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“Me too,” Ash says, beaming. “The second I hired her back in the day, I knew she’d be something special. Although there were a few nights I second-guessed myself.”
“How dare you,” Keely says, smiling now. “I was the best employee you ever had.”
“True, but you also liked getting in trouble.” Ash’s grin is dangerous. “Like all those nights you went out to those afterhours clubs—”
I hold up a hand, interrupting her. “I’d rather not hear about my wife’s past indiscretions.”
Keely rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t sleeping around, you asshole.”
“Doesn’t sound like it.”
“Easy there,” Ash says, cutting in before Keely can kill me. “Your wife was always very respectful. Even when hammered.”
“I believe it,” I say, smirking at her.
Keely sits back, arms crossed. “What about you? Should we talk about what you’ve been up to?”
I spread my hands. “What’s there to say? I’m a legitimate businessman.”
“Yeah, right,” Keely says, eyes narrowing. “Want to tell Ash about your relationship with Jamila?”
“That’s a bad idea,” I say, my voice lowering, tone getting serious. “Keely shouldn’t cross that line.”
“See what I mean?” Keely looks at Ash. “He likes to joke and play pretend, but myhusbandisn’t domesticated. As soon as you bring up a legitimate concern, he’s growling and looking all angry.”
“They never are,” she says wistfully, smiling at her husband. “Speaking of which, Carson, why are you so quiet?”
“A lot on my mind,” he grunts, barely speaking English. He takes a long drink. “Been busy.”
“You’re always busy, and yet you find time to complain to me.” Ash’s smile is so sweet it’s disgusting. I love the obvious affection between them and how Ash isn’t afraid to tease her mob boss husband. “Come on, Carson. Stop being so damn sour all the time. Do you and your brother need to go talk things out?” She looks from me to Carson and back again.
I don’t like where this is going. A conversation with Carson about ourrelationshipisn’t high on my priority list. I’d rather ignore the problem, let shit fester, and get on with my life, burdened by resentment.
Ash wants me to take the healthy route and talk it out.
How annoying.
“He’s the one that doesn’t approve of my choices,” I say, swirling my whiskey. “Maybe he needs to reconsider his attitude.”
“I don’t approve, you’re right,” he growls. “And yet you don’t give a shit.”
“That’s because you’re my brother, not my fucking father.”
“I run the damn family.”
“You run it without me then.”
“Enough,” Ash says loudly, cutting Carson off before he can say something stupid. I’m breathing hard, my temper flaring. “Okay, that’s it. Keely, you’re with me. You two are sitting in this room until you get over this stupidity.”
“Ash,” Carson says, snarling at her. “I’m not interested. My brother—”
“Too bad.” Ash stands and drags Keely with her. “Come on, I’ll show you around a bit.”
“Uh, good luck?” Keely gives me a strained smile.
The girls leave. Carson gets up, storms over to the liquor, and pours himself another drink. He throws it back.
“I’m not sitting around here wasting my fucking time. Tell Ash we tried, but it didn’t work.” He moves to the door.
