Page 69 of Brandon’s Mate

Remy put his hands down from the keyboard, and Brandon realized that he was just as angry as Colt. He just hid it better.

“Then you left,” Remy went on. “You left us behind. Not a word, not even a thought for how it would affect anyone else. Colt took it really hard. Harder than almost anybody.” Remy cut a glance at Kitty.

“And when you finally did start a crew, you ditched us for some panther crew out in New Mexico. Like leopards and owls and wolves weren’t good enough for you.”

“Fuck, Remy, it wasn’t like that.”

“I don’t care what it was like for you. I care what it was like for Colt. He always thought you would come back for us. Why do you think he hasn’t settled down to anything? A job? A career? Why do you think his cat is such a mess?”

Brandon felt like he’d been punched in the solar plexus. He couldn’t get his breath. “I know we talked about all that, but…” But he hadn’t believed in it. “I figured that was just a dream. I mean, how could we start our own crew? It takes money…”

Remy raised his eyebrows. “You somehow managed for money when you started up with those panthers.”

Brandon said, “They were already a crew. They a compound. They had money.”

“So do we,” Remy said. “We could start a crew any time we wanted.”

Brandon suddenly felt like he didn’t know them at all. “You have that much money?”

Remy shrugged. “All of us do. Remember when I was doing that finance project in high school? And my friend started that business with the app he invented?”

“Yeah. You talked us each into investing $500 in it. You totally bilked us.”

“I totally planted the seeds for our financial future, asshole. We made a bunch of money on that. Then I reinvested it. I’ve been reinvesting it. Plus, your dad gave us all shares in that glitter condom company he started.”

Okay, now he was in alternate reality land. He stared at Remy. “I thought that was just my dad fucking with everybody. Don’t tell me he really did that.”

Kitty laughed. “He sure as hell did. Glitter condoms, novelty sparkly unicorn poop, and other things that should be disgusting but he somehow makes them appealing. He’s making a shitload of money.”

Brandon sank into the nearest chair. No way this was happening.

“And us along with him,” Remy added. “Lucky for you, you gave me the legal power to handle your investment account.”

“I did?”

“Dude. Do you always sign shit without knowing what it is?”

Brandon said slowly, “I didn’t think it mattered. You didn’t know squat about investing.”

Remy smirked. “Kitty’s dad does, though. Before he joined the crew and became a chef, he was some big deal finance guy for the Nashville wolf pack. He taught me about the stock market and helped me get my broker’s license.”

“Are you serious?” Brandon felt like his brain was going to explode. Everything he thought he knew about Remy McCall was being replaced with shit he’d never thought about.

Remy had been tapping on the computer keys. Now he turned the laptop around so the screen was facing Brandon. “Look for yourself.”

It was a brokerage account page with Brandon’s name at the top. When he saw the balance, he almost had a heart attack right there.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me I had that much money?”

“If you’d ever answered my fucking texts, I would have. Colt and I have more.” He took the computer back. “We started out doing it for the crew we were going to have someday. But I realized after you’d been gone awhile that you never meant it. I could tell Colt was still hoping, though. That’s why he’s so pissed now. He’s just starting to realize it.”

Brandon had no fucking clue what to say.

Remy didn’t look at him. “I’m going to run down Raines now. You might want to go talk to Colt.” He put his headphones on and started working again.

Chapter 28

Brandon rose out of his chair. Kitty got up to follow him, but he shook his head at her.