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I push a hand into my hair, turn to the fire and take a deep breath in.
“Did you meet with Thiago?” Caius asks.
I turn back to him, but don’t answer.
“Addy mentioned you were back at the strip club.”
“When did you talk to Addy?”
“I was looking for you, so I made some calls. After what happened with Camilla and her freak brother, Thiago disappeared too so I put two and two together. Look,” he says, stepping toward me, putting a hand on my shoulder that I shove away. He just puts it there again. “You two went through some shit together. What the Commander did to you, I know he did twice fold to his own son. You told me that yourself. Back when you considered me a friend.”
“Caius—”
“No, it’s true. Something’s changed with us. Ever since Madelena, something’s different. You don’t trust me.”
“It changed when Dad’s will was read.”
“Back to that?”
“He cut you out for something you have no control over. For not being his by blood.”
“Yeah, I know. And do you think I don’t know that that was him and had nothing to do with you?”
“It’s still done. Same end result.”
“Ah, little brother. You’re a fucking idiot some days, you know that?” He shakes his head, picks up his glass to pour himself another whiskey, then drinks before continuing, “I think seeing Thiago and the whole fucking family fucked with you. Did he say something to you? That why you disappeared?”
“He told me not to trust anyone. Not you, not Mom, not him. No one.”
“And you listened to him because…?” He pats my back, pulls me close. “Come on, man. This is me.”
I look at him. He’s right. Why am I letting all this stuff fuck with me? The comment about the cuts, Ana told him. Him bringing it up to Madelena was him messing with her. I wonder if he’s jealous of her.
“Dad’s note. I know what you did, and this is your punishment. What did it mean?” I ask.
“I don’t fucking know. We’re never going to know. Don’t let it divide us. Don’t let any of this shit divide us. Because Mom’s got her agenda. The Averys have theirs. You’ve got your wife. And me? I don’t want to lose my brother. Believe it or not, I do have your back. I will always have your back. Me sending men to keep an eye on you is me having your back. Me escorting your wife to an event is me having your back. It’s me keeping an eye on her when she’s on her own. Would you rather I left her at the mercy of our mother?”
“Christ. No.”
“You trusted me once. I haven’t done anything to deserve anything less than your trust now.”
I put my hands up. “All right. Enough. I’m getting a fucking headache.”
He knocks on my forehead. “It’s a sign I’m getting through that thick skull. We need to get ready. One more night. Then we can relax.”
“I want you to talk to Ana. Make sure she doesn’t go near Madelena. Understand?”
“Fine. She’s jealous of her. That’s all that is.”
“Why did you choose her? Of all the women available to you? You know they have history.”
He shrugs. “Like I said, she’s a piece of ass. She’s up for anything, available, and happens to be part of Avarice’s high society. Even if her family is broke, thanks to Marnix De Léon. Win. Win. Win. That’s all.”
I take a deep breath in. “I’m sorry, Caius.”
“For being a dick?”
“Fuck you.”
He ruffles my hair. “It’s okay, little brother. I have always known you were a dick.”
