Page 65 of Whiskey's Redemption

Circe

“If I thought the air was thick with tension with the two of us, ohhh, my big brother is in for a typhoon of trouble. This shit is about to be cray cray.”

China, in her odd way, is right. I’m watching my best friend try to shut out the world. I’ve never seen Carli like this.

And him? Oh, I may not know Jamieson well, but history has shown what one Crown is like, the rest seem to all be. Cut from the same Crown. Possessive, dangerously loyal, drunk on love, and family oriented to the point of scary.

Talking low, Risen cuts into our conversation. “What do you mean? Those two are not as bad as we were, China. And I’ll prove it.” Pulling out his phone, he starts to dial.

Smacking her hand over the screen before he can hit send, China hops up. “Oh, no you don’t. No calling her. How do men not see when to pump the brakes?” Plunking herself across his legs, she fights for the phone, kissing him for distraction. The distraction eventually turns to moans and murmurs.

Turning away from their TMI, I look over at Wyatt, my Casper, my epically crazy love interest. His smile is miles wide, and he knows the truth. We were all a fucking mess, and still are.

“Don’t you start, Mister. This is fucked up enough without you deciding you need to get your funk on. Dr. Callie’s instructions were explicit, no sex for at least another week.”

“No, Siren, that’s not true. It was no intercourse. Nothing was said about me tonguing that sweet—”

Rising up fast, breaking away from Risen, China shouts out, “Yeah, no. You are not about to say that right now, Casper. Keep that trap shut.”

“But—”

“No.”

“There’s no buts, Ghostman. I’m not taking a flight across the world to hear how you get your jollies with my sister-in-law to be. No, Casper. No.”

Laughs are heard from the boys as they try to now outdo each other in antics to piss us off. I walk over to Carli. She’s so quiet, which is horribly out of character.

“Car?”

Looking up from the magazine she wastryingto engross herself in, she pulls out her headphones. I can hear the loud music squealing. “Yeah, lover? What’s up?”

“You okay? I mean, I know it’s a big surprise to see all of us here, but you looked off, even when you just saw it was me. You’d tell me if there were problems, right?”

Waving me off, acting like it’s nothing, her smile is the fakest I’ve ever seen. “I’m good. Really. Once the choppers are ready, and my psycho sisters get here with their bodyguards, we’ll take off. Easy peasy. All will be fantastic.”

“Are you trying to convince me, or you?” I ask.

She quirks her eyebrow. “A bit of both, I guess. It’s just so—”

“Much?”

“Yeah.” Seeing she’s close to cracking, I lean in to give her a hug.

“I love you. You know that, right?”

“Of course. But if that Crown comes over here again, like he looks to be attempting right now, I’m hanging his balls like fuzzy dice from the chopper’s rearview mirror.”

Hugging me back tightly, I can feel when she’s ready to let go. And by let go, I mean the floodgates will open up and she’ll attempt murder on one Jamieson Crown. “I’ll keep him at a distance for today. But tomorrow, all bets are off. I can’t hold him back indefinitely.”

“Yeah, that I know. I have to sing his tune soon. I’m just afraid to do it.”

“Kaori!”

“Jesus, my sisters are here. Get ready.” As I step back, Carli sets the magazine down, places her earbuds back in her bag, and rises out of the chair.

Walking in are two, drop dead gorgeous, runway model perfect, Dolce and Gabbana specimens. On their heels are what I assume are their bodyguards. Though the one looks more interested in his charge than just that of employer / employee.

“Kaori, who are all these people? And why the fuck was I dragged away from a fitting? I had plans to go out tonight at Shishu with friends, and the Incredible Bulk here tells me we’re going back to Amanemu. Why?”

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