Page 13 of Mutual Obsessions

The phone rang, and Danvert leaned over to answer, holding his finger up for me to wait. I stood there for ten more minutes, listening to half-assed answers I was sure had nothing to do with our other cases, and finally, I left the room. Fuck Giles Danvert for being such a prick.

Just as I was about to go to the conference room, Danvert called out to me. “DeWitt, I’ll reassign the discovery inventory. You go ahead and meet with what’s-his-name. That’s a great project that will bring in a lot of money to the firm.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood at his words. Danvert didn’t give a shit about the Tremblay family, but for reasons I couldn’t explain, I did. Something about the family pulled me in, even though I worried things weren’t right with Stephen or Etienne or whatever he wanted to be called. Besides, I still wanted answers to what happened to Cubby, and the last time he’d been seen, he was with a Tremblay.

“Are you sure, sir?”

Danvert sat at his computer, his attention shifting to the screen. “Yes, DeWitt. Keep the guy happy until we can lock him in.”

I nodded and walked down the hallway, heading to my office to grab my things and leave for the day. I needed to get to the bottom of the Etienne and Stephen controversy. It didn’t make sense, and I was tired of being confused.

I stepped into the bar at The House of Tremblay, taking a seat on the end stool where I’d sat on Friday night. A beautiful woman with raven-black hair and dark-brown eyes stared at me for a moment. She slung a coaster on the bar. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll take a light beer, please.”

The woman nodded and went to the cooler, taking out a chilled pint glass and filling it. She placed it in front of me and smiled. “You’re Ryker DeWitt.”

I didn’t know her, but I feared she might know Cubby…and Lance. “What’s your name?”

“Sabine Tremblay. I’m Etienne’s sister. I saw you here on Friday night.” Sabine looked nothing like Etienne. How could they be related? It made no sense.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m looking for Stephen.”

The woman’s dark eyes fixed on me, and she smirked. “Stephen? He’s indisposed.”

I chugged the beer and stared at her. “Is Etienne here?”

A strong hand landed on my shoulder, and I turned to see Etienne. “Bonsoir, Ryker. I’m glad to see you again.”

Sabine stepped away, and Etienne sat next to me. He held up a finger to the female bartender, and she poured him a glass of wine. After she stepped away, I turned to him. “Where’s your nephew? I think he has Cubby with him, and I’m not sure what the hell is going on.”

“Ah, Stephen came to talk to you. Did he scare you? He has a volatile temper. Don’t allow him to intimidate you, Ryker.”

Stephen hadn’t really scared me. He was different, but I didn’t dislike him. He seemed very kind.

“He didn’t scare me, Etienne. I had no idea he was your twin. He doesn’t live here with the family?”

Etienne exhaled. “He shares the third floor with me. We don’t always get along, but we are tied together. I’m sorry if he was rude.”

I reached out to touch Etienne’s arm. “He wasn’t rude. He was actually nice and explained about wanting to start a nonprofit and have me oversee the creation. Did you tell him about our discussion? I didn’t mean to push you to create a charity to help people in New Orleans, Etienne. It’s my dream, not yours.”

The gorgeous man stared at me for a moment before he scooted his stool closer. “I didn’t think you’d come back, Ryker. I’m sorry about how I acted on Friday night. I was overwhelmed by your kiss, but it wasn’t unwelcome, I promise.”

That was good news, but I was still a bit baffled. “Stephen? Where is he?”

Etienne swallowed. “Closer than you think.”

That wasn’t mysterious at all…

Chapter Eight

Etienne/Stephen

Etienne

Staring into Ryker’s gorgeous eyes took my breath away.

Leave it to me. He’ll be ours forever.

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