Page 100 of Ready to Cash Out

Barkie too.

Trev stopped drinking after that.

He needed to stay sober and sharp.

He wasn’t here to party and have a great time. No matter how honest or genuine Rowena and the others seemed to be, he was still being held here against his will because his half-brother happened to be a gangster who other gangsters hated. He was caught in the middle, a pawn in a game he didn’t sign up to play, and he wanted to get the hell out of here.

Whatever Cold was up to, Trev didn’t trust it.

He touched his collar.

And yes, he missed that asshole, Jupiter.

Another movie was put on, To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar, and Trev had at least seen this one.

He continued to be friendly enough, but his mind was already hard at work trying to figure a new way to escape.

Rowena was too loyal to her brother, so she probably wouldn’t help him leave. She could probably be used to dig some more information out for him if he played the family card a bit harder, but from who?

Jimmy?

Jimmy was whipped, loyal to Cold, but he also came off as soft and maybe someone else Trev could play the family card with. Maybe even the relationship card. After all, he was married to a gangster. Trev could use that to talk to him, perhaps get a sympathetic ear about having fallen for a criminal?

Except wait.

Shit.

No.

Trev hadn’t fallen for Jupiter.

That was insane.

That was totally stupid and…

Trev sighed.

Maybe he would have one more drink after all.

The movie had ended, and Trev offered to go with Rowena to get some more snacks. He had a bit of a buzz and was hoping to get her chatting. The plan for today seriously couldn’t be sitting around, getting drunk, and watching movies. If so, Trev was going to use this time to see what else he could pry out of her.

As they walked down the hallway to get to the kitchen, he heard the front door opening. There were several voices, loud and firm, and…

Trev stopped abruptly and then took a few steps closer so he could hear better.

“Well, well,” Jules bellowed with a hearty laugh. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

“Will wonders never cease?” Cold taunted. “How nice we finally get to meet.”

“I’m here for Trevanion Usher,” a man said.

Wait.

Trev knew that voice!

He surged forward, racing down the hallway before Rowena could stop him.

“Jupiter!” Trev didn’t quit running until he saw Jupiter—standing there in the foyer, looking tired and exhausted but perfect and warm—and he jumped right into his arms. He knew Jupiter would catch him, he just knew it, and he wrapped his arms and legs around him.

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