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He paused, glancing at me with raised brows, giving me the chance to deny it, but I didn’t bother. Anyone with eyes could see that I didn’t get along with Wren, and our most recent interaction only proved the animosity between us. I tipped my chin in a sharp nod, agreeing with his statement and prompting him to continue with what I knew wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation.
“You two don’t get along. Ames asked me to leave it alone, and I have. But the four of us? We’re a family.” His emphasis on the number made it clear where I landed on the family tree. Or rather, where I didn’t. “Now, you and I are actually going to be family soon. I’ve given you a job, you live in our home, and I honestly don’t mind you.” This was the most complimentary Alex had ever been toward me, and I took a moment to internally preen at the praise that I knew he wasn’t usually willing to give.
“I don’t mind you guys either.” This time I was the one emphasizing, making it clear who was omitted.
“Exactly. But Wren is a part of our family. And if you want a job with us, there can’t be any strife within the family, all mob puns aside. You two need to figure it out, and this is the only way I can think of to do it. You can prove you can handle a job on your own, albeit a small one, while also fixing whatever is going on between you two. I’m not asking you to be friends. I’m asking you to not be openly hostile every time we get together. Because I won’t allow the tension between the two of you to come between me and my future wife, so figure it the fuck out.
“Dev is exhausted working the Cillian job, and so am I. I’m still trying to figure out who initially posted the threat, not to mention that I’m having to keep the business running while Dev is essentially out of commission. You’ve been asking for some more independence, so I’m giving it to you. Install whatever security you feel is appropriate and submit a report to me when you’re done.”
Dismissed, I nodded to the two of them as I left the room, hearing them beginning to discuss some new intel on the Cillian job while I mulled over the speech Alex just gave. It was the most I’d ever heard him talk at once, and the first time he’d commented on any of my actions, though I should’ve known my games with Wren wouldn’t go unnoticed. The little bird put up more of a fight than I expected, which made it all the more fun, but much less discreet.
If Dev hadn’t been exhausted, I’m sure he would’ve made a comment on my vendetta against Wren being a weakness. An easily noticeable and exploitable one, considering Alex had picked up on it and made my first independent job security at her floral shop. I should’ve been irritated at having to confront her with some semblance of professionalism, but the annoyance at my task didn’t surface, only anticipation at the opportunity to play some more.
Chapter6
Bex
I endedup atIn Bloomjust after eleven, only able to dick around the house gathering the necessary setup for a comprehensive security system for so long. The fact that one didn’t already exist at Wren’s shop just went to show how busy things had been for the guys before I came along.
Alex and Dev must’ve warned her of my impending arrival, because instead of being met with surprise or a half-hearted glare – seeing as other than our last encounter, Wren was never quite mean enough to pin a full-force glare on anyone – I was met with total indifference.
Wren’s eyes didn’t even flick my way when I entered the closed shop, a note on the door in Wren’s curling handwriting explaining they would only be open for pickups today. She just continued to sweep up the broken glass surrounding the large window that made up most of the front wall of her store. Now it was just an empty pane, only a few jagged pieces of glass left around the edges.
Unwilling to be the first to break the tension, I brushed past where she crouched on the floor sweeping up the glass, moving to the main counter and setting down the large box of cameras and equipment I spent the past hour or so gathering. My biceps flexed with the movement, muscles tightening as I lifted the box onto the counter. I glanced back at the woman on the floor, expecting her to peek over, familiar with her less-than-subtle assessments of my body over the past few months. But her eyes remained firmly on the floor, and I frowned at her sudden ability to tune me out.
Keeping my mouth shut, I started installing cameras and motion sensors around the small storefront. The cameras were wireless, so I only needed a few screws for each one and the stepladder Wren used for getting vases off the shelves.
After an hour, my limited patience started to wane. Rather than allow the wide berth Wren had given me so far, I made myself unavoidable. When she went to the bathroom, I moved the step stool in front of the door, forcing her to squeeze her body past mine as I pretended to check camera angles. I abandoned the motion sensor at the front door to install the security system hub under the front counter as Wren worked on an arrangement, making sure my arms brushed against her legs as she worked. She flinched every time we made contact, and I was pleased that while she could force her face not to react, her body couldn’t quite keep up.
By the end of the second hour, we were both frustrated, jaws clenched as we waited for the other to break. Wren caught on quickly to my game and refused to react, allowing me to move around her body as I installed equipment without a word or glance in my direction.
With everything set up in the front of the store, I ended up in the back room, which served as Wren’s office as well as a storage center. There were rolls of cellophane stacked on shelves alongside silver envelopes that matched the ones I knew Alex kept in his office to write notes to my sister. The safe was tucked in the back corner, still looking pristine despite the break-in, and something about that niggled in the back of my mind. I made a mental note to look closer later but focused on finishing the job Alex had given to me directly, knowing he’d be keeping track of my time. I had already wasted at least half an hour going out of my way to silently antagonize Wren, so I sped through the final few steps of setup.
I wrapped up the last of the equipment, double checking the system’s connection and ensuring it was set up for remote access. I sent Alex a quick email, giving him a rundown of the system I installed and ensuring he had full access. He did this for all our systems, both for security and for information, most of which he obtained through observing his clients when no one knew he was looking.
Of course, Wren would know Alex had access, but she was likely the only client with that information. I pulled up the system on my phone, checking the cameras that gave a view of the whole store. I found Wren in moments, watching as she pulled a finished arrangement out of the giant fridge in the corner of the store. The fact that she hadn’t addressed me all morning tugged on my nerves, making me feel off-balance.
That never ended well for me. It started most of my bad relationships and ended most of my good ones. Ignoring the off-balance feeling was how I ended up hacking into a few government systems on a dare from my ex-boyfriend almost a year ago, landing us both in jail before Alex bailed me out through some less-than-legal means. Namely, destroying the evidence that linked me to the crime. Most recently, the feeling ended up destroying my relationship with my sister, if only for a few weeks.
The off-balance feeling meant that I was going to be reckless, and as Wren continued to ignore my less overt poking and prodding, I felt more desperate. I could order a bouquet for another woman, but that would require speaking with her. I considered setting a small fire in Wren’s back office, forcing her to talk to me first if only to point me in the direction of a fire extinguisher. I could push her in the fountain a few blocks over, but then she’d end up soaking wet on the security cameras.
I thought about Alex’s words, the threat contained within them. I couldn’t actively antagonize Wren in front of the others. I could go back to ignoring her, treating her like a pesky little bug trying to buzz in my ear. But every time the idea of ignoring her entered my mind, I couldn’t help but remember the excitement I felt when we fought, the anticipation of watching her cry and watching how her face reacted to my taunts.
The possibilities running through my head were interrupted when movement in another camera caught my eye just as I heard the bell above the front door ding.
A woman walked in, frowning in concern as her eyes took in the broken front window and Wren’s note informing everyone the shop would be closed. She looked slightly familiar, the small tingle of recognition bursting into flame when I watched Wren’s smile take over her face on the camera. It wasn’t her usual customer service smile, nor the friendly one she often wore around me, though not often aimed in my direction. No, this one was worse, because it wasshy.
Wren didn’t visibly blush often - save for flushing when she was drunk - something my sister had lamented about in jealousy multiple times. But even if you couldn’t see a pink to Wren’s cheeks, you could always tell when she was.
Her smiles turned shy, teeth hiding behind her curved lips as her eyes focused on the ground. The fact that I could catalog each of her smiles made the anger simmering in my veins heighten to a boil, but it didn’t spill over until I watched the customer reach over and touch Wren’s wrist in a casual gesture of affection.
I hadn’t regretted ripping up her business card, only sparing a second thought to savor the feeling. But now I regretted it, because I wished I had shoved the business card down her throat instead.
Men so often thought women didn’t have violence within them. It was the reason there were shows calledWhy Women Killwhile men were never questioned about their murderous traits. As if the concept of a violent woman needed various, separate explanations outside of those of men. I was of the mindset that women had just as many violent thoughts as men, if not more. They just had a better handle on those emotions. Not to mention physical violence toward a woman flirting with Wren likely fell under the warning Alex had given me this morning.
I spent a moment considering how far being his future sister-in-law would go when it came to lenience but decided not to risk it. This was the first job I enjoyed since I turned eighteen and followed anything that gave me the slightest inch of serotonin.
So, rather than physically harm the woman currently making Wren laugh as she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear, I would stop their interaction nonviolently. But permanently.
