Page 121 of Ready to Cash Out

Trev eyed the young man, noting he looked as terrified as Trev should have been being the guest of a gangster once more. “So, what are you in for?”

The man’s big brown eyes snapped to Trev. “What?”

“Are you here as family, a prisoner, or what?”

“This is Dario Romero,” Rowena said with a warm smile as her hand slid under the table. “My boyfriend.”

Dario squeaked.

“Hi. Nice to meet you.” Trev grinned. “I’m Trevanion Usher, new half-brother and pain in Cold’s ass.”

Dario’s gaze whipped to Cold, as if he was scared of the consequences of Trev’s words.

Cold looked over his wine glass. “He is not incorrect.”

“Whoa.” Dario stared at Trev and Cold. “That is…”

“Creepy is what I keep hearing,” Trev retorted.

“Right. Heh.” Dario laughed nervously. “Definitely unnerving.”

Jimmy, who was looking much more sober than the last time Trev saw him, piped up and said, “I think it’s nice. I never had any brothers or sisters, so I’d love to wake up one day and suddenly have a new sibling!”

“Right?” Rowena grinned. “This is great. And now! Ha! I’m not the youngest anymore.”

“Aw, but you’ll still always be my baby,” Dario cooed.

Cold glared.

“In a respectful way,” Dario amended quickly. “Or not at all. Or just?—”

Rowena kissed his cheek. “You know he’s just doing that to mess with you.”

“It’s working.”

A waiter entered the dining room with a tray of wine, making a loop around the table to serve everyone a glass.

“Where’s Jerry?” Brick asked curiously.

“Night off,” Jimmy replied with a grin. “Date with Charlie.” He gestured to the waiter. “This is Mercutio.”

“Hi, Mercutio.” Trev wiggled his fingers.

Mercutio smiled politely and left the room once the last glass of wine had been handed out.

Trev eyed the wine with a frown.

It was dark red, almost like blood.

Ugh.

He took a small sip and wow, he thought blood must actually taste better.

“So.” Trev set the glass down. “Is this what we’re doing now?”

“You mean having dinner?” Cold asked casually.

“I mean, acting like everything is fine and you didn’t just have Jupiter chained to a bed,” Trev snapped back.

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