Page 27 of Bossy Ex's Brother

“What?” I didn’t hear that part from Jane, although I hadn’t exactly let her finish. Shit. I should have pummeled Damien Black’s face more when I had the chance.

“I’m not saying you should rehire her,” Brandon said, even though that was exactly what he was saying. “I’m just saying…maybe think about it. There aren’t that many managers that willagree to work here, much less be willing to go to the lengths she went to defend our employees.”

I frowned, rubbing my beard as Brandon left. I hated to admit it, but he was right. Jane didn’t handle the situation entirely well, but I couldn’t have said I would have done differently from her, except that I had the strength to drag that bastard out myself. But I was a hothead at baseline, and that was why I needed someone calm for the job. Still, knowing the full story, I couldn’t begrudge Jane her feelings.

I sighed as I got up. I needed to talk to her.

I paused when I got to the door, realizing I didn’t know where she lived.

But I sure knew how to find out.

Instantly, I took out my phone, dialing the number of one of my lesslegitimateassociates. “Hey. I need you to send me an address.”

Ten minutes later,I was pulling my motorcycle up to a two-story cottage in Greensdale, a small suburb off of Center City. It was charming in its own way, with a small garden outside. I hopped over the low fence, striding toward the door. I could hear voices yelling out as I approached.

“You’re not the boss of me! Why can’t you understand that? You’re always trying to tell us what we can and cannot do with our lives, and I’m sick of it!”

“Oh yeah? Well, I’m sick of you not assuming responsibility for your siblings. Even if you wanted to party, how could you just leave, knowing that they’re home alone? He’s twelve, and she’s eight. How can you just leave?”

“Yeah, that’s not right, Bethany,” came a male voice.

“It’s none of your business, college dropout!”

“Don’t call your brother that. And you, you’re going to call Harvard right this second and tell them that you’re not withdrawing. Tell them it was a mistake brought on by temporary insanity.”

“I won’t do that, and you can’t make me.”

“Oh, you just watch what I do.”

I rang the doorbell, but it didn’t even pause Jane’s tirade, although I heard her get closer as she continued to rant, “I swear to God, Felix, we’re going to get you back into that school. I can pay for it. I have a new job and everything—”

Her words died on her tongue the second she pulled open the door and saw me standing there.

“You,” she spat instead.

“Me,” I said in the same tone of voice.

“What are you doing here?” she questioned.

“Interrupting World War Three.” I stepped up to the threshold, and she took a step back, allowing me to see the people standing behind her. I knew the girl was her sister—she was the spitting image of Jane, except she had brown eyes instead of brilliant blue, and I vaguely recognized her from the bar when we went to get her. The boy, on the other hand, was tall and lanky and did have Jane’s eyes, but his hair was a sandy mess of curls on his head.

Both of them looked at me with two completely different expressions.

The girl’s eyes widened, and she squeaked in surprise before a blush spread across her cheeks.

The boy, however, eyed me suspiciously and said, “Who are you?”

“Jane’s pimp,” I commented, and his shocked gaze swung to Jane, who rolled her eyes.

“He’s my boss,” she explained, then turned to me. Her face furrowed in confusion as if she had just realized something. “How did you know where I live?”

“I know a whole bunch of things. It’s one of my special talents.”

She sighed in frustration. “Do you ever answer a question directly?”

“I could, but why would I want to?” I tilted my head toward her brother and sister, who were watching our exchange in rapt attention. “Let’s talk in private.”

She glanced at her siblings, who were both eyeing us curiously, and then nodded toward the kitchen. “We can go in there and talk.”

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