Page 50 of Filthy Rich Ex's Brothers

Maybe it’s something like having a diversified pallet. Travis, more strict and experienced, rigorous and serious. I could see it being fun to unravel him, get him to let go. Me—well, I’m a boatload of fun, and I come with the benefit of a lot of good food. I’m not a chick, but it’s obvious what Graham’s appeal is. Adventurous mountain man, buff, so big he’s the kind of guy they used to write ridiculous legends about.

“Right,” Travis rolls his eyes.

“It is right.” Graham is an unstoppable force, and Travis is an unmovable object. “Because the second I found out she was with Alex, I backed the fuck off. I know you’ve got some sort of superiority complex over him, but this is low, Travis.”

“Alright, guys, don’t forget about me,” I laugh, holding my hands up, trying to draw some of the fire. “I’m just as much?—”

“Alex isn’t your brother,” Graham says, without looking back at me. “So you don’t owe him shit.”

“Oh, and what do I owe him?” Travis lets out a cold laugh. “The same shit he gives me?”

“You owe him common decency. That’s what it means to be the older brother, man.”

“You have no idea what it means to be the oldest brother,” Travis snaps, his voice louder than I’ve heard before. I stand, circle around to the door, and make eyes at Serena, who’s still staring at the two brothers.

She shakes her head, quickly, when she realizes I’m giving her an out. When she doesn’t take it, I shrug a shoulder and shut the door, not wanting anyone passing in the hallway to get a juicy media bite of the brothers fighting. It’s the last thing they need right now.

“It’s all in the past now, isn’t it?” I ask, sidling up to them, trying to lighten the mood. “What Alex doesn’t know won’t hurt him?—”

“Well, he will know,” Graham snaps. “Because I’m not a fucking liar. I’m telling him.”

Travis laughs, “Of course you are.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you subscribe to this rigid form of loyalty to a guy that doesn’t give two fucks about you, except when you can do something for him?—”

“Don’t talk about our brother like that?—”

“Why?”

“You might not like him, but he deserves at least the basic fucking level of familial respect?—”

“No. I know our father managed to indoctrinate you with all that shit, but you don’t oweanyoneundying loyalty. And I certainly don’t oweAlexany fucking loyalty.” Travis heaves, throwing his arm out and in Serena’s direction. “Not after what he did to her.”

For the first time since coming into the office, Graham pauses, his eyes sliding in her direction. A few expressions pass over his face, and he clears his throat, bringing his hand up tothe back of his head. Finally, he turns to Serena and says, “What is he talking about?”

She coughs, looks down at the carpet. “Nothing. It’s nothing. It was months ago.”

“It’s not nothing,” Travis sighs. “Alex fucked her over.”

“What is he talking about?” Graham asks, and just like that, Serena breaks. After standing here for the past five minutes, listening to the brothers fight over her, everything comes pouring out of her.

“Alex and I were together, obviously,” she says, robotically, like she’s talking about something that happened to a friend. “He talked me into moving out of my room—I have a house with a couple of roommates—and in with him. I was working a lot to try and make rent, because I didn’t want him to, like,supportme?—”

“Wait.” Travis sits up in his chair, gaze narrowing on Serena. “You were renting? Where did you live with him?”

“450 West Bryan street. Nice neighborhood,” she says, like she’s reciting the real estate listing. “Two-story, more on the modern side?—”

“Fucking hell,” Travis stands, runs his hands over his hair, then stands and crosses the room, opening two tall doors to reveal his bar set-up.

“Dry martini for me while you’re at it,” I call, knowing it’s wrong to enjoy this, but really, you can’t buy entertainment like this.

Travis uncharacteristically flips me off over his shoulder, and Graham asks, “What? Why did you interrupt her?”

Whiskey in hand, Travis turns around, leans against the counter, and gestures at Serena with the drink. “Because Alex was living in that house, rent-free. It’s an Onyx property. I let him live there while he was finishing school, so he could get his feet under him without access to the trust.”

Graham looks between his brother and Serena. “He was making you pay rent?”