My Brother's Five Friends

by B. B. Hamel

  Plus, it almost got me as worked up as seeing Natalie blush. It got my heart beating and my adrenaline rushing, though it didn’t get me off like Natalie did .

  There I was, thinking about her again. It was like I couldn’t go fifteen minutes without thinking about her again .

  As we sped back toward home, I couldn’t get her out of my damn head .

  11

  Natalie

  I woke up confused.

  It took me a minute to figure out where the heck I was .

  Still in the Barone compound. Still living in the shadow of my new mobster family .

  Still thinking about Lucas, my gorgeous, asshole stepbrother slash husband .

  I groaned, rolling over onto my side. I wanted to go back to sleep. Maybe then I’d wake up back in my old house, surrounded by my own things, and no longer married to my dangerous stepbrother. Maybe then I wouldn’t be in such an awful situation .

  Instead, I sat up and sent a quick text to Pacey. At the very least I could see her and let her experience the absolutely surreal turn my life had taken .

  I tossed my phone aside when I was finished and climbed out of bed. I brushed my teeth and threw on some sweats. I wanted coffee and maybe a banana, but I realized I had no clue where the kitchen was .

  I pulled open the door and saw a small packet on the ground. I bent over and grabbed it .

  Inside was a menu and a number .

  Seriously? I thought. They seriously just deliver food to your room like a hotel ?

  Ten minutes later, they seriously delivered coffee and cereal to my room like a hotel .

  Sitting on my couch, my television turned to some crappy but entertaining soap opera, I felt halfway decent for the first time in awhile. Frankly, who wouldn’t want food delivered to their room whenever they waned it ?

  I could definitely get used to that .

  A couple hours later, I felt nervous for Pacey to show up. I felt like I hadn’t fully prepared her for what exactly was going to happen. I checked my phone for the hundredth time when suddenly it started to ring .

  “Hello?” I answered .

  “Uh, Nat? I’m at the front gate and some guy is telling me that I’m not allowed inside .”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Seriously? Put him on the phone .”

  I heard some muted words and the sound of someone else taking the phone. “Hello?” the man’s voice said .

  “Hi. This is Natalie. I’m not sure what the proper procedure for this is or whatever, but can you please let my friend inside ?”

  “Sorry, ma’am,” he said. “You don’t have guest approval .”

  “Guest approval? Are you fucking kidding me ?”

  “No, ma’am. Sorry about that .”

  “I live here. This is my house now. Let my friend inside .”

  “Sorry. I can’t do that. Please get approval .”

  I wanted to scream. Instead, I said, “Please put Pacey back on .”

  The phone was handed over. “What’s happening?” she asked. “Am I about to get disappeared ?”

  I laughed. “No. It’s fine. Just hold tight. I’ll sort this out .”

  “Okay. This guy is very intense, though. He keeps giving me this dirty look like I’m a terrorist or something .”

  “I’m so, so sorry about this. I’ll figure it out .”

  I quickly hung up .

  For a brief moment, I felt dizzy and trapped. Anger flared through me. How dare they keep my friends out? I wasn’t a prisoner, except maybe I was. They brought coffee to my room, but they wouldn’t let me have a friend over. It was absolute madness .

  Pissed off, I called my mom. I let it ring, but it went to voicemail. I tried to call another three times, but she didn’t answer .

  What was I supposed to do? I rifled through the packet they had left at my door, but there were no useful numbers. I checked the drawers and by the landline phone, but there was nothing .

  I felt so damn powerless. I didn’t even know how to find security, let alone how to find anyone that could help me .

  And then I remembered .

  I had his number. Lucas .

  He had texted me the night before .

  I looked at the messages, biting my lip. I really didn’t want to ask him for help. I really, really didn’t want to. But my friend was sitting out there like an asshole all because I was living in some mafia prison compound .

  Taking a deep breath, I tapped his number .

  “I knew you’d call,” he said on the second ring .

  “This isn’t about that,” I said .

  “What’s it about, then? I’m not sure I want to hear anything other than how badly you want me to come to your room and fuck you senseless .”

  “It’s about my friend .”

  “We can invite her too, if you want. I’m open to most things .”

  I made a face. “No, listen, Lucas. I’m trying to have her over, but security won’t let her in .”

  He laughed. “Not surprising. You’ve only been here a day. Nobody knows you yet .”

  “Can you help me ?”

  “Of course I can .”

  I paused. “Okay, will you ?”

  “What’s in this for me ?”

  “The knowledge that you’re not such a total asshole .”

  “Not interesting. Sorry .”

  I clenched my jaw. “Please. Make this easy for me .”

  “Wear that dress .”

  I paused. “No way,” I said .

  “Come to my rooms tonight wearing that dress .”

  “And do what ?”

  “Come inside, spin around once, and then leave .”

  “No way .”

  “Those are my terms. Take it or leave it .”

  I sighed, shaking my head. “That’s it? I walk in, spin, and then leave ?”

  “That’s it .”

  “Fine.”

  “Great. See you later.” He hung up .

  What had I just gotten myself into ?

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Pacey said. “This place is insane .”

  “I know,” I said. “I don’t even know my way around it yet .”

  “How could you? It’s freaking huge .”

  We walked along the halls back toward my room. I’d given her a brief little tour of what I knew so far, which basically consisted of us wandering the halls until someone pointed us in a different direction .

  Finally we found my bedroom door, and I unlocked it, pushing it open .

  Inside, it was covered in flowers .

  Hundreds of flowers, all different shapes ad sizes, dotted the room .

  “Whoa,” Pacey said. “Did they put you in the green room ?”

  “No. I mean, these weren’t here when I came to meet you an hour ago .”

  Pacey walked in and I followed her. There was a card propped up on the coffee table, and Pacey grabbed it before I could .

  “‘Enjoy the flowers, ladies.’” She looked at me. “Lucas ?”

  My face darkened. “My stepbrother .”

  “Is it normal for a stepbrother to send his stepsister flowers like this ?”

  “No. There’s nothing normal about him .”

  She laughed, tossing the card aside. “Well, whatever. This place is absolutely amazing, Nat .”

  I sighed, collapsing onto the couch. It was just too much. Between the whiplash of losing my family home and suddenly coming to live in a mansion, and my stepbrother wanting me, and me wanting my stepbrother, oh and marrying my stepbrother, it was all just too much .

  “I can hardly believe it,” I said .

  But Pacey didn’t hear me. She was too busy looking over the room, inspecting every little detail. She seemed more enthralled by the ornate display of wealth than I was .

  “Your own bathroom?” she asked. “It’s bigger than my bedroom. Holy shit .”

  I laughed. “And they bring food to your room .”

  She poked her head back out. “Seriously ?”r />
  “Sure. Want something ?”

  “Smoothie.”

  “I’ll see what I can do .”

  While I ordered a smoothie sent up to my room, which apparently was a completely fine and normal thing to do, Pacey continued to explore the place .

  Finally, her drink appeared, and we lounged on the couch together .

  “I know I keep saying this, but I can’t believe it .”

  “I am as surprised and overwhelmed as you are .”

  “Probably more, since you have to live here .”

  I laughed. “Yeah, true .”

  “Tell me about your new family .”

  “Arturo, my stepdad, he seems nice I guess. My mom and him seem to really like each other .”

  “What about Lucas ?”

  “He, ah, he’s an asshole. I think the flowers are his version of a joke .”

  “Some joke,” Pacey mumbled. “How old is he ?”

  “A little older than us .”

  “And what’s he do ?”

  I paused at that. What did he do? Other than act as a gang member, of course .

  “He works for his dad,” I said .

  Pacey nodded. “Okay, show me the rest of the place .”

  “Want to sit by the pool ?”

  “Sure!”

  I stood up, smiling. Pacey had a way of cheering me up even when she wasn’t trying. I had to dig through my stuff, but I found some bathing suits for the both of us to wear .

  We changed and headed out. I was looking forward to just sitting by the water with Pace, not thinking about anything, and relaxing .

  My life had very suddenly gone from normal to totally crazy. But at least I had a pool .

  12

  Lucas

  I t wasn’t every day that I found two half-naked women sunning themselves next to my father’s pool .

  Actually, scratch that. I couldn’t count how many times that exact scenario had played itself out and I’d ended up with both women back in my bed .

  But I couldn’t remember a time when one of those two was my stepsister .

  Her friend was the same girl from Vegas, and I wondered if she would recognize me. I doubted it, considering how drunk she’d been, but I wondered how much Natalie had actually told her. I hoped nothing, and I knew Natalie wasn’t an idiot. Still, there was always a chance, and so I decided to play it a little straight .

  The two girls were lying in lounge chairs and wearing bikinis. “Ladies,” I said as I walked over .

  Natalie opened one eye. “Lucas .”

  Her friend sat up. “So this is Lucas,” she said. “Thanks for the flowers .”

  I smiled. “Of course. Natalie told me about the trouble you had at the front gate. Consider the flowers an apology .”

  “Big apology,” she said .

  “Lucas, this is Pacey,” Natalie said .

  “Pacey, nice to meet you .”

  “Likewise.” Pacey grinned at me as I slipped my shirt off .

  I caught Natalie staring, and I stared right back. I loved the way her light skin looked in her dark blue bikini. It barely covered anything, leaving basically nothing to the imagination, and that was how I liked it. By contrast, her friend was thinner, almost stick-thin, with darker skin and honey-colored hair .

  “What are you doing?” Natalie asked .

  “Nat,” Pacey said, “don’t be rude .”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “I just thought I’d go for a swim .”

  Before Natalie could complain, I dove into the water. It felt good after a long day of breaking faces and pushing for information .

  After meeting with Rodney, we had decided to take a quick detour through the Russian-controlled territory. I didn’t go around aggressively breaking noses, but I did try and rustle up my contacts. I had a few guys in their mob that gave me reliable information in exchange for some decent cash, but I couldn’t find any of them, strangely enough .

  Almost like they had gone underground for some reason .

  I surfaced and did a lazy little back stroke. I caught both of the girls watching me and smiled in return .

  “Come on in,” I said. “Water is decent .”

  “No, thanks,” Natalie snapped, but Pacey was already getting up .

  “Come on, Nat,” she said. “I’m hot .”

  “Go ahead,” Natalie replied. “I’m comfortable .”

  Pacey shrugged. She walked over toward the pool and dove in .

  I laughed as she splashed over. She was fairly graceful in the water, but she was completely lacking something. For whatever reason, I had absolutely no interest in Pacey. Despite the fact that she was cute enough and obviously eye-fucking me, I didn’t want the same thing .

  For some reason, I wanted my wife. The girl that kept looking at me like I was the worst human being in the whole world .

  “So, what do you think of the house?” I asked Pacey as she swam over .

  “It’s nice,” she said. “Too big though .”

  I laughed. “Yeah, it is too big. Guess how many rooms are actually in use at any given time .”

  “Half?”

  “Hardly. Less than a quarter of them, and that’s being generous .”

  “Wow,” she said. “Seems like a huge waste .”

  “It really is .”

  “What do you guys do that you have all this ?”

  I glanced at Nat and she gave me a look. Immediately I understood that Pacey didn’t understand a thing .

  “My father is in real estate. He owns a lot of buildings all over the country .”

  “Wow. That’s really cool .”

  “I’ll give you two a tour sometime .”

  “That’d be great .”

  She swam around me and I watched Natalie carefully. She studiously ignored my looks and tried to pretend like she was nodding off behind her sunglasses .

  But I knew the truth. The second I had stepped out of the house and headed down toward them, Nat had been watching me like a hawk .

  I swam over to the edge of the pool and climbed out, water streaming down from my muscular body. Pacey continued swimming laps .

  I grabbed my towel and began to dry myself off .

  “Can you do that somewhere else?” Natalie asked .

  “Why? Distracted ?”

  “No. You’re getting me wet .”

  “I know that. I can practically smell how badly you want me,” I said softly .

  “That wasn’t what I meant.” She was blushing like crazy .

  “Come on, Natalie. Don’t pretend like you’re not dying for your friend to leave so I can tongue your tight pussy until you scream my name .”

  “Not in the slightest. Did you come out here just to mess with me ?”

  I grinned at her. “Yes. And to say that you make me fucking hard when you wear that bikini .”

  “Great. Thanks .”

  “Don’t forget our deal .”

  “I haven’t forgotten .”

  “Good. I’m sure you’ve been thinking about it all day .”

  “What are you two whispering about?” Pacey called out .

  I smiled over at her. “Just an urgent family matter .”

  “Is anything wrong ?”

  “Not at all,” I said, waving her off. I looked back at Natalie. “See you later, sis .”

  She ignored me as I walked away, my towel draped over my shoulders .

  I loved the look on her face. It was half scorn and half desire, which only made me want her even more. I’d never met someone that resisted me so hard and yet so clearly wanted me like Natalie .

  The issue of our marriage hadn’t come up yet, though I knew I was going to have to do something about it. Now that we had a rat in the family, times were extremely dangerous. It simply wasn’t the best situation to have such a serious secret .

  Vince was waiting for me just inside the house. I entered through the staff member door, a nearly invisible door that opened right into the kitchen .

&n
bsp; “Swimming?” he asked me .

  “Swimming,” I confirmed .

  “Not your usual thing .”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Got something to say ?”

  He grinned, holding up his hands. “Not at all .”

  “What are you doing over here ?”

  He shrugged. “Waiting for you. Admiring the view .”

  I followed his gaze and saw Natalie standing up, walking over toward the pool, and jumping in .

  “Back off,” I said fiercely, surprising myself .

  Vince stared at me. “What ?”

  “My stepsister is off limits,” I growled at him .

  “Yeah, okay, of course,” he said, taking a step back .

  I didn’t understand my reaction. I knew Vince was harmless, and we joked about women like that all the time. But suddenly I was pissed that he would look at Natalie like that. I knew the sort of shit he said, and I didn’t want to hear it about her .

  I calmed myself down and began to head back into the main portion of the house. Vince followed behind me .

  “What did you want, Vince?” I asked him .

  “Sent out feelers like you wanted, trying to find our Russian friend .”

  “And?”

  “Got a response already .”

  I stopped and looked at him. “Really? This fast ?”

  “Yeah. That’s what I thought, too .”

  “What did he say ?”

  “He wants to meet up .”

  “So the guy is invisible earlier, but as soon as we even ask around, suddenly he wants to meet .”

  “Suspicious.”

  I nodded at him. “Yeah, suspicious. Set a time and place .”

  “You sure ?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’ve been questioning me a lot lately .”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, boss. It just seems like an obvious trap .”

  “The Russians don’t want a war. They wouldn’t lay a finger on me. No, this is about something else .”

  Vince nodded. “Okay. I’ll set the time .”

  He began to walk away. “Vince?” I called after him .

  He looked at me. “Yeah, boss ?”

  “Cut the shit .”

  He grinned. “Got it .”

  I smiled back and he left .

  I couldn’t afford to lose Vince’s loyalty. Of everyone in the mob, Vince was my closest advisor, my number two, my right-hand man. I trusted him almost as much as I trusted Louisa, and that was saying a lot .