“What?” A muscle in his neck ticks.
“Pet. Like a fucking dog.”
He fists his hands but his face is turning purple. “Go on.”
“He’d stand her up all the time. The shit she told me…” I slam my beanie on the desk. “He manipulated her, Ram. He emotionally abused her. The motherfucker put his hands on her multiple times. She’s got goddamned bruises around her neck.”
He stands and starts pacing the office, a growl rumbling from him. I stand, too, because I’m too pissed to sit still.
“He didn’t even invite her to the lame-ass golf shit but then had the audacity to come over and yell at her for not going. Mental head game bullshit. My girl—” I huff, deciding to stop those words in their tracks. “Reagan stood up to him. Told him it was over.”
“He hit her.” His voice is icy as he stares at the floor.
“He was bolting by the time I got there. I was trying to comfort her when—”
“Goddammit,” he snarls. “I am so fucking sorry.”
I hold my hands up. “Don’t apologize to me. I know what it looked like, and Roman fucking hates me. I’d do the same if the roles were reversed and it were my sister with the bloody lip.” I grit my teeth. “She was too ashamed to tell you guys.”
His head whips around as he glares at me. “W-What? Why? We’re her brothers.”
“Everyone loves good ol’ Chase, man,” I say, a hint of bitterness in my tone. “She doesn’t like disappointing people, especially her family.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “Fuck.”
“I know he’s your employee and—”
“Not for long,” he hisses, his nostrils flaring with fury.
Ram is typically a cool, relaxed dude. Today he reminds me a lot of his older brother.
“I need to talk to Roman and see how he wants to proceed. With him being our employee, shit could get complicated.” His entire body trembles with rage. “What I want to do is—”
I cut him off. “Is something I can do.”
Before he can utter a word of protest, I sling the door open and stalk for pussy boy’s office. Talking about everything that Chase did to her did nothing but get me fired up again. I’m not going to feel better until I show him what it feels like to get knocked around by someone bigger than him.
His office door is shut but that doesn’t stop me from barreling through it. The moment he realizes it’s me coming through his door, he knows he’s in deep shit. He flies out of his seat and holds his hands up in protest.
“S-Slow down Linc. We can t-talk about this.”
“Talk about how you fucking hit Rey and choked her?” I scream, spittle flying from my lips. “Nah, motherfucker, I’d rather just kill you instead.”
Snarling, I charge around his desk and snag him by the throat. Just the way he touched her. I grip hard enough that he turns a sickly shade of purple and weakly swings at me. His pussy punches aren’t felt in my adrenaline-rushed state. I slam him against the wall before crushing my fist into his nose. The pop of his bones is satisfying, but I’m not done with him. I yank my fist back again but before I can deliver another brutal blow, someone grabs me from behind.
Fucking Ram.
“That’s enough,” he roars.
It’s then when Roman pushes past us and stalks over to Chase as he holds a hand over his bloody nose. I expect Roman to help him or offer his apologies.
“You put your hands on my sister?” Roman demands.
“It’s not what you think,” Chase croaks out, fear flickering in his eyes.
Roman’s chest bumps Chase’s as he gets right in his face. “You have exactly thirty seconds to remove your shit from this office. And what isn’t out of here by then, you can find in the dumpster.” His body trembles with fury. “So help me, if you even think about contacting my sister, I will hunt you down, motherfucker. I will find you away from my goddamned office and give you what you really deserve.”
Chase’s eyes are wide with horror. Pussy looks ready to piss his pants.
“Come on,” Ram grunts. “He’s got this.”
I stagger along with him out Chase’s room. My eyes skim the lobby until I lock eyes with Reagan. She’s barely peeking out of her office. I wink at her and am rewarded a thankful smile.
A promise is a promise.
I’ve got her back from here until the end.
“Lincoln Carter?” a deep, unfamiliar voice booms.
Jerking my head to the lobby doors, I frown to see a guy in a suit. His narrowed eyes are on me and he doesn’t look happy.
Fuck.
Have one of Louie’s men come to get me?
He flashes a badge and my blood turns ice cold. “Mr. Carter,” he booms as he stalks over to me. “You’re under arrest.”
“What?” I demand, yanking myself from Ram’s grip. “You’re a detective or something?”
“Something like that,” he snaps. “Now come with me. Don’t make me handcuff you in front of your friends.”
My head whips over to see Reagan walking out of the office her hand covering her mouth, shock written all over her features. Going to jail for popping that asshole in the face is worth it. I’m just walking his way when a thought occurs to me.
“How did you get here so fast?”
He frowns. “Come with me, Mr. Carter. We’ll talk at the station.”
“Just go,” Ram booms from behind me. “I’ve got your back, bro. I’ll post bail as soon as I can. You’re not going down for this. We won’t let you.”
The detective grips my elbow and guides me out of the building. When he storms us over to the same black Chevy Impala I saw driving past Reagan’s house on Saturday, I know I’m fucked and I put on the brakes.
“Man, can I see your badge again?” I ask, unease creeping down my spine. “Don’t you need to read me my rights?”
He snorts as he yanks open the door and shoves me inside. “You have the right,” he says coolly as he withdraws a weapon from inside his jacket in a holster and points it at me, “to shut the fuck up.”
Never Have I Ever
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE wasn’t there?” This is not happening. Why did I let Linc get involved? Now’s he’s in trouble because of me.
“Exactly what I said. We went to the station and he was never booked there. We waited, but he never showed.”
I stare at Ram in shock. “Well, did you ask about the detective who took him? Did you give them his name?”
“Reagan, it happened so fast, I didn’t catch the guy’s name. No one did. I was busy holding Roman back so he didn’t commit murder in our HR office.”
Shame washes over me. This is all my fault. “I’m so sorry, this is all my—”
Roman steps forward, pulling me to his chest. I wrap my arms around him, the comfort of my big brother helping ease my worry. “Do not even go there. This is not your fault. That bastard had us all fooled.”
“But I should have said something. And now Linc is in jail and Holloway Advertising? Will he try and sue us?”
Roman pulls me away so he can see my eyes. “Linc will be fine. The company will be fine. I dare that motherfucker to try a lawsuit.”
I pull back and my worried eyes find Ram. “Where could he be? I’m worried. What if they hurt him? Why would he just go with that man?” The panic in my voice is clear. The suited man just walked into Holloway Advertising, quickly flashed a badge, and Linc went with him, no questions. I ran after Linc, but everything was happening so fast and Ram grabbed me, telling me to stay clear.
How could I stay clear? This was all my fault!
Ram had Clara bring me back to my office so they could deal with Chase. They wanted him out and fast. Ram made sure he didn’t take any company files and that he left in one piece. Roman seemed to only see red and wanted to rip his arms off. Thankfully at least one brother was thinking about the company. They didn’t want Chase to get a chance to speak to me, so I was told to stay in my office and not leave.
B
y the time Chase was escorted out, I was running to my car to head to the police station. That’s when Ram stopped me and told me to go home. Ram confessed that Linc took the lead to keep Holloway Advertising out of a lawsuit, so he owed it to Linc to bail him out and clear his name. He didn’t want me near a police station and said Linc wouldn’t want that either, so he told me to wait for them at home. That was until my brothers showed up without him.
“I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m sure Linc will fill us in when he—”
Just then the door opens behind us, and Linc strolls in. I waste no time in breaking away from my brother and running to him. I throw myself into his arms, and he catches me with ease.
“Easy there, killer.” He hugs me to him, pressing his mouth to my ear and whispers, “Careful, Rey. All eyes are on us. Unless you want your brothers to murder me before we try number seven on your list, you better chill.” He pulls away nonchalantly, and I drop to my feet. Our eyes meet in a quick understanding and I slowly nod.
“What happened? Ram went to bail you out and they said you were never booked?”
It takes Linc a moment to answer. He looks over my shoulder toward my brothers, then eyes back at me.
“Nothing. A misunderstanding.”
What? “A misunderstanding? What happened? Why did they arrest you then? And who was that man?”
Linc shrugs his shoulders and walks further into my house breaking eye contact. “Like I said, a misunderstanding. They had nothing to book me on so they let me go.”
Let him go?
“Then where have you been? It’s been hours since you left the office.”
Linc turns to Roman, who’s asking the question. “They aren’t very courteous about handing out rides, so I had to walk back to your office and get my car.”
I gasp. “Oh Linc, you should have called me. I would have come and gotten you.” I follow him into the living room where he plops onto the couch. He shrugs and allows me to sit next to him, throwing his arm over my shoulder.
“Who knows. Cops are fucking tools. I’m fine. Fill me in about that asshole. Is he gone?”
Ram sits on the love seat, addressing Linc’s question. “He is. He won’t be back.” Both men nod at one another, as if they have a secret understanding.
Linc takes a look around the somber faces and shocking everyone, he starts laughing. “Man, I feel so loved by the Holloway family. By the way, if all three of you are here, who’s running your company?”
I look at Ram who looks at Roman. It’s then we all join in on the laughter as we respond in unison. “Clara.”
Poor Clara, she’s probably on the verge of a breakdown right now.
“Remind me to offer Clara a raise,” Roman says, taking a seat in a chair opposite of Ram.
Linc sits up and pushes himself up to stand. Clapping his hands together, he grins. “Since everyone is playing hooky today, we might as well make it worth it.” Turning to me he says, “Glasses or no glasses?”
“Never have I ever,” Roman says, a wicked grin on his face. “Brought a girl home and fucked her while mom was in the house.” He snorts. “But the yard is a different story.”
Ram throws his hands in the air laughing.
I gasp. “Ew, Roman, in the yard?”
Roman shrugs. “What? When you got the moves you got the moves, and sometimes those moves happen between the azalea bushes at midnight with the neighborhood skank.” He points at Ram. “Drink because I know you’re guilty…”
I look over at Ram who takes a chug of the Fireball and hands it back to Roman. Roman looks at me, curious as to whether or not I’ll take a swig. I know this is a setup to see if I ever did anything my brothers would disapprove of in high school, so they can go and lecture me. Pitiful for me, I have actually never taken a guy home and gotten farther than first base under Mom’s roof.
I lift my hand, reaching for the bottle, and Roman’s eyes widen. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
I bust out laughing and pull my hand away. “Sike. I have more manners than that.” I shudder. “The yard of all places. Gross. No wonder why I’m Mom’s favorite.”
Ram laughs, offering us his dramatic, Holloway Pfft. “Hardly. Mom loves me the most.” He sits up reaching for the bottle.
“This isn’t even up for debate. Mom loves me the most. It’s evident,” Roman argues, snatching the bottle away from Ram and taking a swig.
Going back and forth, I realize that we have managed to get ourselves drunk in the middle of a workday. I look over at Linc, who’s leisurely lying back on the couch with his hands behind his head. This is his fault. I shake my head at him, trying not to smile, but it’s impossible with that sexy wink he offers me.
It makes me want my brothers to leave so I can have Linc all to myself. Thank him properly for coming to my rescue today and every day since we’ve met. I’m tempted to turn to Ram and Roman and fake sickness, until someone at the door starts banging and it flies open. Andie, holding a car seat, diaper bag, and a billion stuffed animals in her hand, walks in.
“Oh my God! Is that my little princess?” I squeal and jump off the couch to help her. I pass Ram, who looks a little too smiley, and Roman, who looks like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“It is. She just fell asleep, though. Wake her and someone dies,” she warns.
I giggle and snatch the carrier out of her hands. I peek inside at the most beautiful little girl on this planet. I’ve also had a few too many, so it makes sense when Andie kicks me for goo-goo, gaga-ing too loud.
“Sorry, but I just want to eat her up,” I say with a sigh. “She’s so cute and tiny and kissable.”
Roman finally gets his drunk butt off the couch and greets his wife. “Hello, beautiful. How are my wife and daughter today?” Andie takes one good look at Roman and Ram before bursting out laughing.
“Are you drunk?”
Oh boy.
I bring Molly over to the couch and sit her between Linc and I while I get comfortable for the show. Ram is already turned and Linc is taking a swig, putting the bottle out there, clearly not helping Roman.
“No, baby. Just a few drinks. We were celebrating.”
Andie looks at him curiously but also like she might slap him. “Celebrating what exactly?”
“Well, Reagan admitted that that bastard Chase was hurting her, so Linc kicked his ass and we fired him.” My brother can be a big oaf when he’s drunk. So when he explains our afternoon that way, I simply smile and shrug when Andie’s blazing eyes turn on me, offering me the what the fuck look.
“You better ALL fill me in right now. And do it quietly, because if you wake that baby she is all yours!”
Andie squeezes on the couch, smashing Linc into the arm of the sofa while I give her the short rundown. She cries when I tell her about my first incident with Chase and swears loud enough at the second one that she wakes up Molly. Everyone points to her saying she did it, but then everyone fights to get at the baby first.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you. And that none of us noticed anything was wrong. I’m glad you had my brother to protect you.” We hug, and I know she’s offering Linc her thankful eyes over my shoulder.
Once were done, she pulls away and gives her husband her crazy eye.
“You’re sexy when you look at me like that,” Roman says. “Did you want to go home and tell me a secret in the dark?” Everyone breaks out in laughter except for Andie. She just shakes her head at my brother, stands, and makes her way into the kitchen. “I know you have something besides that gasoline to drink.”
We spend the next few hours gushing over Molly and enjoying the remainder of the day. Ram texts Dani to head over when she gets off work. The easiness of the conversations and the way Ram and Linc get along warm my heart. I know Roman still has reservations but I can also tell he’s eased up on him. There is respect there for what he did for me. Even if Roman wants to be too stubborn to admit it. Once dinner time arrives, everyone throws out t
he idea to barbeque.
“Let’s just go pick up some burgers and we can grill out,” Roman suggests.
I am out of my seat like a fire was just lit under my butt. “No! No grilling.”
Everyone looks at me. “Why not?”
“Um, I had a bad experience with burgers the other day. Plus, I’m not feeling the mess. Let’s, uh, let’s just order pizza. I’ll buy.” Everyone is looking at me peculiarly while Linc is fighting a smile. He knows exactly why they can’t go in my backyard. Thankfully, Ram agrees to pizza and everyone follows suit.
Once we’re stuffed and everyone is coming down from the daylong drink fest, Andie decides it’s time to drag her drunk husband home.
“It’s because you have something important to tell me, isn’t it?”
Andie whacks him in the back of the head. “Yeah, that you’re an idiot when you drink. Do I have to carry you to the car or can you manage?” Roman bends down kissing her on her head and stumbles out of my door. I hug Dani and Ram and give Molly butterfly kisses on her sleeping nose. “You’re just the cutest little princess, and I want to snuggle you all night long.”
“How about you snuggle her while I use your bathroom really quick,” Andie says and hands me the carrier. I swing Molly gently back and forth just like she likes it. At first I thought Molly looked like Andie, but I can see Roman sneaking through. Her head is definitely Roman’s, but her sweet eyes and lips are all Andie.
“Once the house is all ours, any interest in testing out number seven on your list?”
I lift my head away from Molly and smile at Linc. “But what happens if we break the couch? We will have nowhere to practice number eight.”
Linc takes a step closer, allowing our thighs to brush against one another, as he dips down and whispers in my ear. “We’re definitely going to break that couch. And as for number—”
“Jesus, Linc, why are your clothes all over the place? Not sure how Reagan allows that,” Andie says as she steps in to take Molly from me.
“Doing laundry. My shit’s broken,” Linc replies, separating from me.
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