“There’s nothing you can do right now. I’ve had the place cleaned, and the contractor was just here. It could take a couple of weeks before it’s ready to re-open.”
She slams her fist down on the desk. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“I’ve taken care of it.”
“I wouldn’t need your help if he hadn’t gone and fucked someone over,” she yells.
I change the subject. “How did you even get here?” Her car was at Kingdom last night when we left in mine.
“Jasmine took me to get a new phone since my screen was shattered. Then to Kingdom to get my car,” she growls. “Andwhy did you have her stay with me?” She arches a dark brow. “I didn’t need a babysitter, Grave.”
She did.But I’m not telling her that. I watched her deck her brother like he was nothing, so I don’t want her jumping over that desk and coming at me. One, she’d hurt herself, and two, I was raised that you don’t hit women, even if they punch you.
Thankfully, the sound of the bell ringing gets me out of having to lie to her. She jumps to her feet and bolts out of the office.
“Where the fuck have you been?” she demands as I make it back to the front of the shop.
Ethan stands there with a black eye and busted lip. He looks around and sighs. “Did I tell you I was sorry?”
“Your words don’t mean shit,” she snaps at him.
I place my hands on her shoulders, hoping to calm her, but she shrugs me off and steps into him. “You will pay Grave back for every penny.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nods.
I cross my arms over my chest, expecting him to tell her that I already told him that, but he doesn’t.
“And you will be here at Roses, working every day the moment we open back up,” she adds.
He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Your ass will be home by nine o’clock every night, and you will always inform me where you’re at!” He opens his mouth, but she goes on. “And you’re no longer allowed at Kingdom. You’re too goddamn young to be there anyway!”
He nods once again. “Yes, ma’am.”
With that, she spins around and heads back to the office, slamming the door shut.
APRIL
It’s been aweek since I found out my brother owes the Mason brothers. I regret how I yelled at Ethan the morning after. Somewhere along the way, I stopped being a sister and became a mom to him. But the truth is, I see him making poor life choices that are going to get him killed. If that means being his enemy, I can live with myself.
So far, he’s kept his word. He’s been at the shop helping me get it back up and running, and he comes home every night. He doesn’t speak much to me, but he can hate me all he wants as long as he follows the rules.
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my chest, tucking it into itself. That’s when I see Grave standing at my sink, brushing his teeth. I don’t get to see him much. Kingdom takes up most of his time. At least, I hope he’s there and not with Lucy. The question hangs on the tip of my tongue, but I’m too chicken to ask.
I lean against the counter and stare at him. “This is my fault,” I admit. Shame washes over me. I’ve failed Ethan. I could have been better. It’s my fault we’re in this mess.
Grave rinses out his mouth and sets the toothbrush down. “Well, if you weren’t so tempting, I could get to work on time.” He yanks the towel off my body. His blue eyes instantly drop to my legs.
“No.” I slap his chest. “The fact that Ethan is in trouble.”
He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. He doesn’t like to talk about it. Every time I bring it up, he changes the subject. As if he’s taken care of it, and it’s over. But it’s not.
“He wanted to move back home when our mother passed, but I wanted to stay here. I shouldn’t have been so selfish.” There was nothing left for us back there. Seattle was depressing. I thought a life in Vegas would be better, but I was wrong. “Too many things are readily available, making it easy for him to get in trouble. They don’t call it Sin City for nothing.” And he’s stilltwo years away from being twenty-one. What will happen in years to come when he realizes he doesn’t need me and my strict rules?
“Listen.” Grave grips my hips, then spins us around to where he’s leaning up against the countertop, and I’m standing between his legs. “I have it under control. He’s not going to get into any more trouble. Not while I’m around,” he adds with a smirk.
I’ve noticed that Grave doesn’t take much seriously. When the situation heads that way, he makes jokes.
