A grunt rips from me when Bri’s body crashes against mine.“You’re my person, Quinn.You know that, right?”
I close my eyes and hug her back just as fiercely.“Right back at ya.”
She suddenly grabs my arms and shoves me away.“But you really do stink.”
I chuckle while she pinches her nose and slowly backs out of my bedroom.Grabbing some clean clothes and underwear, I head into the bathroom and take a quick shower.I might have intended to take a quick shower, but it still takes me twenty minutes.
Finally, when I’m all dressed, I braid my hair and grab the books I need for today.With my backpack in hand, I walk into the main room when the doorbell rings.
“Don’t get up, I got it,” I tell Bri who is sitting at the kitchen table with her nose stuck in a book.
The corner of my mouth twitches due to her reaction.It’s clear Bri wasn’t going to open the door anyway.I place my backpack on one of the chairs and head for the door.My heart skips a beat when I stare into the blue eyes of non other than Fiero Reaux.
“What are you doing here?”I can feel my cheeks heat when those words tumble over my lips.
He ignores my words and asks, “May I come in?”
I step back and my heart skips a beat when he saunters inside, keeping his eyes locked with mine as I close the door behind him.
His gaze locks on something over my shoulder.“Can we talk somewhere privately?”
My thoughts go to my bedroom, and I lick my bottom lip.Having this man near a bed would unleash a flood of sexual fantasies.I can feel my cheeks heating a fraction more.Bri clears her throat, and it reminds me of something she repeatedly mentioned this morning.I can hardly bring Fiero into my bedroom, the one I’ve been in for days, stinking up the place.
Whipping my head in Bri’s direction I ask, “I’ll catch up with you in class.”
“Are you sure?”Bri asks, and she narrows her eyes at Fiero.
Fiero turns to Bri.“Aubrielle Baylor, I’m...”
“I know who you are, Fiero Reaux.”Bri gets to her feet, and I know by the tone of her voice she’s slipped into a defense mode.“What I don’t know is why you’re here.If it’s about money, Quinn still has a couple of weeks to fix it, and we will.”
My eyes widen at Bri’s outburst.Fiero, though?He seems unaffected.
His voice is calm and steady when he turns to me and says, “We could go somewhere privately.”
“Fine,” Bri huffs.“I’ll go.”
She grabs her stuff and stomps in the direction of the door.
When she moves past us, she points at Fiero and states, “No funny stuff.”
Fiero’s eyes widen a fraction in surprise, but it’s gone the next instant.Bri slips out and shuts the door with a loud click.
“Sorry,” I mutter.“My friend has a temper and is overly protective.”
I stalk into the kitchen to grab a mug and fill it with coffee.
Turning to Fiero, I lean my hip against the counter and ask, “Would you like some?”
“Why is there a delay in payment while your father has always paid on time?Does it have something to do with your brother being missing?”Fiero bluntly throws the words at me.
Flustered, my hand starts to shake.I try to place the mug on the counter, but it tips over, causing the coffee to splash everywhere.
“Shit,” I croak, my throat clogging up.
My brother isn’t missing.He’s dead.His body is gone and no one will ever find him.When I was young, I attended one of the underground events my father organized.There was a similar incident where a fighter received a blow to the temple, ending his life in that very second.
The loads of people in the warehouse were gone within ten minutes.Only my father, my brother, and four of my father’s friends were surrounding the body.One of those guys was wearing a suit, completely out of place for such an event, and told my father he’d handle it in return for a marker.
