Page 71 of Knot Your Business

“Holy shit, Fae,” I manage to say despite my laughing growing borderline unhinged.

Jay looks over her shoulder while Rylan looks over mine. They give nearly identical surprised grunts. Must be a guy thing.

“Eight million dollars?” Rylan asks, voice warm and happy. “Damn. Does one of them have a black Amex, too?”

Faedra ducks her head, trying to hide her blush, and digs something out of her bag. The golden soldier flashes in the sunlight, practically glowing like neon against the all black card.

Jasper leans forward, grinning. “No fucking way.”

Dad has one, so it’s not really that shocking to me. What is surprising is that they still fly commercial. You have to have literal millions to be offered a black Amex. And yet her guys definitely didn’t act like Old Money. Or New Money, either, flashing it everywhere they could. It makes me wonder how newly into the money they are. Or maybe it’s different because they’re so much older? My dads don’t flash the wealth, either. That’s all my mom.

Aiden leans back in his chair, an eyebrow raised, and Jasper laughs.

“I need to find me an Alpha with that kind of connection.”

Rylan scowls and reaches across the table to shove Jasper in the shoulder. “You did,” he grunts. “He just has a stick the size of Texas shoved up his ass right now.”

My stomach drops, but I keep it off my face.

Jasper grabs Rylan’s hand and kisses his palm. “He still doesn’t have a Centurion.” He tilts his head and then shrugs. “And to be fair, Sienna has that effect on most people.”

I clear my throat, glaring at them both.

The last thing I want right now is to have to discuss the shit show that is my mom’s bullshit.

“Wait.” Faedra puts down the card, covering it with her palm. “What has your mom done this time?”

I turn my look on my best friend, flipping my hair and twisting my industrial piercing to keep from answering right away.

Rylan says, “What hasn’t she done at this point?”

I cover his mouth. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I say, giving Faedra a desperate look.

Rylan bites my palm, his teeth grazing the skin, and lightning shoots down my spine. My nipples tighten, and he smirks against my hand, noticing the sudden change in my breathing. I can’t help the giggle that falls from me.

Jasper clears his throat and rests his elbows on the table, his chin on his palm. “Sienna has decided that Dominic’s pedigree is not nearly as perfect as she would like.” His lips curl back from his teeth as he says it. “She’s filed three motions with the Council to have Violet reassigned.”

I push away from Rylan and shake my head as Faedra’s gaze turns worried.

When no one rushes to say something, Jasper drops his arms and stretches his neck.

“Please tell me you’re going to buy something ridiculous with that card, Faedra,” he jokes.

Faedra rolls her eyes even as she laughs and then tucks the card away.

“I’m not built to spend that kind of money all at once. Maybe I’ll have Violet do it for me, send her a list and everything.”

Rylan laughs and nods. “Perfect.”

Thirty-Three

VIOLET

The house is empty as I wander through it, trying to appreciate it for the first time since moving in last week. There’s small touches throughout that I recognize as Jasper’s. The picture of the three of them on several of the walls, the warm color palette in the large main room, the simple but comfy sectional that fits into the modern feel of the home while not being modern at all.

A door closes, and Dominic walks in from the garage, his eyes glued to his phone. He glances up at me, his lips tightening, and then disappears down the hallway toward our bedrooms.

Anxiety tightens my chest.

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