Page 54 of Pin-up Girl

“We aren’t going to fight night tonight, I’ve already let Freddie know and set Derek up on the app. Freddie wasn’t thrilled, but he’ll be okay for one night.” I glanced toward the stairs. They should all be making their way down any second now.

“Fuck, I hadn’t heard. If we’d known you were busy, Johnny and I would have handled it. Freddie prefers us anyway, since we make him money on the regular. Not to mention, we’re not fighting tonight.” He straightened up, almost as if he was affronted I hadn’t asked him to fill in.

“Oh, really? You and your twin have been shooting us dirty looks ever since we brought Elise into the fold. Why would I have asked you to help?” I gave him my best fake smile, which his gaze zeroed in on. He knew me too well to fall for it.

“Look, we were shit mad. Can you blame us? We wanted her, and the next thing we knew, she was gone from the club and so were you guys. Then the next morning, she’s with you three, and suddenly the fourth member of the top tier of Alpha Delta Omega. Give us a break, we were angry. But not at you three, more at the situation.”

“Define situation. We explained at the breakfast table that we didn’t have a choice. She walked out on us taking care of a job.” I didn’t need to explain myself again, but the words tumbled out. It wasn’t like we tied her to us out of spite.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “You three, everything comes easy to you. You get president, you’re top of the fraternity, your parents are so fucking proud. Everyone knows you’re set up to be the next elite. Johnny and I, we’d just gotten passed over for something important to us. That night, it was just another hit to our ego. We’re over it.”

He thought we were the lucky ones? All of us were fucked, they just didn’t know it. Infinity wasn’t invincible, and one day, when they went down, if we weren’t free of it, we were going with them.

“Glad to hear it.” Come on Jules, Emmett. I’d rather get tonight over with and discover whatever my father had planned. The sooner we made an appearance, the sooner we could leave.

“So where are you going tonight?” Jamie tried to bring us back into the friend zone, but as I studied him, I realized, we didn’t need any friends. We needed leverage, just not from Frick and Frack.

“Home.”

He tipped his head down and smiled in self-deprecation. “Time to meet the family, huh? I never thought you three would be into the poly lifestyle. It’s amazing isn’t it? Johnny and I will probably always share a partner.”

Fuck, was that what he thought? “We aren’t in a polyamorous relationship. Jules, Emmett, and I aren’t in a relationship.”

“Aren’t you? My bad, your Pin-up just found herself a reverse harem.”

That term was even worse.

Jamie chuckled softly. “I’m not trying to start any shit, just stating a fact. Most of these boring motherfuckers will never know the excitement and pleasure that comes from threesomes… or foursomes.” His eyebrows shot up as if in question.

I left him hanging.

“All right, Milo.” Emmett clapped his hands together as he stomped down the stairs, a sullen Jules and Elise following behind him. “Let’s get this show over with. There’s a million fucking things I’d rather be doing.”

I looked to Elise, waiting for her verbal jab. This was the perfect opportunity for her to give us shit like she was so good at. But…nothing. She met my stare with a blank expression, giving nothing away, other than her lack of excitement at attending with us.

Too fucking bad.

Everyone must have been stuck in their own thoughts, because no one tried to start any kind of conversation. It was dead silent in the car—no music, no talking—until we were about ten minutes out. They were kind enough to let Elise sit up front, making it easier to brief her on what to expect.

“Elise.” I waited until she turned to me to continue, “This isn’t going to be pleasant for anyone, but I want you to be prepared.”

Still, no smart remark. In the back of my head, it started to niggle at me that she retreated so far from us, but now wasn’t the time to do anything about it.

After. After tonight, we’d sit down and fix all this. Move on.

“Marsten Kingston, CEO and President of Kingston Pharmaceuticals. Resident egomaniac, and suspected psychopath. He lacks the ability to feel empathy, at least that’s what I’ve always believed. Growing up with him, his sole mission, when he was around, was to mold me into his perfect accessory, heir, and puppet.”

“He also throws a hell of a tantrum when you don’t lay down at his feet,” Emmett added from the back.

“Wait, you’ve been ignoring his calls. If he doesn’t like you to go against him, wouldn’t he be all up in your shit?” Elise touched the sleeve of my arm before drawing her hand back. I missed it the moment it was gone.

“Yeah, that’s a delicate dance between me and my father. He lets me push so far before he pushes back. Tonight is him pushing back. This should just be a routine dinner, placate him a little, then we can leave.”

“I doubt it will be that simple. Dealing with family never is,” Elise nearly spat. Jules sat forward and cupped her shoulders with his hands. She allowed his comfort and settled back into the seat.

“You’re right, it never is, but we can hope. Sometimes, all we have is hope.”

“That’s so optimistic, I almost have the urge to turn it into a Hallmark card.” A bitter laugh bubbled up her throat like it was unintentional.

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