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“I’ll bring the drinks if you bring the gossip.” Her attention moves to my wig and then the dress and fuck-me-heels. “I can’t wait to hear the story behind all this.”
Polaris and Sapphire are the two people I trust, hands down. Do I want to keep them on the outside of all this? I nod. “Deal.”
My security detail walks in just as Polaris exits.
I sigh with frustration resigned to the fact I brought this on myself. “Boys.”
“Ms. Constantine,” the leader says but only because my brother is in the room.
“Belle, your men tell me they lost you in the back of a boutique.”
I turn to face my brother. “They are notmymen and I was merely testing out the abilities of the new guards you latched onto my ass.”
Harlon comes to stand at the end of his desk. At his height, he towers over me but it’s the men at my back whose knees I hear knocking.
“And how did they do timewise?”
I purse my lips and twirl the ends of my wig. “I lost them within thirty minutes.”
Harlon nails a stone-cold look over my shoulder. “You’re dismissed,” he says calmly and I even have to shiver with goosebumps. “We will be talking later. Go to the lower level and wait for me.”
Oh shit. Basement time. I clench my lips teetering on the ledge. Do I stand up for them or let this ride?
Shit! Damn it. Harlon.
“Yes, Sir,” they say and turn, closing the door behind them.
Alone, I whirl on my brother, finger raised and my tongue like a whip. “You don’t need to duct tape bodyguards on my heels everywhere I go. I’m tired of your games. You’re not my father, Harlon. What? Are you going to whack every guard I ditch? I don’t think you have that many graves on hand.”
“Finding where to put bodies is never the issue,” he deadpans and I swear with my hand on the Bible he’s actually telling God’s truth.
“Harlon.” It’s all I can do not to let my mouth gape open.
“What? Ever since Cassandra was kidnapped and murdered, I should lock you up and not let you out. I can’t lose you too. I refuse to lose you.”
His reasoning steals the air from my sails and I fall back in one of the leather chairs pushed up close to his desk.
Defeat weighs on my shoulders. “Harlon, I need room to breathe. Youhaveto let me breathe or I’m going to suffocate. Cassandra is not here, true. And I hurt for you. I lost a sister the day she was killed. But you’re going to lose me if you keep throwing up walls everywhere I turn.”
Familiar dark eyes level with mine. Worry and the weight of his empire have left fracture lines etched into his handsome face that was not there five years ago.
He dashes a hand in the air like he can erase what I just said. “I wish it were that simple. You are my responsibility. Something happens to my favorite sister and I would burn this fucking city to the ground. You want the deaths of millions on your hands?”
He draws me to my feet and tucks me beneath his chin. His arms are comforting but at the same time, I want to rage at him for being the big, protective brother. It’s tiring.
Instead, I say what I always say when we get to this part of our years-old argument. “I’m your only sister.”
“Exactly. I don’t think I have a tall enough tower to keep you out of harm’s way.”
The off-hand comment has me pulling back and staring up at him.
“You try to put me behind a locked door, I will personally cut your nuts off for your enemies.”
My brother’s partners walk in. Santi is first with Cassius close behind. Both have finely tailored suits the color midnight and oddly enough match Harlon’s in style and shade. Only Harlon wears a white tie whereas Santi’s and Cassius’ is black.
“Vamonos!Let us hold him down for you.”
“Sounds like a perfect way to kick the weekend off.” Cassius pulls out a knife from somewhere and starts twirling the blade between his fingers. He grins and there, just below the surface, I can see the thirst for blood he keeps hidden from almost everyone.
