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“Colt, my dear, I’ve had it the whole time,” I respond.
“Robbie, on your left,” Law yells.
“Nice kill,” Dax screams too loudly into his microphone. The six of us have been playing CSGo or Counterstrike for four hours. Law knew I needed to kill things, eat pizza, drink heavily, and hear from my brothers.
“Head shot!” Law yells as he explodes someone.
“Did we get the things we’re looking for?” Hayden asks. He sucks at video games. He’s perfect at everything else but sucks at fake killing.
I yawn and know I have a long week ahead of me with the Into the Frying Pan live launch. This mini talk show will set the stage for the rest of it. After that, I know what I need to do because I ‘gots to know’.
The soft launch was a disaster, and now I have to get this all on fucking track. The Cookery can’t fail. If I secure this piece then all the weddings and divorces won’t matter. I’ll be free to create whatever kind of life I choose, work and love.
There’s so much pressure wrapped up in this. And I thought I’d run back out to LA, claim my woman, launch my empire, then kick back and celebrate my perfect life. And that went so well. But blowing everything off and leading these assholes into fake battles is the fucking best thing to happen to me today.
“I miss you, jack holes.”
“Yeah. Yeah,” Dax says.
I need to redeye back to Boston for the launch. “I’ve got to catch a plane but a good morrow to you all, brave knights.” I look at my watch and start to pull myself together.
They all say goodbye and good luck. But just as I’m about to hang up, Law says, “Oh, and he lost the bet,” then clicks off. They all yammer, and I hang up.
“Fucker!”
“Code of the bet. You’re dating her.”
“But I only fucked her once.”
“We’ll see, but if you’re this hung up, you dated her. Look, you know I can’t keep it to myself. I’m terrible with secrets and I like fucking with you. Are you really leaving?” Law laughs to himself.
I walk over to him, so he doesn’t have to get up. I slam my hand into his. “Thanks. Yeah. The jet’s waiting. I could stay if you want me to.”
He’s texting. “Nope. Please get the fuck out. Marnie will be here in ten.”
“Is this a wise call? Fucking the team manager’s daughter?”
“She’s legal. And I feel like there’s a strange voo-doo on my dick lately. I’m hoping her pussy swallows it down.”
I roll my eyes. “Love you, brother.”
“Love you too. Good luck with the cooking bullshit. And then go get her. You just let her go last time. Get them answers.”
I know what I need to do. I shake my head. “I gots to get them.”
I try to put myself back together in the car a bit. I turn on my phone, and aside from the many texts from the Boston brothers, work is blowing up.
I only read the private texts from Hayden.
HAYDEN: I know you. I know it’s Mak. Don’t let her slip into history again.
TONY: Hurts so fucking bad, dude. She lied about a ton of shit.
HAYDEN: You should know Law told us everything.
TONY: Of course, he did.
HAYDEN: He’s concerned. Do you really love her?
