Page 17 of Lost Kingdom

‘Doctor Emeri has arrived on scene. Police on standby. Homicide detective on scene.’

Pulling my jeans up and fixing the button, I lean over my bed and answer the call, placing Lix on speaker so I can continue to dress. “What?”

“What?” He chuckles, so free, so playful. I have no fucking clue how he can be so happy while still living the Malone life over in New York. “Is that how you speak to your brother, Timothy?”

“You’re supposed to be on your honeymoon.” I snatch a shirt from my closet and stop by my drawers for a tank to go under. “If you’re thinking of me while you’re away with Christabelle, then I feel as though your marriage may be doomed.”

He snorts. “Thinking of her ninety-nine percent of the time, brother. But I always have room for you. What are you doing?”

“Considering calling my phone provider and finding a way to permanently block you. Your presence in my life stresses me out. What are you doing?”

I can’t know for sure, but I picture him rolling his eyes. “Expressing my love in a normal, healthy, masculine way. You and Arch seem to think you’re more evolved because you moved away, but I’ll be damned I reckon Micah and I are able to express our emotions more easily than you two. It’s early there: you’re up already?”

“The fact I took your call implies I am. What’s up?”

“Two things. One, I have a situation over in Copeland that I want you to take care of. And two, I wanna know what was in that envelope Cordoza gave you. If you’re going into business with the old man, I need to know what, where, when, and how much it cost.”

“The second is none of your business. It’s about me, not about the family.”

“Bullshit! Anything you do is about the whole family. Especially when you’ve invited Cordoza in. If there’s a debt to be repaid, then?—”

“There’s no debt.” I reach up and slip my tank on, pulling it down until the crisp white material clings to my body. “Don’t worry about the envelope. It’s not business, and there’s no repayment needed. No favors owed. And Cordoza won’t come looking for you if things go south.”

“So there’s a south that things could go? There are consequences to whatever you did?”

I pick up my shirt and slide my arms into the sleeves. “None that will affect you. Just me. What kind of situation needs to be dealt with in Copeland?”

“Gangbanger skipped town without paying his debt. He owes the family a hundred grand, and he stupidly thought jumping state lines would keep him safe.”

“I’m not your muscle?—”

“He went to Copeland. Turns out he’s shacking up with a bunch of undesirables, and now he’s riding high, thinking he thwarted me. I’m out of the country, and you’re right there, so?—”

“No.” I roll my sleeves up. Fold. Fold. Fold. And all the while, I shake my head left to right. “I’m not part of that life, Lix. I’m not your enforcer. I don’t represent the family. And I will not step in to deal with family business.”

“Tim!”

“I thought I made my stance clear sixteen years ago?” I finish one sleeve and switch to work on the other. “If I wanted to be part of that world, I’d have stayed in New York and been the fuckin’ king. I walked. So whatever business you have with this kid is yours and yours alone.”

“You’d let him disrespect the family for a week while I’m away?”

“I’ll let him disrespect the family until his dying day. I don’t give a fuck. It’s not my debt, not my business, and not my problem. If he wants to get in my face and start some shit, then I’ll deal with it. But that’s not family. That’s me. I’m sure as shit not going out there to hunt him down.”

“Does the code mean nothing to you? You’re?—”

“The code means literally nothing to me. I fly across and see you for you. Because you’re my brother and ignoring you for too long means I have to listen to you whine. What I’mnotin New York for is family business. You come here, it’s the same. But I’m not hitting the streets and collecting debts all because you got your feelings hurt.”

“You’re a pussy.”

“I’m out.” I turn to the mirror to make sure I’ve remembered everything—pants, shirt, tank. And when I go to the living room, I’ll grab a jacket and shoes. “If I wanted in, I’d be the one handing down orders. There has never been a moment I considered being your debt collector.”

“You say you’re out,” he growls. “Except when you’re making deals with Cordoza! What the fuck is that?”

“It wasn’t a deal. It was a favor. But there’s no repayment necessary. He did it because he wanted to.”

“He does nothing because he wants to! Are you insane?”

“I’m done with this discussion.” Aubree’s name crackles over the radio once more, so I snag a pair of socks from my drawers and snatch up my phone as I move. “I’m heading out, because I’ve got shit to do. Enjoy your honeymoon. Pay attention to Christabelle. You got her, Lix. Make sure you hold on and give her no reason to leave. Sitting on an island somewhere and shouting at me isn’t gonna make her wanna stay.”

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