I respected the fact that she’d overcome a shit past, but there were other ways to do it. She’d chosen one that I couldn’t overlook. Well, this time around, she’d latched on to the wrong guy. He didn’t have the money to pay her off. He was in so much debt; he was barely keeping his head above water. I hadn’t known he was engaged to Sol, but it made sense. He needed the money, and she had access to millions.

I saw Jameson tense the moment he spotted Stellan. His eyes swung right, and when he saw Thatcher leaning against the bar, watching him, I could see the sweat beads pop out on his forehead. I waited as his eyes scanned the room until he found me. I simply nodded my head once.

Yeah, fucker. You asked for it. Now, here we are.

I refused to allow myself to look at Briar again. She wasn’t my concern. I was here to deal with her date. She probably needed to get an Uber home; Jameson wouldn’t be in any shape to drive. Thatcher moved first, and Jameson smiled brightly as he headed in the opposite direction.

I turned my attention back to Joel. “If you’ll excuse me, we have some business to handle.”

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