“Yes, but the effects will be lessened because we rejected her. Cai, she really didn’t show any signs of knowing there was anything between you?” Maddox asks.
“If I was close enough to smell her, then she had to smell me,” Aled adds.
“No reaction at all,” I say. “She’s got to be on some type of blockers.”
“While there are some pharmaceutical companies that are rolling out scent, alpha, and heat blockers, they aren’t as easy to procure as the street shit,” Maddox says.
We should know since we always have our ear to the ground about new developments in the drug industry. Dad doesn’t deal with any of it because he says that the manpower to run drugs is high, but I don’t want to be taken by surprise by new people moving into our territory.
The Minneapolis Irish mafia have no idea of our existence because our image is squeaky clean. Dad’s territory is also in California, which may as well be the other side of the world for these people. We want to keep things as quiet as possible.
“She hasn’t the faintest idea of who we are to her,” I mutter. “If she’s on scent blockers, they must only work for others, because her deliciousness is out there for the world to smell.”
“Down, Cai,” Maddox sighs.
Aled hides a smile as he hunches down, his thumb rubbing his bottom lip as he thinks.
“What are you having her do right now?” he asks.
I explain that I panicked and chose the task that he bitches the most about, and he barks out a laugh.
“Let’s give her time to finish before we tell her we’re rejecting her,” he decides. “I’d prefer that I didn’t have to step in where she leaves off if she chooses to leave the company.”
“If she’s competent at her job, I’m sure we can convince her to stay,” Maddox muses. “Cai, find some dirt on her. See what she failed to tell us during her initial interview. Everyone has something.”
“Fuck,” I groan. “This feels gross.”
“Because it is, brother,” Aled says, clapping me on the shoulder.
A knock sounds on the door, and I have the immediate feeling that it’s the bagels. There’s a take out coffee shop calledBrewed Awakening not far from here that’s to die for. The owner makes all of their baked goods from scratch.
“I don’t want to get up,” I pout. “My breakfast is here.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Maddox complains, standing to answer the door. “Thank you, Vera. Can you grab Cai’s laptop for me, please? I have something important that needs to be taken care of.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I watch as Maddox takes the bag of bagels from her and a tray of iced coffee. God I love that woman. I didn’t ask for it, but I seriously need some caffeine for what Maddox needs me to do.
I’m prone to food comas after eating.
“Thank you, Vera!” I call out.
“You’re very welcome,” she says. I can hear the amusement in her voice, but there’s not a twitch of it on her face. She’s a tough cookie, and that’s why she’s lasted so long as my oldest brother’s assistant.
He’s very difficult to please in any way.
Maddox closes the door immediately after he dismisses Vera, and knowing him the way I do, I know he doesn’t mean anything by it. He is merely done with the conversation.
“You’re a pain in my ass,” Maddox says, putting the bagels and coffee tray on the table in front of me.
“And yet, you’re going to drink the coffee and have a bagel,” I say knowingly, watching as he finds himself staring at the bag after pulling out an iced coffee.
“Well, they are here,” he mutters, opening the bag and helping himself to what he wants. “Do you think you can get the information I need by the end of the day?”
“What, now you’re in a hurry?” I ask. My stomach is twisting in pain at the thought of food now, but I force myself to grab an Asiago bagel. It’s perfectly loaded up with cream cheese, and I take a bite as I pull the halves apart.
Fuck, it tastes so good. Yet, I can’t enjoy it without thinking of Olivia and her doe-like blue eyes. She’s a casualty of our lifestyle and fierce loyalty to family.
There’s no room for her. She’s too pure, too weak for this life. Maybe she’ll find someone better who will adore her and give her kids. She’s not too old for that right?
