It broke my heart that Dylan still blamed himself for so much of what his father had done. It wasn’t his fault his dad was an asshole.
I was starting to think maybe mine was one too.
We were contemplating dessert when the door opened and Dylan’s brothers walked in.
“Wait, are we late?” Austin’s head swung around as he took in our plates and the film crew. “What the hell, James?”
“They wanted me and Indy here earlier so they could get a lay of the land.” Dylan sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “See what our relationship is about.”
“And did you?” Austin asked the producer.
James’ eyes flicked between all of us before resting on me. “I’m getting there.”
Something about the way he said that was unsettling and ominous.
Dylan picked up on it too. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
James blinked innocently. “That Indy is new? What do we really know about her?”
“You know all the shit she and I have told you.” Dylan sprang up from his seat and stomped over to James to jab a finger into his chest. “You don’t do shit about her. We clear?”
While they were busy staring each other down, my pulse thrummed loudly in my ears.
What did that mean?
What was James going to do?
“You forget who you’re dealing with here.” James stared menacingly back at Dylan but didn’t move a muscle. “I’m the one who called for help when the West Coast Kings were beating the shit out of your brother in the parking lot. I’m the one who’s got the ear of the network. I’m the one holding your destiny in my hands.”
James took a step into Dylan’s finger then lowered his voice.
“Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me. Boy.” James cocked his head. “You won’t like what happens if you do.”
Dylan narrowed his eyes but didn’t move away.
Austin, Nathan, and Ryan stepped up behind Dylan.
“You think you can fuck with us?” Dylan finally asked.
“You think you can threaten one of us, and we’ll all let it slide?” Austin bit out.
Nathan cocked his head. “I think you’re seriously underestimating our family loyalty,boy.”
James finally took a step back and lifted his palms. “Clearly things have gotten out of hand. We should—”
“You all should leave.” Austin stared down the producer. “We’re done filming for the day.”
“That’s not a call you get to make.” James grinned, his teeth glinting like a shark’s.
Nathan grinned menacingly back. “I think you’ll find if you continue filming, you won’t like what you get.”
Ryan pouted. “You wouldn’t believe what Felicity is eating right now. Vegetables! She loves peas.”
“Oh really?” Austin asked. “I can’t get Wyatt to even try something green. What’s your secret?”
“You gotta make it like a game. Or even better, feed them off your plate. Just make one big plate for yourself, and they’ll come right over to try whatever you’re eating.”
“Stop, stop, stop.” James waved his hands.
