Because whatever’s going on, I’m positive it’s Bouchard crap. Maybe not Blaze directly, but his family for sure.
“So how long is the process to get a new frat house, anyway?” Asch asks, his voice as mild as his expression. “I don’t want to be stuck with Blaze and River forever.”
That’s stupid. Of course he’s stuck with them forever. How could he even think of leaving?
Ezio laughs, and it’s a horrible sound, like weasels tittering in brush.
I must have seen a nature documentary about that once.
“The new building won’t be up for at least two years. You know how those things go.” Ezio’s gaze stays on me. “Especially since the new building will have to be more fireproof. That means more protection than simple drywall.”
“Are you going to upgrade to firewood?” I ask glibly.
Blaze’s arm tightens around my shoulder. “Sounds like a pain. But all the brothers can afford off-campus housing. We’ll rent spaces when we need to host events.” He moves his hand so it’s resting across the back of my neck. “We don’t want to bother you though. Pandora, let’s go grab lunch.”
He doesn’t want me talking to Ezio.
That piques my interest, and I stay in my seat despite the way Blaze’s hand tightens on my neck.
“Is that your full job, then?” I ask. “Figuring out logistics? What do you do when you aren’t cleaning up after house fires?” I attempt to lean closer to Ezio, but Blaze squeezes even tighter.
I let out a small, breathy gasp.
Ezio’s eyes flicker from Blaze’s hand back to my face.
“I do all sorts of things. Right now, I assist Mr. Bouchard. Blaze’s father, that is, not Blaze. It’s a little of this, a little of that.” Ezio’s slimy grin widens. “You must know. Doesn’t your father have assistants too? Like Mr. Rossi?”
I freeze.
How does he know about Damien?
More to the point, how dare he reduce Daddy to the level of anassistant. He’s so much more to the family than an assistant to order around. He’s my father, as much as Papa is.
“What did you say your name was?” I ask.
“He’s Ezio Roland,” Blaze answers. “And we’re done talking. Let’s go, Pandora. I think if we stay, something else might catch fire.”
Asch offers a hand to me. “C’mon,” he says.
Both of them seem determined to pull me away from Ezio.
Ezio waves. “I’ll see you around, Pandora. I have a feeling we have a lot to chat about.”
Yes.
We definitely do, but it’s not going to happen in front of Blaze and Asch.
I let them drag me out of the coffee shop. I toss myPandracoffee cup into the trash can outside the shop.
“So,” I say carefully. “Who the fuck is he?”
Blaze’s hand is still on the back of my neck, like he’s afraid my head is going to roll off if he lets go.
“Bad news for you,” Blaze mutters. “Just stay out of his way.”
Asch scoffs. “Way to make her want to talk to him even more, Bouchard,” he retorts. “Miss Contrary here is going to go out of her way to find him now.”
“How does he know about Daddy?” I hiss, and I finally elbow Blaze so he lets go of me. He grunts and reluctantly releases me,but there’s a spark in his eyes that tells me he wants to keep fighting.
