Released, Lex shook out his arms and took a purposeful sidestep away from Tyler, returning his focus to me. “Understood, I guess. So, does this mean you’re back on the scene? Clients ask about you all the time.”
That was nice to hear. “I’m not sure yet.”
Lex tipped his head at the doorways down the hall. “I’ve been picking up shifts here. Easy money if you don’t want to walk the floor. Care to join me? We always hit hard as a pair.”
Tyler made a sound that was somewhere between pain and outrage.
Lex wasn’t wrong. I’d often worked with him because we looked good together and he’d never made me uncomfortable. Lex had a huge following from both the girls and the gays and had twisted me into any shape the paying customers wanted.
I couldn’t imagine it now.
I couldn’t separate that part of myself off like I’d done before. The question rose in my mind again of how I’d ever earn a living like this.
I faked a smile. “I hear ya. I’ll let you know. Go shake that ass, bestie.”
Lex shrugged and left us, and we travelled downstairs. I kept my gaze on my shoes. When the doors opened again on fourth, Convict was waiting.
His smile broadened. “C’mere.” He hauled Mila into his arms and kissed her. “Missed you.”
She practically swooned, the pink in her cheeks spreading. “It’s been barely twenty minutes.”
“You questioning my stamina? I could miss you all day, little gangster.”
I smiled at their flirting but then spotted Lovelyn appearing out of a room, the huge brick shithouse of a man who’d terrified me behind her. Shorn hair, massive muscles, no give in his expression. My heart set off, a rabbit chased by a dog.
Careful, warm fingers cupped my elbow. Tyler lowered to speak in my ear. “Remember, Kane is not only your brother but also my man. You’ve got this.”
He wasn’t mad at me because of Lex.
A tightness in my chest unravelled, and I touched his hand. How nice it would be to link fingers and move around connected. Joined up so everyone could see.
I wasn’t brave enough to attempt it.
Without words, we walked the rest of the quiet hall to reach them.
I managed an awkward wave at the brother I never knew. “Hey. It’s nice to meet you.”
Kane straightened his shoulders, his hands behind him like a soldier on parade. “Likewise. I’m glad you’re back.”
“Same, hun. I missed this place. Small world us all being here.”
What a fun image. The three kids of probably the wealthiest family in Deadwater holed up in a sex-selling warehouse run by a dangerous crew of gangsters. There was nowhere I’d rather be.
For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. Then Lovelyn subtly elbowed her boy.
Kane cleared his throat. “I want to get to know you. Maybe we can get a drink later. Chat.”
From behind, Mila burst out in a snort of laughter. “Oh shit, sorry. It’s just, damn, Kane. Did you really pull the line I said to you when we first met?” She turned to me. “It took me months to get him to cave.”
I managed a returning smile, though it was weak. “Stop, I feel special.”
Kane shook his head at us both, falling back into silence that Lovelyn took over. She rolled through some suggestions for a sibling get-together. Activities that would allow us to learn about each other.
My heart slowed its panicked pounding.
With the intros done, Lovelyn invited us into their room, Kane staying out in the hall with Tyler and Convict to talk gangster stuff. Mila closed us into the snug hotel-like space, and I finally took a deep breath, settling into the desk chair.
There were a pair of knuckle dusters on the desk. Lovelyn scooted over and slid them into a drawer, her cheeks pink.
