Page 75 of Greed
But he didn’t need to explain. Grace leaned over to Evan and whispered something in his ear. The resulting look of pity in his brother’s eyes wasn’t missed.
“Sorry, bro. This mating bond kinda makes me go caveman.” Evan clamped Griffin on the shoulder. “Let me get a drink to make up for it. You want the usual?”
Griffin nodded and when Evan left, he turned to Grace. “What did you say to him?”
“That you miss Lilo, and seeing us together reminded you of that.”
It was true. He must be completely transparent. He looked away, and slipped his hands in his pockets, fumbling for those earplugs wondering if anyone would notice if he put them in early.
“Not going well, is it?” she asked.
“No.” He didn’t elaborate. Didn’t want to. Especially not to the couple who made it look so easy. Griffin had the powers now, but he didn’t feel powerful.
“You know you can talk to me about it, Griff. I’ve been in Lilo’s shoes, literally and figuratively.” She laughed. “But what I meant was that I might be able to provide some insight. Does she know about your secret yet?”
His secret… the one filling his apartment with expensive junk, or the one where they all dressed in leather and fought the city’s worst at night, or the one where he was terrified of losing control and killing everyone he loved. Any of them would probably do, and the answer was no. Lilo didn’t know anything about the real Griffin. He was virtually a stranger to her.
“How did you feel when you discovered the truth about Evan?” he asked, swallowing.
“It took me a while to adjust, but Evan answered my questions honestly, so I learned to trust him.” She smiled gently. “So, she knows nothing yet?”
He shook his head.
“And how do you feel about her?”
At that moment, Evan returned with two glasses of champagne and handed one to Griffin, and one to Grace. He’d caught the end of Grace’s question and scoffed. “Doc, that’s a silly question. Of course he’s in love with her. You can’t fight it.”
“My feelings aren’t the problem,” Griffin confirmed.
Evan was right. He’d tried to tell Griffin months ago what it felt like to have that mating bond triggered, but Griffin had been unprepared for how much space Lilo occupied in his heart. If he had accepted it from the start, he wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Well, Griff, the only advice I have is to give her time, and to be honest with her. It’s not like she’s just some woman you’ve met off the street—she’s someone your biology has recognized as your perfect partner.”
“Can we talk about something else?” It was all getting too personal.
Parker came over at that moment and clapped him on the back, grinning from ear to ear. “Griff.”
“Parker.”
“I’m glad you could make it.”
“You said I had no choice.”
His brother smirked smugly. “I know.”
Parker wore his favorite expression tonight. It was theYou’re welcome, ladieslook. This was the playboy persona he’d crafted for his public figure. The world saw him as a handsome and reckless billionaire who liked to splurge on risky business ventures and glamorous establishments like Heaven and Hell. A man who loved his hair, took pride in his appearance and knew he was the smartest man in the room but pretended he wasn’t.
“Did you catch the meaning behind the interior design, little brother?” Parker’s eyes sparkled as he scoped the room.
“It’s hell. Obviously.”
“Nah, come on. I thought if anyone were to get the layout, it would be you.”
“Not in the mood tonight, Parker.”
“Of course you haven’t figured it out, so I’ll just tell you. It’s the nine rings of hell.” Parker pointed at the pit. “Ring one, Limbo. Next step up is Lust. Notice the hidden alcoves there for some privacy for our guests. You can thank me later. Third ring is where the bar is.” He looked at Griffin expectantly.
“Gluttony?” he offered.
