Page 10 of Sinful Attraction

Chapter 6

Michael

“What the hell’s got you so sour?” my sister demands over her third martini. She’s not even 21 yet. “You’re bringing the whole damn mood down. Smile or something.”

My sister is a brat, and not in a cute, charming way. She’s the youngest, my mom’s most favorite precious baby, and dear God does she act like it. She glares at me like this is her wedding reception, and I’m here specifically to fuck it up.

I shrug her off. “I was up all night getting the same shit we’re celebrating done.”

“Well, try to be happier about it!”

I roll my eyes and do my best to stay patient. “Maria. I was up all night making us money, and I still have to transfer it all to our overseas accounts as soon as I can get out of here. I can’t afford to party too hard.”

“Oh, come on, you can do that bank shit in the morning. You’re completely hashing this party, acting like it’s a wake or something. Get more drunk.”

I lift my wine glass with an ironic smirk. “Working on it.”

“Well, work harder! It’s a party!” She huffs and tosses her ponytail before traipsing off to go chatter with Mom. Probably about me.

I’m used to this kind of crap. She’s technically an adult now but still acts about 13.Mommy’s precious girl is never going to grow up. At least until she faces some consequences. But God forbid that Mom ever lets her.

My family’s celebrating my success while I drink too much wine and try to pretend I don’t feel like shit about it. Tomorrow, I’m going to have one of those wine-drunk headaches that make me feel like I want to die. That’s fine. I deserve it.

Arya’s email bit deep. It reminded me again that I hadn’t even tried to say no to my father about stealing from her. I just... went and did it, and messed up her life worse than expected. Now, I’m living with that. But that’s nothing compared to what she’s living with.

God. Forget my sister. I’m the biggest asshole in this family.

“So, now that you’ve pulled this off once,” my father ventures as he saunters up, “do you think you can pull off the same thing Arya did by yourself?”

I drag myself out of my thoughts and put on a neutral face. “I think so. I need to study what she did to make sure I fully understand it all.” It stings to admit that, too. She’s just as good a coder as I am—maybe even a little more talented—and she must have put at least a solid year into the project. No wonder she’s so pissed at me.

“All right, well, let me know when you figure it out.” And on he goes to talk to one of my uncles. I stare at his back, then look down into my wineglass and swallow the contents in one gulp.

Billy finds me soon after, eyes the empty wineglass, and steers me into the kitchen to drink a glass of water. “I’m fine,” I complain, but he ignores me and prods me into drinking 16 oz before he’ll even talk to me. I soldier along, swallowing it down, trying not to get too annoyed with him.

“So, what’s going on?” he asks me as we lean on the kitchen counter.

“Did the job. Left a note about it like Dad wanted. It’s all handled. But I feel like shit about it.” I want to go back to the wine. Billy’s watching me. I leave my wineglass on the counter, empty, for now.

“Because of Arya?”

I eye him, almost annoyed that I even have to confirm that. “Of course.”

“Fuck, yeah. That has to be rough.” He thumps my shoulder a little awkwardly. “I’m sorry, man. I mean, I’m glad you got it done, but it sucks that she got caught up in it.”

“Guess I’ll just have to deal with it,” I mutter, and he nods.

“Nothing else you can do except maybe find yourself a girlfriend to distract yourself with.”

I actually think about it for a moment, but all I can do is go back to thinking about Arya and how pissed she has to be at me right now. “Don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet.”

“Come on, man, I’m talking about some casual dating and fucking, not finding your true love. Lighten up about it, seriously.”

“Oh, not you, too,” I grumble before I can stop myself.

“Not me too what?” He gives me a confused look.

“Maria just bitched at me because I wasn’t being cheerful enough at a family gathering. Like she’s the goddamn Smile Police.”

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