“Jared,” I snap, safe now that Jake finally cleared the room, having gone back to the bowels of Hell from where he’d sprung. “Enough. You’re scaring my friends.”
“Good.” His lips flatten. “They should be scared. That kind of garbage isn’t doing their body any favours.”
My eyes hit the ceiling. When I find calm, I introduce Jared to Cooper and Frog. Then I drag him away before he does any more damage.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as we do a quick tour of the apartment. It’s a pointless question. I know why. Jared is here on behalf of the entire Valentine clan to check up on me.
“I’m here to check up on you,” he confirms.
What I love about Jared, and all my brothers, is their inability to tell a lie. No matter what, they’re always honest with me, and if I never have anything else, at least I have that.
“Of course you are,” I say as we wrap up the tour. It took all of thirty seconds. I lead him to the kitchen. It’s crowded in there. Frog has the fridge door open. He’s half inside it, rummaging through the shelves. Cooper and Henry are standing at the counter fighting over the last slice of pepperoni pizza.
“Be thankful it’s me and not Travis or Mitch,” he tells me.
“I got it!” Frog yells over the top of everyone. He backs out of the fridge, waving a bottle of hot sauce in the air. I snatch the bottle.
“Oi!” Frog cries.
Cooper and Henry have drawn battle lines. I lean between them and snatch the last pizza slice. They halt mid-argument, watching open-mouthed as I waltz from the kitchen.
“Why should I be thankful?” I call to Jared as I make my way to the living area. I turn and brace. My three friends come out, murder in their eyes. My own narrow in response. I know how to fight for food. Especially pizza.
Cooper takes a step forward and hesitates at my intimidating stance. I almost laugh. Several hairs were ripped from his head the last time he stole something from my plate and he’s remembering the incident. He whined about his sore scalp for two whole days.
“Because I’m not as stupid as you seem to think I am,” Jared calls back, catching my attention. “If it had have been Mitch or Travis here, they would’ve just killed him. No questions asked.”
My mouth snaps shut with a clack.
Does he have eyes in the back of his head?
“Yes I do,” he tells me.
Did I say that out loud?
“I see everything, Mackenzie Valentine, and you have some explaining to do. But first,” he says, starting for the apartment door, “there’s something I need to attend to across the hall.”
I throw the pizza slice in the general vicinity of my pursuers and make a grab for Jared. He moves too fast. He’s already in the hallway before I catch up. “Will you just stop!” I shout, careful to shut the apartment door behind me.
“No.”
Raising a fist, he bangs on the door opposite ours.
I shove at him.
He doesn’t budge.
“Stop interfering in my life,” I hiss.
Jared faces me, hands fisted by his sides and fury burning bright in his green eyes. “We would stop interfering if you had your life under control, but clearly you don’t. So I’m here to do it for you.”
Rage builds so quickly I can’t breathe. When I exhale it comes out as a howl through clenched teeth. I’m going to throat punch my brother so hard he won’t be able to talk for a week.
Then a light dings on. “Wait a minute.” My nails bite into my palms. “How do you know Jake lives here?”
“Because we know everything.”
Oh. My. God. My asshole brothers! Snooping into my life. Snooping into my friends’ lives. I’m sure they even performed a background check on the stupid bird that squawks in the tree by my window every morning. The same one that squirts its crap all over the glass. I’m sick of cleaning it.
Jake is the whole reason Jared is here. Not me. My brothers already know he lives across the hall. Just like I’m sure they know he’s the drummer for Jamieson. They simply sent brother number three as a representative to deal with the issue.
Just to round out my shitty weekend, the apartment door opens. Jake stands there, shirtless as usual. I eyeball every inch of inked, tanned skin until I’m dazed. What is he doing? Growing muscles on his muscles? He looks ridiculous.
I scowl at him. “Put on a damn shirt.”
Jake huffs in a breath. His massive chest rises like the sun. He huffs it back out, his gaze moving from me to Jared. He gives my brother a chin lift and steps back, opening the door wide. “You may as well come in.”
Jared steps inside. When I follow behind, my brother turns and plants a hand in my chest. “Oh no, little Miss Sunshine. You’re not invited.”
“You can’t—”
That’s all I manage before the door slams in my face. The thunk of a lock clicks in place. The urge to kick the door is strong. I resist.
Picking up the phone and raging at Mitch and Travis will achieve nothing. Calling Mum and Dad to bitch them out will simply draw attention to a situation that I’d prefer remained under the carpet.
I stand in the hallway gnashing my teeth as I figure out my next move.
A slow smile pulls at the corners of my lips when I realise exactly what it is.
The plan of all plans to rid myself of my brothers for good.
It will take time.
But the best plans always do.
And I can be patient when required.
I’ll have them out of action without them even realising what’s happened.
JAKE
I’m surprised it’s taken one of Mac’s brothers this long to pay a visit. The Valentines are not only resourceful, they’re smart, and their contacts stretch to all four corners of the globe. I’m sure they’ve been keeping tabs on me since the fateful phone call I had with Mitch two years ago.
I click the lock in place and Jared turns.
I fold my arms. “I’ve been expecting you.”
Mac’s brother nods, absorbing that piece of information. That’s right, bud. I’m not stupid either. I know how you all operate.
“Then you’ll know why I’m here.”
I manage not to roll my eyes. “Yeah, I have a fair idea.”
“Good.” His eyes scan the apartment, taking in the cheap furniture and open textbooks strewn across every surface. We actually do try and study once in a while. The next words from his mouth have my brows soaring in surprise. “Got any beer?”
My phone buzzes as I’m reaching for two bottles from the fridge. I hand one to Jared and keep one for myself. Whatever he has to say will go down a damn sight easier with a beer in hand.
Collecting my phone from the breakfast table, I read the message as I tilt my head back and swallow the beer.
Princess: Tell Jared we’re having lunch with Evie and to get his ass over here
Jake: Tell him urself
“So …” Jared leans himself against the kitchen counter behind him and twists the lid off his bottle. “Do you really think being in this band is a good idea?”
My nostrils flare. “Because Mac manages it? You know, this band was formed before she came in and started taking over. I’ve been here for two years. She’s been here three months.” I hold up three fingers to emphasise my point. “Three! So if you think this happy little reunion is anything but coincidental, then you’re all idiots.”
My phone buzzes again.
Princess: Asshole
Jake: Bitch
“Oh, we know it’s coincidental.” Jared cocks his head, his expression smug. “We know everything, in case you forgot that.”
I return his smug expression. “So if you know everything, then you’d know why Mac is here.”
His brow wrinkles in puzzlement. “Because of the scholarship, of course. Transferring in her final year was last minute, but this university has the best business program in the country.”
“That’s what she told you,�
� I mutter.
“Sorry?”
“She came here to get away from all of you,” I flat out tell him.
“Rubbish. She—”
I cut him off, done with the conversation already. “Look, it doesn’t matter. You’re here to deliver the warning to stay away from Mac so get it done and leave.”
“Actually that’s not why I’m here, but since you mention it…” his green eyes turn hard “…stay away from Mac.”
My phone buzzes once again. Ignoring his threat, I flick the message open.
Princess: I’m going to throw a brick through your bass drum while you’re sleeping
She will too. Mac doesn’t deal in empty threats.
Jake: Fine. I’ll tell him
I put my phone down and look at Jared. “So why are you here then?”
“Because of Jamieson. You’ll get recognised.”
A snort escapes me. “Hardly. We’ve played one gig.”
“Two things, Romero. The first is that I saw the YouTube videos Mac’s been posting. The band is beyond good. The second is that I know my sister. She’s determined and she’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty. She’ll have you bigger than U2 in less than a year.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself, Valentine. Besides, even if we did make it big, no one recognises the drummer. Sitting behind a set of drums, I don’t get seen.”
Jared’s expression remains sceptical as he downs a mouthful of beer.
“I’m not a target anymore, and I’m not quitting the band.”
I can’t. It’s all I have.
My phone beeps another message.
Princess: Did u tell him?
Jake: Impatient much?
Princess: I’m trying to help you out here
Jake: Sure and I’m the tooth fairy
“Fine,” Jared says, setting his empty bottle down on the counter. I get him another. “Just don’t die on my watch.”
“On your watch?” My brows pull together. “Just how close are these tabs you’re all keeping on me?”
“Close enough. I’m just here to deliver a warning. We got you out, Romero, but Ross has contacts too. Don’t let him drag you back in.”
My phone gives another impatient beep.
Princess: Brick. Bass drum
I sigh. “Mac says to hurry up. You’re supposed to be having lunch with Evie.”
Jared jerks forward, his eyes going from hard to bright in a split second. It’s like seeing light illuminate a dark room. “Evie?”
“Yeah. You met her, right? Mac’s roommate. Long brown hair. Smart mouth.”
Jared seems exceedingly interested in the new direction of our conversation. “She talks? I mean, I heard her sing on YouTube, but …”
“Well, yeah.”
“What else do you know about her?”
Jared’s unexpected distraction has me thumbing open a new message to Mac. I start tapping keys.
Jake: You sneaky bitch
Princess: Rule number 1 … Always have a plan.
A smile of admiration tugs at the corners of my lips. That girl has a spirit no one can break.
Looking up from my phone, I say, “I know she’s waiting on you and Mac for lunch. Better get a move on.”
“Right.” Pushing off from the counter, he finally opens the fresh beer I gave him and points it at me. “Don’t get dead,” are his parting words before he sails out the door, closing it behind him.
MAC
I sit down at the quaint table outside the café. Leafy trees rustle in the breeze and fresh pink roses rest in a little round vase. Their scent swirls around us headily. It’s the perfect setting—sweet and romantic.
At my demand for Evie to join us for lunch, she’s dragged her brother along too. I’ve met Coby since I moved here. He’s two years her senior and a typical older brother. They look alike. He has rich dark hair and brown eyes, a rose tint to his tanned skin, and a smattering of freckles across his nose.
So it’s now become a table of four, which foils my plan to bow out early. And with the way my brother is openly staring at Evie, and the way she’s busy looking everywhere but at him, this is not going to be easy.
But so help me god, I’m going to fan the flames of this attraction into the size of a bonfire you can see from space.
That will leave one brother down, two to go.
Then I’ll be free to live my life.
I totally have this.
MAC
In the weeks and months following that fateful Saturday lunch, something miraculous happens. Seeming to share common goals and interests, Jared and Coby Jamieson become fast friends. Deciding to join forces, Coby moved to Sydney and they formed a consulting business with Travis named Jamieson and Valentine Consulting.
In my opinion, consulting is a loose term for what they dabble in. Their firm contracts to various government departments, collaborating on hostage negotiation, kidnapping and ransom, and other highly specialised services. They’re building a reputation as being cool under fire—the guys you call in when everything goes to shit. The experts.
The new business is right up my alley. I’m smart, keep my head under pressure, and can shoot a bullet through the eye of a needle. My leadership game is strong, my body is fit (sort of), and I can handle all kinds of assholes. I know I’ve proved this over the years. In short, I’m the perfect candidate.
As part of the Valentine clan, I wait for my invitation to join the firm. Mitch has been asked, but he’s already angling for lead detective in the homicide division with Sydney City Police. He has other fish to fry. I don’t.
But the invitation never comes.
I wait.
And nothing.
The exclusion is absolute and leaves me seething. Having a goddamn vagina is ruining my life.
How can they not see that gender is irrelevant? I can look after myself better than they can. At last count, Jared has been knifed twice, Travis shot once in the shoulder, and their newest partner—some rogue cowboy I’ve yet to meet named Casey Daniels—has been involved in a full-blown car chase down Sydney’s Motorway 5, resulting in rolling his car. Evie christened them the Badass Brigade, which would be a fitting name if I were part of the team.
There’s only one thing left to do. Move home to Sydney, dragging the band with me.
It will mean a return to the smothering fold of Valentines, but it will put Evie right in Jared’s line of sight and me in a better position to demonstrate my flair for badassery, thus gaining me a role in their firm.
With graduation just three short months away, I gather the band into the living area of our apartment for a meeting.
Evie is the last to sit down, having kissed her current boyfriend—aptly nicknamed Beetle Bob for his extreme interest in insects—goodbye and sending him on his way. The pair have been seeing each other for over two months. I let it slide because I know Jared scares her. Evie’s past relationships were dire and Jared’s done nothing but prove he’s trouble. But she doesn’t see how perfect they are for each other. I do.
My brother is laying out the charm like a besotted boob, and Evie is being reeled in but the pace is glacial. At least they’re friends. I know because I’ve snooped in her phone. They’re messaging each other every day. Bob might have her physically, but it’s Jared she shares her shit with. It speaks volumes.
With her nerdy off-sider removed from the equation, I begin my first order of business. It’s also the only order of business. “Right,” I say, standing before them. “After graduation, the band is moving to Sydney.”
An uproar commences.
My gaze finds Jake. He’s seated on the floor in front of the couch, knees pulled to his chest and tree-trunk arms wrapped around them. He’s studying me as if he’s trying to figure out my agenda.
A smirk crosses my face. You’ll never find out.
My eyes follow the path of his tongue as it runs along his bottom lip. Try me.
It’s as if a blistering fireball has shot fr
om the sky and slammed me against a wall. I’m hot in an instant.
Jake grins. He knows what he just did. He rarely grins but when he does it lights his face. Amusement flickers in his eyes and a solitary dimple pops. He’s enjoying this.
The chatter dies down and I drag my gaze away. Henry speaks first. His role has evolved. He’s not just lead guitarist anymore. He’s also a kind of mediator between the band and me. “Why?”
“Because it’s the music hub of the country,” I inform them all, which isn’t a lie. Before I made the decision to move, I researched. I want to ensure the band gets the best possible future from the change in location. There may be an ulterior motive in play, but the move is in their best interests too. “Sydney will put you in the face of the best producers in the industry and the best venues. I already have a contact with the White Demon Warehouse, and they pay a lot,” I tell them, watching their eyes widen. As they should. The Warehouse is a leading venue for up and coming indie rock bands. It’s also well known as a place where the big record company scouts visit regularly. “I’ve reviewed our bookings. There’s enough funds to move us there and arrange a bond. As long as I can start getting you bookings now for Sydney, finances won’t be an issue. If you want to make a real go of this, then it’s my job as your manager to make it happen, and the best place—the only place to do that, is in Sydney.”
My speech finished, I wait.
“We should put it to a vote,” Evie announces.
“All right,” I concede. “All those in favour of moving to Sydney, raise your hand.”
Four hands fly up at once. Henry, Evie, Cooper, and Frog, vote to move. That leaves Jake. He’s sitting there like a big, useless lump, his arms not moving. “You plan on staying behind?” I ask him.
“I think the vote should be unanimous, don’t you?”
I arch a brow. “So you want the deciding vote?”
“I don’t see your hand raised, Mackenzie.”
Smug bastard. I want to slap the smirk from his sexy lips. “It’s not raised, is it?”
His brow furrows. “You won’t be moving with us?”
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