“And running to Daddy when you spot your adult sister with a member of the opposite sex checks that box for you?”
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. And you know as well as I do that normal rules don’t apply to people like us.”
“I’m not part of ‘us,’ Brody.” I poke his chest, just below his boring navy tie. “I didn’t choose the life the way you did.”
He shakes his head. “You might not have chosen to be part of some of the family dealings like Connor and me, but you’re still family, Maeve. And I was looking out for you. Just like I’mchecking in on you now.” He shoves a hand through his short hair and glares, his voice cutting above the din of the lobby. “You don’t have to bite my head off for trying to be a good brother.”
“Keep it down. This is my job.” I push him farther behind the palm. I’d rather not draw the attention of the entire hotel. “If you worry about me so much, then where the hell were you when your own guard assaulted me?”
He freezes. “What are you talking about? Which guard? When?” With each question, his voice grows louder.
“Like you care. Unless I’m hosting your little mobster book club upstairs, none of you give a damn about me.”
Brody visibly blanches. “How can you say that? Of course I care. Are you okay?” He snags my biceps, his gaze darting over me frantically, as if searching for visible injuries. When his inspection reaches my cheek, he pauses, flinching. “Did someone hit you?”
Guess my makeup job to cover the faint bruise worked for Lenora but wasn’t quite up to fooling a mobster.
Tentatively, he raises his fingers, as if to touch the injury. I shake him off before contact. “I’m fine.”
“Which guard are you talking about?”
The malice in his tone startles me into crossing my arms over my chest.
Would ratting Shout out even matter? Even if Brody cares, and I still have my doubts, my father sure as hell doesn’t.
I heave a sigh. I don’t have time to be this tired so early in the morning. “It’s over, and I’m okay.”
Brody ignores my reassurance while mumbling to himself. “Come to think of it, he didn’t show up to work last night. We haven’t seen him since the night before last. I guess that makes sense now. Is that when it happened?”
“What makes sense?”
Brody growls. “That Shout wouldn’t show up for work after. Because if he does, he’ll be in for a world of pain.” Brody reaches for my arm but lets his hand fall by his side before touching me, hesitation flitting over his features. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did he…?”
“I can handle myself.” Not true in this particular case, but I’m not giving him the details. Sharing how Kellin swooped in like a caped crusader might makemefeel better, but it would only fuel the “be wary of Kellin” fire, especially if my father heard. “But you need to do a better job of vetting your goons. We can’t have them wandering around the hotel acting like savages. Sexual assault is not good for business.”
When I say the wordssexual assault, Brody winces before his jaw tightens. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.” He glances over my shoulder. “I’ll do better. If you see Shout again, text me. Or if you ever feel unsafe.”
At the subtle plea in that last sentence, I relent. “Fine. But I don’t appreciate being put under observation in my own hotel.”
“Understandable.” My brother’s lip curls. “That motherfucker doesn’t know what’s coming for him.”
I really wish I had no idea what he meant. But I was raised by a pack of mafiosos and know all too well what these type of men are capable of.
Though, in Shout’s case, I can’t say the idea of retribution bothers me that much.
However, the seediness surrounding this conversation all but washed away this morning’s joy.
Not even nine in the morning, and I’m already exhausted.
That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the day.
Chapter 27
Kellin
After practically fleeing from Maeve’s room earlier like the hounds of hell were after me, I couldn’t shake off my excess energy. And by “energy,” I mean, my dick refused to go down.
I planned to hop in the shower and pump one out before it dawned on me that I didn’t want to come with Maeve on the other side of the door, so I went on a five-mile run instead.
