Page 149 of The Wild Charge

He was flanked by Reese, and that angry-faced Russian Dog, Toly. A few of Ian’s men loitered in their black suits, waiting for instructions, and Abe was ready to go, sipping coffee out of a travel cup. It was a small group, compared to Tenny and Raven’s respective entourages, but Cass could admit that Fox and Dad were worth more than a few hired guns.

“Alright,” Fox said. “Let’s go over it again.”

“I remember from last night,” she said.

“Still.” His voice was flat and unhappy. “Again.”

Cassandra bit back a sigh. “We’re going to go in through the front door and I’m going to check in while you guys pretend not to be as conspicuous as hell.”

Devin snorted and grinned.

“Then, I’ll go into orientation, point out Brandon and Kaitlin, and wait for you guys to” – she gestured – “ruin my chances of an art scholarship.”

“Scholarship,” Fox deadpanned, “because that’s what’s important here.”

“It’s important tome.”

“Give her a break, Charlie,” Devin said. “Can you blame her for failing to consider her family’s sins each time she makes a new friend?”

Fox made a face that saidyes, but didn’t comment.

Cassandra wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.

They went down in the elevators out to the porte-cochere and the two black SUVs waiting there. They piled into the first one, Dad in the front, Cass in the back between Reese and Toly. Fox gave their driver directions and he and Abe got in the second car. The driver eased them down the hotel drive and out into choked-up afternoon traffic, and it was…

It was awkward. The radio was on low, a sonorous talk show of some kind, but not loud enough to fill the inside of the car with distracting background noise. Devin was a chatterer, but today he stayed vigilant at his window, and said nothing.

Cass sat with her arms folded, trying not to press too far to either direction; Reese had to think she was stupid after last night, and there was nothing encouraging about Toly’s sullen silence.

Finally, Devin took a breath and said, “Hey, Reese.”

Thank goodness.

“You and Tenny, huh? You guys dating?”

Scratch that. Shut up, Dad.

To her left, Reese sat still and composed, seemingly unbothered, hands in his lap. She saw him nod from her periphery. “He’s my boyfriend,” he said. “We went on one date.”

Devin chuckled. “You’re a blunt one, aren’t you?”

“Dad,” Cassandra hissed.

“I’m just making conversation.” He twisted to look at her around his headrest. “Would you rather it be quiet?”

“Yes.”

He shrugged and faced forward. “Suit yourself.” Twisted the volume knob so the talk show filled the car.

Devin had opened the door to the topic, though, and suddenly Cass couldn’t help but think about Reese and Tenny. Herbrother. She’d only met Reese once before, and those had been less than ideal circumstances; she wasn’t so stupid that she’d thought they’d forged any sort of connection…but she’d had some dreams, afterward. More than a few daydreams and some fanciful thoughts. Reese had dropped down out of the ceiling, face streaked with paint, beautiful and terrifying, and she’d found herself, days, weeks, months later, full of longing.

When Raven first said they were going to New York via Tennessee, she’d wondered, even hoped…but Reese was with her brother, apparently. Her brother the raging asshole.

It felt a little unfair. Like everything right now. Fuck Tenny.

Guilt washed over her the moment she’d thought it. None of what was happening was Tenny’s fault. Asshole or not, he was her brother, and she wasn’t going to be so petty that she would wish his boyfriend would break up with him. Reese was too old for her anyway, as Raven was wont to point out.

She took a few breaths, resettled, and turned toward Reese. “Um…”

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