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I huff for a bit, trying to calm myself. I know I’m flushed and my heart rate is out of control. Both Ryan and Jas know I’m a switch, and they just heard me be a brat submissive. I need to get them thinking of something else. Not to focus on me and that damn idiot I married.
“I’m fine. Please don’t tell Leif anything.” Maybe that will distract them.
“Tell me what?” my brother says from directly behind me. I swing around and look up at him. I have a hard time lying to him. He’s done so much for me and takes care of me instead of having a relationship of his own and starting a family. He tells me all the time he’s got his hands full with business, me, and Jas.
“Oh, not to tell you that I lost my luggage with the award in it. I’m sorry.” I hope that works. It’s not a complete lie but a good enough one. I don’t have the award and I don’t have luggage.
“Auntie Erika, you made it home for my recital.” Raquel runs into the room from the backyard. This little girl is my little sweets. I love her so much, and she deserves everything after losing her parents so young.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Sissy said you beat the other artists’ asses—”
“Raquel, what did you say?” Jasmin yells, and I hide my smile behind my hand. I know that’s exactly what Jas said.
“But that’s what you said, sissy.” Tears start to pool in her eyes, and I realize she’s playing all of us. Little actress knows how to get to these men. I need to learn from her.
“I did beat them, angel. You shouldn’t say that word though.” I kneel down so she can hug me.
I enjoy a nice dinner and good wine with my family as they celebrate my win. I can’t tell them I think my win was rigged. That’s another task for tomorrow. I’ll call and get that straightened out. I’ll give my trophy back, and they can award it to the second-place winner. I won’t be given an award I don’t deserve just because I fucked Grayson.
Jas pulls me into the kitchen, leaving the others out on the back deck that overlooks the bay.
“Okay, girl, I’ve known you long enough to know not only when you are lying but when you’re hiding something. What happened?” She confronts me.
I explain everything about Grayson and marrying him. About him owning the casino and about hisbabushkaconfronting me. How she made me feel dirty and trashy.
“I don’t care that he’s got a questionable past. I can’t believe I married him. Jas, I don’t know what to do. He lied to me. He owns that fucking hotel.” I vent it all.
“Were you drunk? Because you have said you’d never get married.” She’s right, I have said that. But I also want what she has. I look over her shoulder to see Ryan standing there. I can’t tell her any more without him telling Leif. They have become close friends.
“We’ll talk more later. I’m going home. I’m tired.” I kiss her cheek and lean down to rub her beautiful baby belly. I can’t wait for this little guy to come into the world. I walk over to Ryan and kiss his cheek. Leif steps inside and I kiss his before I head out to my car and my quiet home. Hopefully, I can get some sleep.
* * *
Grayson
The phone rings,and I know this is my only chance. Erika is back at home, but with the way the meeting went yesterday, I can’t leave Vegas right away. I’ve got Ilya on his way to her, but I know no one can protect her better than Ley can.
“Well, well, well, big brother, you’re awake early. What is it, like six in the morning there?” Ley chuckles through the line. “Or have you not gone to sleep at all?” She laughs harder.
“Enough, Ley. I need your help.” I need to get her focused. She’s extremely smart but loves to rib me.
“Stop right there,” she says. “Did the almighty Grayson Aldridge just say he needs my lowly help? Don’t you have guys for that?” Her voice still has a chuckle in it but is serious too. She has a voice most guys would find sexy.
“Yes.”
“Say it.” She pushes, and I know what she wants. She’s been like this since we were kids.
“The almighty, powerful, and sexy—”
“Yuck, no, not that last part. I can’t imagine that. You’ve scarred me for life.” She interrupts me.
“Let me finish or I won’t.”
“Fine.”
“The almighty, powerful, and sexy Grayson Aldridge needs the talented, beautiful, andhumbleRidley Andreason’s help.” Just like me, she doesn’t have our father’s name. Both of our mothers were mistresses and not wives, so we didn’t get the Morosov name. Only Andrei has our father’s last name. His mother was a wife, and she was killed when he was young.
