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This is what’s at risk if I allow my darkness to consume me.
Losing them.
We’ve been together since conception, and being separated, because of the crazy shit that goes on inside my head, would fucking kill me.
Me: Met Ty Constantine.
Sparrow: Do tell…
Me: Desperate for a friend. Lo and behold, I was available.
Sully: You? A friend?
Me: I found out our boy here had dinner last night over at Alexander’s. Met Landry. Said she was hot.
Sully: She’s not hot.
Sparrow: She’s all right.
Fucking liars. If it’s anything like Ivy Anderson—a girl we all wanted and had back in high school—then I know they’re downplaying things. As if I can’t sense their interest. Sometimes they’re so obvious it’s ridiculous.
Me: I invited him to go bar hopping.
Sparrow: Did he actually accept???
Sully tries to call me, but I hit decline because if I wanted to talk to him, I’d call him.
Me: Yeah. We swapped numbers.
Sully: You can’t beat his ass, Scout. This job is different than our usual.
For fuck’s sake. Like I don’t already know that. They really do think I’m a lunatic. It rankles me.
Me: I get real sick and tired of you always handling me with kid gloves, Sull.
Sully: And I get real sick and tired of you blowing up our lives!
Sparrow: Guys…chill.
Sully: I can meet Ty for drinks.
Me: Already tired of babysitting duty? Are you sure I’m fit to tutor some little girl?
Sparrow: He’s being an idiot, Scout. We know you’re not going to kick Ty’s ass.
Me: Does Sully know this?
Not sure what’s crawled up Sully’s ass lately, but it’s starting to piss me off.
Sully: Fuck off.
Me: Fine. Since your panties are in a wad, you go for drinks with Ty and I’ll tutor the runt. Although, I must say I’m more likely to be found out considering I haven’t been spending hours learning sign language like you have…
I know he’ll cave. For some reason, he’s really into his role in this operation. A damn ASL book came in the mail today for him. And, since he can’t be in two places at once, he’ll have to choose. Ty or the girl.
Sully: Whatever. Have fun getting plastered with a Constantine. Don’t call me when you accidentally kill him and get hauled off to jail.
Sparrow: Yeah, don’t call me either. I have more important shit to do than deal with cops.
They continue slinging insults, but I’m no longer interested in our conversation because Bryant is calling.
“Hey,” I grunt out, answering on the second ring. “What’s up?”
“I got you a little intel. On your…obsession.”
My hackles raise and I suppress a growl. “What sort of intel?”
He chuckles, deep and a little evil. “The good sort. Date, location, time.”
“Legit?”
“Confirmed and legit.”
“Go on…” I grit my teeth, hating how eager I am for this information. Bryant’s “intel” comes at a high price. He’s had me do some shit that my brothers don’t even know about. The kind of stuff that really would get me sent away to prison for life.
“I’ll need a favor, of course,” he croons. “You understand. Family takes care of each other.”
Family.
This fucking guy.
He might be running through my blood, but he’s not my family. The only family I have is my mother, who was wrongly taken from us, and my brothers. Everyone else is irrelevant to me.
“Of course,” I mutter. “What do you need?”
“A property needs dealing with. The Morellis have many enemies and I make sure they’re cut off before they become a problem.”
“Deal with…how?” I implore. “Break in? Vandalism?”
“The latter.”
“Elaborate.”
“I want you to burn their building to the fucking ground.”
That’s a little more than vandalism…
“If I were to get caught…” I trail off. “Your intel better be good.”
“Don’t get caught. Look but don’t touch or Winston won’t be the only man who will rip you to shreds,” he clips out. “And my intel is well worth the risk.”
Look but don’t touch.
Sure thing, Uncle. I’ll be on my best behavior…
“I’m listening.”
“Winston’s little wifey. She’ll be at a baby shower this weekend for a friend of the Constantine family.”
Ash.
My ex-stepsister.
It’s about time we’ve caught up…
“I’ll do your dirty work. Now tell me everything.”
“Thatta boy, son.”
I’m not his son, but I’ll let him call me whatever the fuck he wants as long as he gives me the information I need.
Chapter Eleven
Sparrow
I thrum my fingers on my desk, my stare fixed on the doorway to the classroom. Energy buzzes beneath my skin and I’m not sure why. Maybe I’ve had too much coffee this morning.
Or maybe you’re just excited to see Landry…
A derisive snort escapes me and the dude beside me whips his head my way. Ignoring him, I continue to wait for my target to arrive.
It’s not excitement to see her…it’s excitement to get back to doing my job.
Fuck with her.
Make her fall in love with me—us.
Scout learned that Ty Constantine went to her house last night. Alexander Croft isn’t wasting any time. I suppose trying to marry off his daughter to one of the wealthiest families in not only the country, but the world, would be high on his list of priorities.
