“What empty fridge?” Neve frowned.
“Stop,” Nate hissed.
“What about the fact the showerhead in your bathroom needs replacing?” Kaz continued, ignoring him. “Or the cracked mirror hanging over your lime-stained sink? I checked. Even though she hasn’t lived with you in months, her bathroom is kept spotless. Wonder why that is?”
He glared silently.
“Why is the house in such disarray?” Neve asked.
“It’s not the house,” Kaz corrected. “It’s only the spaces he knows you won’t see. He manages the upkeep to the rest in the off chance you come and visit. He doesn’t want to worry you.”
“Is that true?” She reached across the table and rested a hand over Nate’s. “Is everything okay with work? It’s not like you to let things fall behind.”
Later, Nate was going to find a way to make Kazimir pay for this, and he was sure that was clear in his eyes as he stared him down a moment longer before finally tearing his gaze away and placing it back on his sister.
“I quit,” he admitted, because it was obvious if he didn’t, the asshole sitting next to him would. Had he just been thinking about potentially falling for him? What a joke. “I work at a coffee shop now. The one Jones owns?”
She pursed her lips. “Why?”
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “The boss and pay sucked at Quartet Air. It wasn’t worth sticking around for.” He angled his chin toward Kaz pointedly. “Some things aren’t.”
A strong hand cupped the back of his nape in warning, but Kazimir was careful not to let the wordless threat show on his face. He couldn’t hide the fact he hadn’t liked that from Nate, though. Even without the physical contact telling him as much.
Kaz wasn’t the only one who’d figured some things out, Nate had a better understanding of what made him tick now as well. It was so obvious he was deflecting Neve’s comment because, yes, of course, he fully intended to take advantage of Nate. He’d never attempted to hide that fact from him, but letting his sister know?
He paused, wondering if that was actually more for his benefit than Kaz’s before he shook the thoughts loose. It didn’t matter. Right now, he just had to focus on damage control before Neve got well and truly worried.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Nate,” Verga joined the conversation, but before Nate could reply, Kaz spoke up again.
“The new boss is much nicer,” he said. “Nate should be returning to work soon if all goes as expected.”
“New boss?” Neve ran a hand through her dark brown hair, the shade very similar to Nate’s. Most of her features were, in fact. They shared the same eye color and pale skin as well. “How do you know?”
“Because it’s me,” Kaz supplied. “I bought the place after I heard how the employees were treated.”
Nate almost grunted, because what a fucking liar, but he caught himself.
“It’s undergoing some changes, so for now Nate is planning on staying at the Velvet Brew, but once I’ve ironed out a few details and am sure everything has been perfected, he’ll come back. Isn’t that right, Narek?”
He was torn here. Either he joined Kaz in this lie or he caused a scene by rejecting him. The first would suck because he didn’t like the idea of stringing his sister on, but the second…A pissed-off Devil of Vitality was dangerous. The palm still at the back of his neck reminded him as much.
“If I’m happy with the changes made,” he ended up saying, licking his suddenly dry lips, “yeah.”
“That’s great!” Neve clapped her hands. “What kind of changes are you implementing, Kaz?”
“Better benefits, more time off, and a name change,” he swiftly replied. “I’m also thinking about expanding and moving it to a more lucrative location. It’s a fairly big project, so it’s taking some time, but I have a team on it to help iron out any kinks.”
Why hadn’t he mentioned any of that to Nate? How much of it was true and how much was just him bullshitting to convince Neve to like him?
“All of that while you’re still in school?” Verga sounded impressed.
“Not to mention the mafia,” Nate muttered, downing the rest of his water. “How ever do you make time for it all?”
Neve blinked at him. “Sarcasm? Really?” She let out a low whistle. “Seems like you have the ability to get under my brother’s skin. That’s impressive.”
“Don’t praise him,” Nate scowled only to have her laugh.
“I’ll share a secret,” Neve said.
