Page 3 of Key Change

He couldn’t ask, so they talked about arts funding and what shows were coming up and who was working with who, any new scandals… as well as who was getting married and divorced.

A couple entered the room, and several people took big enough gasps that the room became a temporary vacuum. The woman smiled, but the man looked as though he’d rather be somewhere else. Cillian studied them for a moment. Their body language was wrong for a couple, unless they’d had a fight. He let his gaze linger for a moment on the snug fit of the man’s suit that didn’t hide his muscular build and the line of his jaw. Cillian’s gaze caught, and his heartbeat quickened from the shot of lust. Plenty of men were tall and dark-haired, but few revealed they hated these things.

Interesting.He needed to know who he was and what he did.

Hayden strode over to greet them, looking as though he wanted to push them back out the door. His smile was a strained grimace of annoyance. Anyone who upset Hayden that much was someone worth knowing.

Interest piqued, Cillian leaned closer to the woman next to him. “Who is he?”

“Hayden’s brother.” She mock-whispered. “The gay one who just got out of jail.”

Cillian remembered Hayden talking about his brother being a bad apple. What had he done? He didn’t think the details had ever been mentioned. It might be as dull as a mass of unpaid parking fines, or drunk driving… or perhaps he’d arranged a hit to have someone killed.

Maybe the brother knew someone willing to solve his problem.

Cillian nodded, playing dumb wouldn’t get him any answers. “Mmm, I heard Hayden didn’t like him.”

That was a safe guess given the state of Hayden’s rather frozen smile and rigid body.

“He doesn’t, but the sister clearly dragged the criminal in to make it a family affair. Watch your valuables,” the older man said.

Cillian kept his smile in place. Hayden’s family was nothing like his. Their money was in land and cattle. It wasn’t worn or displayed. And while he was doing okay, he wasn’t wearing ten-thousand-dollar watches, and his suits came off the rack and were altered, not tailored.

Curiosity got the better of him, because why did a Davidson need to steal anything? “What did he do?”

“Armed robbery?” one man suggested.

“No, there were no guns involved, but it was theft,” said another.

“Expensive cars, for his boyfriend?”

“I thought it was drugs,” Isabella hissed. She was a composer Cillian had worked with two years ago and had met because of Bianca. Isabella’s parties were wild and legendary.

Clearly no one knew the truth, but the brother had done something illegal and annoyed Hayden. Cillian finished his drink. “How about I find out the truth and you all owe me a dinner?”

There was a pause as they considered this. Their gazes flicked between him and the brother as though weighing up the gamble. They could pull out their phones and find out in thirty seconds, but that took away the fun of finding out in person and watching him go over. They wanted entertainment, not the truth.

And he knew how to put on a performance.

“What are you going to do? Please don’t do anything stupid. I’ve had too much to drink to bail you out,” Isabella said.

Cillian gave her a tight grin. He didn’t do things that required bail—even at her parties, because he wasn’t a fucking idiot. Most of the time. “I’m going to walk over, introduce myself, and ask him what he did.”

Before he second-guessed his plan, or examined his motives too deeply, he made his way over, taking long enough that it didn’t seem obvious while also giving Hayden a chance to walk away.

The tension between the brothers was obvious. Hayden’s brother—whose name he didn’t remember or had never heard—kept his gaze averted. He never once made eye contact, and he held himself as though waiting for something to happen. Cillian recognized that look too well, having spent his early teens in the same semi-frozen state, ready to run and hide in an instant if required. Getting out of the tiny country town had been a blessing; no one cared he was gay in Sydney. It was almost a bloody requirement in the arts community.

With a final sneer at his brother, Hayden spun on his heel and stalked away. The sister smiled and murmured something to the brother. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to have reassured him at all. Now was the time to step forward and be charming, so he did.

He’d met her before… at Hayden’s wedding, most likely.

“Hello, I’m Cillian. I think we met four years ago at the wedding?” He offered his hand, and the sister, who was clearly looking for a lifeline, took it.

“Yes, we did… Margot. This is Anthony. He’s been away.” Margot’s gaze hardened as she glanced at the man who must be her younger brother. It was clear if anyone started trouble involving Anthony, she’d step in and defend him. Cillian wasn’t sure Anthony needed her help given that he was taller than her, and him, by several inches.

Not that it mattered, as nothing was going to happen. Though even thinking that meant there was a whisper of hope that something might. He resisted the urge to yank at his collar, despite feeling too hot in his suit.

Anthony lifted his gaze. There was a razor edge in his blue eyes that had been concealed. He assessed Cillian, no doubt wondering what he wanted and how he was connected to all of this. Would he be surprised Cillian wasn’t. He’d been brought in so Hayden could show him off. He wondered if Anthony disapproved of the way Cillian styled his hair, or the bit of eyeliner?

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