Page 14 of Faking it with the Billionaire
“Shut up,” I growl at my younger brother. “Don’t give me a reason to kick your ass.”
“Like you’ve ever needed a reason before?” Jasper quips. “And please tell me you’re inviting the bodyguard.”
I don’t have time to plan a gathering, although it’s usually nothing extravagant. A few of my buddies get together, have drinks and dinner, and bring their spouses or dates if they’re so inclined. We tend to sit around the fire pit in the backyard when the weather cooperates and just chill the fuck out.
It would be good to see the guys and unwind for a couple of hours.
“I’m sure Emerson has better things to do than attend a barbeque,” I say.
“If you don’t invite her, she’s going to feel left out.”
“If I do, it’ll be awkward as hell. I mean, what if she starts gossiping with Levi’s wife about me?”
“Oh, you can count on it,” Jasper says and smacks me on the back. “If she’s not doing it, I sure as hell will. It’ll be fun to—uh, what do the kids call it these days, spill the tea.”
“You’re an asshole. You know that?”
“I know you keep me around because you love me,” Jasper quips. “And I love to give you hell.”
SIX
EMERSON
“Emmie!”Bristol squeals as she runs out of the school building and across the lawn where I stand, waiting for her. I’m still within the school grounds, and the teacher is grumbling under her breath, as the kids don’t seem to listen and wait until their parents check them off the list for pickup.
I step toward Bristol’s teacher, the young woman with whom I had conversed earlier when I had first arrived before the school day began.
“I’ll need to see your I.D.,” the woman says, smiling politely.
At least she knows I’m picking Bristol up. I have a sneaking suspicion that Kyler called the school office to confirm my arrival.
I initial the sheet as requested, and the teacher hands me back my driver’s license.
I inhale a sharp breath as Antonio Moretti stalks toward us. He has one little girl clutching his hand and a gorgeous woman on his arm. She seems to be trying to wrangle the little boy over to her.
Apparently, the mafia don is married or at least involved with the woman. I hadn’t done my due diligence on the family. I only discovered earlier today Bristol’s relation to the Morettis.
His gaze is hard, his jaw sharp as he stares at Bristol, shooting daggers at the six-year-old. If looks could kill, he’d have murdered her by now.
I refrain from causing a scene. The last thing I want is to put Bristol in further danger than she already is. Perhaps I should discuss transferring Bristol out of Briarwood Academy and suggest she attend someplace less problematic. A private school where the mafia doesn’t have their children enrolled.
“Mr. Moretti and Ms. Ryan,” the teacher says, gesturing for us to hold on a moment. “I’d like us all to schedule a meeting together with both families so that we can discuss the in-classroom issues we’ve been having.”
“I don’t see why we need to attend,” Antonio says. “My son isn’t the problem.”
“And you’re saying that Bristol is?” I’m appalled that he thinks his son bears no responsibility for the issues at hand.
“Please, if we may,” the teacher says and forces a smile. “This would be best left to the parents. Could you pass the message along to Mr. Greyson for us and let us know when he will be able to attend on behalf of his daughter.”
“Right.” My jaw ticks. There is no chance I’m allowing Mr. Moretti and Mr. Greyson alone together, even if Bristol isn’t in attendance. “I will pass the message along.”
Bristol and I hurry across the lawn, my hand gripping hers as I practically tug her toward the driver.
“It’s not my fault,” Bristol whines as I hurry her to the awaiting vehicle. Mitchell opens the back door, and Bristol climbs in first. I scoot in beside her and glance back to see Antonio Moretti getting into the vehicle behind us. He, too, has a driver chauffeuring him and his family around.
I’ll need Declan or Jaxson to do a little reconnaissance work on the Moretti family. If they’re the main threat to Bristol, then sitting down with them to discuss the children’s behavior at school isn’t going to make the problem disappear.
We should be getting her as far from Antonio and his men as possible.
