I wiggle my eyebrows at her and she laughs. God, I’d do anything to hear her laugh like that all the time.
We make our way outside the hotel’s front door to find a white Audi R8. I study the car’s smooth flowing body-work and let out a low whistle. “This is a nice car.”
“It’s really pretty,” Aubrey says.
“Pretty? This thing is a V10, babe. There’s nothing pretty about this thing, it’s a bad-ass beast. Calling it pretty insults it,” I say.
She shrugs. “It’s just a car.”
I’m pretty sure my ears are bleeding. I can’t believe she called this fine piece of workmanship just a car. Being a man into speed, I know my cars. Most men would give their left nut for this. “Kitten, this is a dream car. I’m sure some spoiled shit-stain owns it and babies the fuck out of it. What a waste.”
Before I have a chance to say anything else, the passenger door pops open and a man gets out.
“Brady!” Aubrey’s voice holds a little too much excitement for my liking. “Wow! Look at you.”
The man smiles at her and removes the dark sunglasses from his face, before shoving his brown hair away from his forehead. His eyes lock on my girlfriend and his gaze travels down the length of her body, lasting a little too long on her tits. My fingers curl into tight fists at my side. “Aubrey? Oh, my God. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? You’ve grown up well.”
This is going to be even worse than I thought. This is a well-off, pretty-boy douchebag—just the kind of man The Judge wants his daughter to be with.
Kitten rushes around me to greet Brady the moment he steps around the car and his feet land on the sidewalk. I know I said I wasn’t going to be jealous, but damn if I don’t feel a little twinge of it eating at me inside. When I see them hug, I instantly want to pull them apart, and punch him in the face.
I’m so lost in thought I don’t even hear Aubrey introduce me. I’m brought back to reality when Brady extends his right hand to me. “I’m Brady. It’s good to meet you, man.”
Our hands clap together. “What’s up? I’m Riff.”
Aubrey raises her eyebrow at me, and I know it’s because I introduced myself with my stage name. She and her family call me by my birth name, but I would prefer the general population stick to the other. Aubrey and her parents calling me Zach reminds me to keep things real with them.
Brady stares down at Aubrey. “You ready to go? We have a reservation in fifteen minutes.”
“Sure,” she says. “I’ll sit in the back.”
Both Brady and I stare at the sports car in front of us.
“Babe, this car doesn’t have a back seat,” I tell her.
She twists her berry-stained lips. “How are we all going to ride over to the restaurant? Can we follow you, Brady?”
Brady scratches his temple. “That’s the other thing. I only made the reservation for two and it’s lunch time, so I’m not sure if they’ll be able to accommodate a third person. I wish your father would’ve told me you’d be bringing a guest.”
Immediately I feel like I’m imposing. While I’m sure Aubrey would love for me to go with her, I’m sure she can handle this on her own. I trust her, it’s this fucking pretty boy that I have an issue with. He can’t keep his fucking eyes off her. I know that look of wanting to stick your cock inside a woman. I’ve perfected that fucking look.
I sigh and fold my arms across my chest. Brady’s wide eyes trace the patterns of my ink, and I can tell it makes him a little uncomfortable. I smirk. “You two go on ahead, babe. I’m sure you can take notes and fill me in on the game plan when you get back.”
Kitten places her dainty fingers on my arm. “Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you out. We can always go somewhere else.”
I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. We’re only talking an hour or so tops. I’ll find something close to eat and wait over at your parents’ house, okay?”
She frowns. “I feel like shit for leaving you out.”
I lean in and kiss her forehead. “I trust you.”
She smiles and promises not to be too long, as Brady opens the passenger door for her. The moment he shuts her inside the car and turns toward me, the smile drops off my face. Brady’s eyes widen as he takes in my curled lip. He races around the car—nearly tripping off the sidewalk in the process—to get the hell away from me.
I should feel bad for scaring the guy, but I want him to know not to fuck with something that’s mine.
He speeds off a little faster than I approve of, which is probably my fault. Both of my arms drop to my side as I head out to the parking lot. I know she doesn’t need me for everything, but I still like to be there for her. The rental car pulls out smoothly onto the busy street and I turn into a local fast-food Drive-Thru to order some food. My cell phone buzzes as I sit in line.
“Fuck,” I mutter to myself as I check the caller ID. So much for him leaving me the hell alone. I hope to God he isn’t calling for more money. Two million dollars should’ve lasted him longer than a couple weeks.
On the third ring I take a deep breath and answer. “What?”
“Hello, I’m trying to reach Thurston Oliver’s next of kin,” a strange man’s voice says on the other end of the line. “The contact on his phone says ‘son’, but doesn’t give a name. I’m hoping you’re the son of Mr. Oliver.”
I stiffen in my seat. “Yes, I’m his son.”
“For the record could you tell me your name?” This dude sounds very formal. No way he’s a bookie or something.
I clear my throat to keep it from closing completely shut. “Zach Oliver.”
There’s some paper rustling around on the other end. “Mr. Oliver, I’m Officer McCurry. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but at ten thirty-two this morning the hotel maid here at the Hard Rock found your father deceased in his hotel room. By all indication he’s been dead for a few days. When was the last time you spoke to your father?”
Even though I hated the bastard, my insides crumble. The only family I have in the world is gone. Any connection I had to my past is gone…just like my family. Gone.
A silent tear leaks down my cheek and I bat it away. “It’s been a few weeks since I’ve talked to him.”
“Do you think you can come identify his body? We’ll need to send him out for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death, but by the looks of his room it appears to have been an overdose,” the cop informs me.
Stupid asshole. Why would Dad start messing with drugs and shit? Didn’t he learn anything when he was dealing with me and my addiction back in high school?
I lean my head back against the seat. This is partly my fault for trying to pay him off. The least I could do is go out there and ID the body and bring him back to be buried beside Mom and Hailey. “I’ll get a flight out as soon as I can.”
“Great. Stop by the Las Vegas Police Department and ask for me when you get here.”
I nod, even though I know he can’t see me. “All right.”
The moment the phone call ends, a horn blares behind me. I pull around and get out of line, suddenly not hungry any more. I dial Aubrey’s cell but it goes to her voicemail.
Shit. I need to find her.
I find myself on her parents’ street. The Judge knows where she is. I’ll ask him how to get to the restaurant.
The front brakes squeal a little when I jerk the car to a stop in the driveway. I leap from the car and make it to the heavy, wooden door in record time. My fist stings as it beats against the door.
A few seconds later the housekeeper, Anna opens the door. “Mr. Oliver, is everything all right?”
It’s then I notice how hard I’m breathing and it’s taking everything in me not to come across as a total nut-job. “The Judge here?” Anna furrows her brow and nods. I can tell when she takes a step back she isn’t sure if she should let me in. I want to reassure her I’m not here to cause any trouble so I smile at her. “Thank you.”
Without even knowing why, I instantly head ba
ck to the office where The Judge threatened me last night and burst through the door.
The Judge glances up from the stack of papers on his desk and jerks his glasses off his face. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Tell me where Aubrey is,” I demand without further explanation.
He pushes himself up and stares me down with his gray eyes. “I’ll do no such thing. I thought we had an understanding last night, son. You’re going to let her move on. Why on earth would I tell you where she is so you can barge in there like a maniac and ruin things for her? I won’t allow you to scare Brady off.”
“Too late for that. I already made sure that uptight fucker knows Aubrey is my girl. No way he’ll have the balls to make a move on her now. So tell me where she is!” I feel my body shake as adrenaline courses through my entire body. If he’s smart, he won’t push me right now.
Her father studies my face. “You aren’t going to be as easy to get rid of as I thought, are you?”
I shake my head. “I’m not going anywhere, so you might as well learn to deal now.”
His body stiffens and he crosses his arms. “I don’t have to learn to deal with anything. Now, I suggest you walk your ass out of my office before I call the police.”
“Tell me—” I stop mid-sentence as he picks up the phone. The police coming here after I’ve made a scene won’t be a good thing. It’s bad enough that the press will probably catch wind of my father’s overdose, so I don’t need to add fuel to the fucking fire. “Fine. I’ll drive around until I find her on my own.”
I turn and storm out of the room just as fast as I entered. I thread my fingers around the back of my head and growl in sheer frustration. My voice echoes through the large foyer, making me sound like some kind of rabid beast. More than anything I want to punch something hard. It takes every ounce of my strength not to turn march back in there and shove my fist in The Judge’s smug face.
I fling the front door open and once I’m outside, inhale deeply through my nostrils. “Fuck!”
“Yo, bro. Everything alright?” I jerk my head toward Gabe’s voice. He stands in his driveway with a sponge and bucket beside what I assume to be his car.
I shake my head. “I need to find Aubrey.”
He sets this bucket down. “She’s not with you?”
“No. She’s with Brady at some restaurant, and your father won’t tell me where to find them. I have to speak with her. It’s an emergency,” I say.
“Do you know which restaurant it is?”
I nod. “Some place they used to go to all the time in high school.”
Recognition registers on his face, and Gabe rubs his hands together, dusting them free of a few soap bubbles. “I haven’t started to wash her yet. Come on. I’ll show you how to get there.”
Finally I have someone willing to help me. Relief washes through me. “Thank you.”
Gabe nods curtly. “Let’s go.”
Once we’re a couple miles down the road, I allow my mind to wonder about my father and what his last few moments on this earth was like—if our family was the last thought he had. A familiar pang of guilt fills me as I allow the blame of his death to fall on my shoulders as well as my mother and sister’s.
I grip the steering wheel so tight my knuckles start turning white. Gabe glances over at my hands and then up to my face. “Everything okay, Riff? You seem tense. Did you and Aubrey have a fight?”
A sigh escapes me. It’s so fucking hard to talk about my family. Aubrey is the only person that’s got me to open up. That’s why I need her right now. I need her with me. I have to hang on to the last thing I have left in this world with both hands—to hell with the Judge. If wants to destroy me, let him fucking bring it.
I finally shake my head. “No. Aubrey and I are great. There’s just been a…death in the family. I need to leave right away.”
“Oh, man. I’m really sorry. Were you close to the person?” Gabe questions, genuine concern in his voice.
I swallow hard and feel it’s best to be honest as I can be with him. “Not really, but I’m the next of kin and I have to identify the body.”
“Ouch, that’s rough. Were they your uncle or something?”
I keep my eyes focused on the road in front of me and concentrate on keeping my emotions in check. “My father.”
I’m glad when Gabe doesn’t press me any more on the topic, and he continues directing me to the restaurant. “Pull in the valet station. It’s the only way to park in this city.”
I hop out and toss the valet the keys. “Leave it here and keep it running. I’m not staying.”
Soft piano music and the smell of fine Italian food waft through the air, while the over-dressed wait staff scurries about with trays of food. Jesus, this is where they hung out in high school? That shit-stain Brady must have a loaded family too.
I crane my neck around the hostess podium to get a good look at the dinning room. My eyes sweep the room, landing on the back of Kitten’s red hair. I take a couple of steps in her direction, but the tall, slender hostess with long dark hair steps in front of me. “Can I help you, sir? Do you have a reservation?”
There’s no way she’s stopping me from getting to my girl. “This will only take a second. I’m not staying.”
“I can’t let you go in there looking like that.” The woman rakes her eyes down my body with a sneer of disgust.
I glance down at the t-shirt and jeans I’m wearing and roll my eyes. “I said I’m not fucking staying, so move.”
I don’t stick around to argue with this chick. Nothing she says is going to stop me from walking the last ten feet before me to get to Aubrey.
“Sir…you can’t. Please, sir—” I hear the woman’s voice behind me fade into the distance. All that matters now is getting to my world.
Two seconds later I pause mid-step as I get close enough to see Brady’s hand resting on top of Kitten’s. Brady’s arm stretches across the table and he’s massaging the side of her hand with his thumb. My blood boils instantly. How the fuck can she do this to me? Doesn’t she know she’s my fucking world? How can she let that ass-wipe paw her like that?
We’ve been apart less than a fucking hour and she’s allowing this to happen? How am I going to trust her when I’m on the road for months on end? I can’t believe I was stupid enough to believe this relationship was fucking real.
I clench my fists by my side and step directly behind her. “Having a nice lunch?”
Aubrey’s gaze leaves Brady’s face as she whips her head in my direction. Her eyes widen, and she knows she’s been caught.
Chapter 7
AUBREY
The look in Zach’s eyes scares the shit out of me. It’s wild and unpredictable. A snarl pulls across his lips as he glares at my hand on the table. Instantly, things click.
I immediately shake my head. “No, no, no. It’s not what you think.”
His eyes cut to me. “You mean you weren’t holding your fucking ex’s hand in the middle of some goddamn fucking fancy restaurant.”
The curse words spewing from Zach’s lips cause an old lady at the table beside ours to gasp and grab her chest, while a mother with her small son on the other side covers the kid’s ears. A couple of the wait staff stop mid-stride and stare in our direction.
This is about to escalate really fast. When Zach’s pissed his emotions completely take over, and he goes into a physical rage. The broken furniture in my apartment can attest to that.
I stand and face my man. “Let’s talk outside.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “You don’t want to bring your new boyfriend with you?”
I narrow my eyes. “He’s not my fucking boyfriend.”
Zach glares back at me and flexes his jaw. “Could’ve fooled me.”
My nostrils flare as I suck in a deep breath. “Outside. We need to talk.” I turn to Brady, who is still seated in his chair looking like a frightened squirrel. “Thank you for lunch and the advice on suing
Center Stage, Brady. I would like to go ahead and start that process.”
Without saying another word I storm out through the restaurant. Tension rolls down my back as I feel the heat of the judgmental stares burning into my back until I make it out the front door. The rental car is sitting out front, the motor still running. Gabe’s face twists the moment he sees me. So that’s how Zach knew how to find me. I always knew he was a jealous man, but I never thought in a million years he wouldn’t trust me for even an hour and a half. I can’t believe he’s making such a big fucking deal about this. Brady was only showing me a little support as I poured my heart out to him, explaining that both of my parents hate my boyfriend and believe he’s no good for me.
I yank open the door and slide into the back seat, still fuming that Zach felt the need to act like a dick and embarrass me like that.
“What’s up, sis? You look pissed,” Gabe says turning around in his seat. “You okay?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t get what his problem is. He stormed in there like a lunatic, and practically announced to the entire restaurant that I’m cheating on him with Brady. I don’t know where the hell he gets off.”
It feels good to vent to my brother. I need a neutral party in the situation.
Gabe’s face pulls into a lopsided frown. “The guy’s having a pretty hard time. His—”
Before Gabe is able to finish his sentence, Zach swings open the driver’s door and flops into the car. Daggers shoot from my eyes into the back of Zach’s head as he pulls onto the street and heads north to my parents’ place.
The entire ride is silent and I don’t like it. I want to scream and cuss at Zach for the way he just treated me back there, but having Gabe in the car with us stops me. I don’t need to drag my brother into the middle of my fights.
Over and over in my head I play out the scene of how our fight is going to go down. The moment he opens his mouth to yell at me for something I didn’t even do, I’m going off on his ass. He isn’t going to treat me like that.
We pull into my parents’ driveway and Gabe immediately gets out of the car and heads into the house. I stay in the back, ready for him to start—hopefully with an apology.
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