“Good. I’m glad. I know he thinks the world of you. Now that I’ve met you, I can see why.”
His grin is flirtatious in the extreme, but I’ve heard he’s a major player and the biggest charmer on campus. “That legendary charm won’t work on me, buddy.” I playfully thump him in the chest. “Besides, you already got in my panties.”
Now it’s his turn to burst out laughing. “Not how I wanted our first meeting to go, but I’m not complaining.” He winks and dazzles me with a blinding smile. I can see why girls go gaga for him. He’s every bit as gorgeous as his younger brother.
Shaking that thought from my mind before it goes someplace it shouldn’t, I fasten a solemn look on my face. “Thank you for what you did.”
He arches a brow, and his grin expands.
I burst into laughter again, realizing how it sounds. Perhaps I should take it easy on the beers. “Wow, that sounds so wrong even if I mean it.”
“I hear ya. It’s a fucked-up world we inhabit.”
“For sure, and I have only barely scratched the surface of my knowledge.”
“Be careful,” he says, turning all serious. “I know what you and Jase are planning, and I approve, but they can’t find out.”
“We know.”
He leans in and plants a soft kiss on my cheek. “Watch your back.” Pulling back, he salutes me before dazzling me with another megawatt smile, and then he’s slipping out the door before anyone even realizes he was here.
Blinking my eyes to clear my head, I return to the kitchen and my two friends.
We shoot the breeze for a while before Bree leaves to deal with some unruly dicks causing a commotion in the living room.
“Could we go somewhere quiet to talk?” Lo asks, and I nod, lifting a shoulder.
“Follow me.”
“Hey, beautiful,” Ares says, licking his lips as he winks at Lo when we approach. “Didn’t know you were back in town.”
She coolly flips him off. “None of your business, Haynes.”
“You’re Harlow Westbrook,” Shoulders says, glaring at her with unconcealed hatred.
It’s well known around these parts that The Sainthood and The Bulls used to be allies until the former turned on the latter and set them up. It’s what led to Ruben’s arrest and imprisonment. It almost brought The Bulls to their knees the same way The Arrows, another local gang, were eliminated. Lo and her guys were in the thick of it, but I don’t know exactly what went down because I didn’t ask, and she didn’t volunteer the information.
I have zero interest in gang warfare, especially now I know they mean next to nothing when compared to the power and control The Luminaries exert. I knew there was a chance Ares and some of his Bulls friends would be here, so I warned Lo and the guys in advance. They weren’t concerned, and I’m glad it didn’t stop them from coming.
Lo pushes all up in Shoulders’ face, undeterred he’s a couple of inches taller than her. “And you’re two seconds away from having your dick separated from your body.” He stiffens and panic races across his face. I look down, smothering a laugh when I see Lo has her dagger pressed against his crotch. “We didn’t come here to cause trouble. We’re out, and we’ve no beef with you unless you start it.”
“He won’t.” Ares grabs Shoulders by the scruff of the neck and shoves him. “You’re an idiot. Apologize or fuck off.”
I arch a brow, surprised. Then again, I don’t know why I am. I have seen Ares be civil and act almost normal toward other women.
It’s just me he seems to have an issue with.
“I’m not apologizing,” he says, straightening up. “But I won’t cause trouble at the princess’s party.”
Ares shakes his head before grabbing his friend and hauling his ass toward the front door. Rocky doesn’t move. He just drinks his beer as he slowly eyes me up and down.
“You’re a disrespectful perv,” Lo says, pointing her dagger at his face. “I’ll poke your eyes out if you don’t stop eye fucking my friend.”
“Fuck this shit.” Rocky drains his beer, slamming it down on the table behind him. “I’m out too.”
Lo and I grin as he storms off, and I loop my arm through my friend’s. “Who needs security when Harlow Westbrook is in the building?!”
We push past couples making out in the hallway as I lead my friend to the study, grateful to leave the noise behind when we step inside. I sit in one of the high-backed navy velvet chairs in front of the open fireplace, and Lo takes the one beside me. “I have a message for you from D,” Lo says after a few seconds. “I didn’t want to risk saying anything on the phone.”
