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Sophia began to move, but she was shaking her head. “You’re going to have to explain this, Vik.”
“I need to make sure she got home safe. She was out drinking.”
“Oh, Bri.” Sophia shook her head. Her steps quickened, and she hurriedly dropped into her chair. “Okay, just give me two minutes, and I’ll know where her phone is—unless she’s smashed and lost it again.”
“She wasn’t smashed two hours ago,” I grumbled. Still, something strange gnawed in my chest. Usually, this kind of worry was reserved only for the fuzzy bunny currently tapping away at the keys. Briana was always a sub-concern coming in second after my sister.
I paced the length of the three desks, spread with an array of computer screens, and realized that assessment wasn’t quite true.When did I start to worry over Briana for her own sake?A gruff laugh silently bubbled up my throat. I’d been in denial for years.
“Got her! Yep, she’s safe at her apartment,” Sophia said, relief evident in her voice. She spun around to face me. “Sooo,” she sang out, “what was she ringing for?”
“The sophisticated, blue-blooded Briana Marie needs a date for her sister’s wedding,” I replied absently, too busy tapping a message on my phone. I really needed to wash my hands clean. What was with me? Normally I used lidocaine at the scene to remove blood since it was one of the most efficient substances for removing the crimson stains.
Me: Naughty, naughty, suits...you didn’t check in when you got back. Are you trying to be a bad girl?
Message sent, I looked up from my phone to see my goofy, petite sister grinning back at me. “It was all my idea!” Sophia squeaked happily.
Well, you’re a genius, little sis.
“How did she convince you to go?” Sophia pestered, drumming her fingers into her desk.
“The offer of a Caribbean vacation? It didn’t take much convincing, sis...even if it is with Briana Pelto.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes. “Play nice, big brother.”
“Always.”
My phone vibrated.
Prep Chick: That’s because it’s none of your business.
I could hear the defiant sniff attached to the text message.
Me: Oh, it most definitely is my business, girlfriend.
I worked my tongue over my teeth as I considered adding another sentence, but then decided against it. There was an awareness that if I pushed too hard, she would back out. But later...later, I would take delight in punishing Miss Briana for her streak of defiance. A whole weekend of tormenting her sounded appealing.
“I need a passport,” I said, looking up and catching Sophia’s gaze.
“I already put in the order with Sergio. He’ll have it done tomorrow.”
I narrowed my eyes. “He takes three days to do a passport, and that’s on short notice.”
“Exactly.”
“You knew, you little devil!” I barked a laugh and went to drop a kiss on her head, but Sophia squirmed as my dirty, bloody form came too close to her fluffy pink jammies. “I’m going to wash up, don’t worry.” But I couldn’t resist ruffling her hair as I walked past her.
My phone buzzed again, and I looked down at the message.
Prep Chick: Let’s get one thing straight: You don’t have to care. So, please, don’t pretend.
Pausing on the stairs, I growled and punched out a reply.
Me: Your safety isn’t up for debate. We can bicker and annoy each other to hell and back, but I won’t apologize for wanting to keep you out of harm’s way.
The three thinking dots bubbled on her screen, then vanished. Frowning, I slid the device into my back pocket and trekked upstairs to clean up. I wouldn’t be going to bed, not with all the work that needed to get done before Tuesday.
Using soap and hot water, I scrubbed my fingers raw after a calculating glance in the mirror showed I was presentable enough to avoid a shower. A statistical anomaly considering how much the dead Serb had bled. But the likelihood that I’d be in another altercation before dawn made me decide not to ruin another change of clothes.
