AllFreeNovel
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Me: Fair point. Park in the garage.
Ezra: I need a code for that.
Me: 76431688
Ezra: G8?
Me: Stalker...
Me: Door’s unlocked.
Just come in.
I grab a bottle of water and unlock my front door on my way back to the couch. But instead of getting comfortable, I collect all the information from the envelope my dad left me and tuck everything safely away in my bedroom.
Spare minutes pass before Ezra walks into my apartment with a bottle of expensive scotch.
I raise a questioning brow.
“It’s from Quin. After you left, Riley laid into him…” He shrugs. “Actually beat his ass. Kane and I had to separate them. But Ri continued to yell about how you could have died because he got high and thought he could steal the beans.”
“He has no regard for the rules,” I grumble.
Ezra huffs in annoyance. “I told him that too.”
“Not Quin,” I correct. “Riley.”
“What rules?”
I sigh. “No names, no drugs, no family affairs.”
“And?” he prompts.
“That’s it.”
“Why?”
“They’re a failsafe. No family affairs means we don’t talk about family, friends, or associates, or any of the bullshit that comes with them. No drugs is pretty cut and dry. I don’t want drug usage around me, and I don’t partake in them. And no names…”
I sigh again, fumbling with the rest of my explanation. “It keeps everyone safe. I don’t mention names, so they can’t be used against me, and I don’t want my name mentioned for the same reason. Also, it helps keep the drama and jealousy at bay when you have more than one... fuck buddy. This way, they don’t know who the other person is.”
“Fuck buddy?” Ezra parrots, his expression sour.
“Lover feels too permanent,” I say with a frown.
He scoffs, challenging me. “Are you telling me Riley and Kane aren’t a lasting thing?”
“I’m not a lasting thing,” I clarify. “The life I live is dangerous, and it tries to kill me every day.”
“Hashtag gang life,” he snarks.
I snort before I can stop myself. “Something like that.”
“So, we’re back to those kinds of answers.”
“Depends. Are you cashing in your mile?”
Ezra lifts his chin, giving me a little of that Copeland family arrogance. “Are you going to charge me for information I already know?”
