Page 17 of Bad Run

Ignoring the look on my boss’s face, I change the subject. “Tell me more about this Christmas gala?”

Maryse excitedly tells me about the gala, and I try with all my might to think about anything other than Lance-mother-freaking-Taylor.

five

Lance

Present

Not for the first time, the sight of my home brings an ache to my chest as the driver turns right down my street.

The inside of the car gets fuzzy as I push the twinge of loneliness away and turn to Cam. “Thanks for the party and the ride, my friend. It was one hell of a night.”

“You’re welcome, Captain.”

I roll my eyes at Cam, making him chuckle. The pain in my ass refused to let me take my own car home from the club and forced me to carpool with him on his way home to Malibu.

“Knock it off,” I grumble.

“I’m honestly surprised Reed kept it classy,” Cam says.

Reed is the party animal in the group and the organizer of Cam’s bachelor party. The man went all out. Steak dinner, poker, a burlesque show, and a VIP after-party at some club in Hollywood. Classy isn’t usually in Reed’s wheelhouse. Debauchery? Definitely. Still, Reed promised a refined gentleman theme, and he delivered.

The arrival of Nico’s agent, Damien, at the after-party threw things off for a bit, but we recovered once we took out the trash. The trash being Damien and his scummy little partner, Kyle, who was not invited. I think Cam invited Damien as some sort of peace offering to his future brother-in-law.

Cam and Nico sometimes struggle with getting along after years of shit-talking and feuding. But after tonight’s show of loyalty, I doubt there will be any more awkwardness. Nico witnessed Damien’s true colors, and when the two faced off, Cam was ready to back Nico up. We all were.

Fuck with one of us, fuck with all of us.

“Same.” I remove my cell from my jacket pocket and tap the screen, opening the gate to my driveway. The driver pulls up to my front door, putting the car in park. I push open the passenger door and climb out, fumbling with my keys as I pull them from my pocket.

Cam chuckles. “Want the number for the security guy I hired to upgrade your locks and put in cameras?”

“What for?” I turn around to find Cam standing behind me.

He shrugs. “The biometric locks are easier. Make sure no one is on your property when you’re gone.”

“It’s just me.”

“Not forever,” Cam says as he walks the twelve feet from the car to the front door by my side.

“Sure,” I grumble, hoping he’ll get off my back. “You didn’t have to walk me to the door, you know.”

I know I’m drunk, but I don’t need a damn babysitter.

“I know. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this drunk before.”

Touché.

“I blame Reed and that damn bottle of whiskey.” My head spins, and my stomach lurches. I’m going to regret that last glass in the morning.

“Something going on?” the perceptive bastard asks.

Gwen’s pretty face pops into my head. She might be the other reason I drank too much whiskey tonight.

Fucking hell.

All the time I spent looking for her, and she was right under my nose the whole time. Of course, she’s my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s …