Josh, of course, went in the complete opposite direction. A total playboy. If there’s a willing woman, he’ll poke his joystick into her.
But he doesn’t commit.
Thick wrought-iron gates open when my Ferrari arrives, and I drive through the succulent garden. The stone walls surrounding the property are thick enough to stop anything short of a tank. The mansion’s windows are bulletproof, and the turrets have cameras—andguns, although I haven’t had the occasion to fire any since Mom has stayed away.
Which is a little sad—it would’ve been nice if she’d violated the terms Vincent and The Fogeys negotiated. Whatever might’ve happened to her as a result of her coming for me would’ve been self-defense. But Vincent is apparently too scary to fuck with, even for somebody as psychotic as her.
Now that we’re officially thirty, though, she might come slinking around again. Hopefully she’ll show up at my place first, so I can finally off her and spare my brothers the trouble.
Who’s the good boy now, Mother?
I step inside the house. The place has been immaculately cleaned by the daily staff. The caterer lays out platters of cheese, roast beef and pork and crackers on a lazy Susan on the round dining table. I place down Padrón Cigars 1926 Serie Maduro, two bottles of Pétrus 2020 and a Hanyu 2000. Good cigars and drinks are a must-have for poker night.
Josh arrives first. He glows—probably got laid or destroyed some opposing counsel. To him, court victories are like orgasms. In my opinion, victories are better than sex or women. Victories, at least, will never betray you.
“No Hanyu Ichiro Malt card series?” Josh says as his eyes sweep over the table.
I cock an eyebrow. “Are you worth it?” Before the distillery in Japan shut down, it produced a few sets of premium whiskey with labels featuring cards. I won a complete set for over a million bucks at an auction.
Josh puts a hand over his heart dramatically. “Who was he, Bryce? This…this man who hurt you so?”
I snort. He’s probably just still sore about losing the bid for the set.
Ares walks in, looking like he hasn’t slept in days. If he were still single, I’d guess that a case wasn’t going well, but now that he’s married…my money’s on some matrimonial issue. Although he acted solicitously toward his new wife at the last family dinner, he probably still has hangups about touching and intimacy.
“I’m gonna win some big money!” Josh rubs his palms together. “Feeling lucky today.”
“Yeah? Well, don’t cry after I take all your money.”
“Ha! Bet that card series and we’ll talk.”
“You wish.”
“Start,” Ares says. He’s trying to sound calm, but there’s an uncharacteristic gloom underneath. He’s usually better at pretending everything’s fine in his world.
I shoot him a look, but he remains quiet. I pick up a cigar, cut and light it, then start shuffling the cards. Ares and Josh grab their cigars and pour themselves whiskeys.
“Can I spend the night here?” Josh says.
“Why? I’m not a hotel.”
“There’s this chick who won’t leave me alone.”
This chick. Bet Josh doesn’t even know her name.
“How many times did you sleep with her?” Ares asks.
“Once, of course.” Josh’s tone says,I’m not crazy.
I shake my head. Josh never sleeps with the same woman twice, and many of them get upset when they realize they aren’t special enough for a second round. If that was all there was to it, it wouldn’t be so annoying. Just his problem. But they confuse me with Josh and stalk me from time to time. “You need to stop saying shit like ‘I’m looking for my soul mate. I just know she’s out there.’”
“But I do,” Josh protests, his eyes wide with faux innocence.
“Right. And you have to stick your dick into them to see if they’re the one.” I slide cards to all of us.
Josh spreads his hands. “How else can I tell?”
“From the way your heart feels?” Ares suggests. “When you don’t care about somebody, nothing stirs inside. But if you do, even a little, you get that reaction, even if you can’t pinpoint exactly what it is.”
