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“Mason, I think that you and I should perhaps have a talk sometime.” His body stiffens and I can’t help but wonder why.
“Boss?”
“Goddammit, Mason.”
“Logan.” He inhales deeply through his nose. “I’ll call you Logan from now on.”
“Thanks, I’m not your grandpa,” I mutter to myself, then think better of it. Didn’t Con mention that the guy was living with his grandpa or something? Oh shit. “Thanks,” I reply louder, trying to sound friendlier. “But I think that we should perhaps go for a drink sometime. Like a socializing thing? I’ve had drinks with Samuel before and his dad Harry. Hell, I’ve even had drinks with that fucker, Big.” Mason’s lips curl to the faintest of smiles. “It would be my pleasure, Logan.”
He’s probably the shiest guy I’ve ever met, which is kind of surprising, considering the fact that he’s well over six feet and has a strong, well-developed body with firm muscles and a toned shape. He’s good at his work, professional, and friendly. But so distant. If my parents are right though,if, and I need to confide in a few more people to create my own inner circle, surely I’ll have to start with my own bodyguard. But I’m distant too. So, that makes two of us.
And it makes me miss Connor even more.
My younger brother once mentioned that Mason’s had a rough childhood. Well, sooner or later I’ll get the guy out and drunk. That will make him talk.
“Your parents are on their way. They’ll be ten minutes late.” The fucker’s back to his usual businessy self, eyes blank again. Drinks. Soon.
“Okay, let’s go straight to Lucia’s Diner.” I check my phone. “Connor will be on video call with us in less than twenty minutes, so we better make a move.”
“Do we need to pick up Ella or—”
“Harry’s picking her up. Just shut up and drive.Now.”
Ruby turns the key and the V10 engine comes alive with a deep rumble, while Mason spins his head around with a frown. I hold up my hands in defeat as I mumble an apology to no one in particular. Yeah, I’m still tired. I could do with a proper sleep, but images of a certain French escort are haunting me. I shouldn’t have asked fucking Big to shadow the bitch. I shouldn’t. I should be sitting in Lucia’s Diner, getting ready for our family meeting, focusing on The Void and the growing threats, rather than checking my fucking phone every five minutes like some horny teenager.
I close my eyes and rub my temple. Where is she? I’m kinda feeling desperate to feel those sweet, plump lips on me while my fingers play softly with her hair. I’m definitely her villain, and she’s my angel with her cute, little role plays. The way she acts so innocent turns me on like hell. After Samuel and his dad Harry got her back to her hotel last night, I had to rub one off under a hot, steaming shower. I got off twice, because my cock ached with the need to blow, and my mind filled with filthy fantasies of all the other little things I want to do to sweet Angélique this weekend. Oh yeah, I’ll see her again. I’ll fuck her so good, so hard, I’ll fuck her right out of my system.
Ruby and Mason are talking about the same usual shit they like to talk about. Sports, food, music. Even without interacting, I kind of like the distraction. Perhaps a pretty sad thing to think, but it feels like home. I somehow need to untangle my own mind from all the thoughts. And crankiness. Fuck, I’m such a cranky bastard.
Because Connor isn’t here. In less than four months my brother will be back and we’ll be running The Businesstogether. I need my brother's friendliness, gentleness, to make up for the lack of all those characteristics I certainly don’t have. We’re like black and white. Good and evil.
I glance out the window, where the sunlight’s now slowly but steadily leaving the city, leaving me with the awareness that evening will soon fall over us. I love spring evenings.
The Audi turns into the familiar street and parks in front of Lucia’s Diner. I’m telling you, this place serves the best tacos in the area. Luckily, it hasn’t been discovered by the masses yet. Perhaps that has something to do with the cheap-looking red and white striped shutters. Perhaps it has something to do with the windows that have taco-shaped stickers against them, grubby on their peeling corners. Or perhaps it’s simply because the large dude who’s standing outside the Diner can barely hide the Glock tucked into his belt. Fucking idiot.
Still, this is our favorite spot for outside family meetings because of its soundproof room in the back. And because my parents and the Vazquez family have known each other for a long, long time.
I nod at the idiot outside and he gives me a once over and a short greeting, before he opens the door for us. Mason goes in first, as usual, and I hear him greeting the waiter with his friendly, yet distant voice. It should irritate me really, but right at this moment, it makes me feel kind of safe. I don’t like being the first one to arrive. It makes me feel tense, on edge, and perhaps even more unpredictable. I shouldn’t have left her that card.
Mason opens the door to the meeting room and after a brief inspection, turns his head and gives me a nod and a small smile. “All clear. Shall I order us some coffee?”
I’m feeling irritable and cold. I’m not sure if Mason’s reaching out to me after my unfriendly outburst or not, or whether he’s just screwing with me. Whichever, I suddenly don’t want him to leave.
“I’m hungry,” I pout, hating how I sound like a child. Mason gives me another one of those impersonal smiles.
“I’m sure that your mother will fix that in no time. They should be here in a minute.”
It turns out to be more like twenty seconds, that we spend in an uncomfortable silence, before we hear the others arrive. The first ones to barge through the door are Harry and Samuel, loud as always when they’re not on the job. Samuel gives Mason a fist bump and after I give him a nod, my bodyguard takes a seat next to Samuel across the table. He’d rather sit as far away as possible from me, I think, gritting my teeth.
My parents greet me with a kiss and a hug and I watch Harry help Ella place the cables and computer on the table for Connor to join our meeting.
Two waiters come in with a massive portion of tacos filled with beef, onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, sliced radishes, and chili peppers and the smell makes my stomach growl. After they announced that the food’s on the house, we all dig in. I manage to finish three portions by the time Dad tells us that nearly everyone’s here, including Con who has a jealous look on his face as he stares at the full plates with filled tacos from across the computer screen.
“Don’t tell me you’re at Lucia’s?”
I open my water bottle with a grin. “No comment here, little bro.”
“Damn, I knew it.”
