Page 132 of Playing the Game
“He promised on his life he wouldn’t do this to me.”
“Do what to you?” I stall. I need some time to think of something to say that will calm him.
“Stop acting like a stupid bitch. You two have ruined everything by doing this.” He growls. “You’re so fucking clueless.”
His words sting, and I shrink into myself. I seem to always hurt someone by the choices I make. I hate feeling this way.
I try to soften the blow. “Aiden, I have no idea why you’re acting like this is the end of the world.”
“You don’t get it. By dating Jami, I lose everything. Fuck! How could you?”
This reaction seems a bit too much. I knew he’d be upset, but saying he loses everything because I’m dating Jami scrambles my brain.
“You’re overreacting, Aiden.”
Something crashes in the background. I think he threw something against a wall and it shattered.
“I’m not fucking overreacting. You’re being reckless again, but this time you dragged me into your shitty decision. Break it off with him, or lose me. That’s the only choice you have.”
My jaw drops. “You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious. End it with him, or you can consider yourself without a brother.”
My stomach bottoms out. “You are serious, aren’t you?”
“I already told you I was. Tell me what you want. A brother or Jami, a guy it will never work with.”
No matter what I say, I lose. Aiden’s made that much clear. I don’t get both in the end. There’s no way around it.
I love my brother and don’t want to lose him, but I feel the same about Jami.
The earth opens up and swallows me whole. I’m in a terrible predicament with no way out.
CHAPTER 29
HUNTER
The last thingI wanted to do was call Jamison and beg for his help, and now I need Jonah’s take on what to do.
I’m at a roadblock, and since he’s part owner, he has a right to know how this diabolical plan of our mother will affect him.
I rattle my knuckles against his open office door and step inside. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
He glances up from his computer. “Yeah. What’s this about?”
I close the door and turn back to him. “I’m in a shit situation and I don’t see any way out of it.”
“Sit down and let me help.” He points to the chairs in front of his desk.
I rub my neck and take a seat. “I had the misfortune of seeing our mother today. The answers to the questions I’ve had for the past few months about what she wants from me were spelled out.”
The muscles in his jaw tighten. “Since you look like she killed you with whatever she told you, I’m frightened to hear what she said.”
“Rightfully so.” I lean forward andscrub my palms over my face. “She has me by the balls, Jonah, and there’s no good solution.”
“Don’t beat around the bush. Tell me everything.”
“She wants my son to be the next successor of the French mob.”
