Flawlessly Flawed

by Amelia Shea

  “Wanna beer?” he asked as if he hadn’t just told his family to shut the fuck up.

  “Uhhhh…okay.” He released her hand and all the girls descended on her.

  “God, he’s such a dick. No friggin’ manners, that one.” Roxanne laughed, shaking her head. She smiled brightly at Cassie, her blue eyes warm and welcoming. She reached to embrace Cassie in a hug.

  “Girl, how do you put up with him?” She squeezed her and stepped back. “Oh, forget it, who cares, just keep doing it.” She laughed and turned back to the redhead introduced as Emory.

  “Did I tell ya?”

  Flipping her hair over her shoulder she strutted to them. “Sorry I doubted you, bestie. You were right.” She laughed. Her blue eyes sparkled and she held out her hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Cassie. Heard a lot about you, just didn’t believe any of it. Thought for sure you’d walk in with stripper clothes, circus tits, and a whore’s face full of makeup.”

  Cassie’s eyes grew wide in shock. Roxanne burst out laughing while Sadie gasped. “Jesus, Em. Just ’cause you think it doesn’t mean you have to say it.”

  Emory laughed. “Oh, relax, Sadie, that was a compliment. She knows that.” Emory turned to Cassie. “Right?”

  Cassie looked between all the women. Roxanne and Emory looked at ease but Sadie looked concerned that Cassie might run for the door.

  “Uh…okay!” She said it uncertainly. Was that a compliment? This was weird. Where the hell was T, dammit?

  “It was a compliment, Cassie, I promise. Em just has a mouth that sometimes needs interpretation.” She looked over at Emory, who shrugged. “She meant you look nothing like the women T has been with. She meant you’re beautiful.”

  Cassie nodded and looked to Emory, who smiled. “That’s exactly what I meant.” She winked and Cassie giggled.

  “Cassie, I’m Sadie.” The pretty brunette smiled at her and Cassie shook her outstretched hand. “I wanted to thank you for all the planning for my party. It was perfect. You did such a great job.”

  “Oh, well, thanks, but it was mostly Roxanne, really. I just followed her lead.”

  Roxanne rolled her eyes. “No way, girl, you rocked that party. If I wasn’t so territorial of the wedding I would have hired you for that too.”

  All three girls started to laugh. Cassie just smiled, feeling as though she was missing a private joke. They all seemed very comfortable with one another. Cassie liked them immediately and they started a conversation about the wedding. The more they talked the more she began to understand Roxanne’s statement. It seemed like Roxanne was in charge of everything.

  “Yeah, so basically, Stone and I just have to show up,” Sadie joked.

  From the corner of her eye, she noticed the brother she had not formally met. Ethan started toward them. Abruptly, Emory turned her head and walked away, heading to the hallway. Roxanne watched her leave, losing her smile. Cassie got the feeling she was missing something.

  Ethan came over, in between Sadie and Roxanne, his warm smile directed at Cassie.

  “Cassie, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m T’s brother, Ethan Barrett.” He held out his hand and Cassie reached out to his. His hands were smooth, nothing like T’s rough hands. His hold was gentle and he released it slowly.

  “Nice to meet you, Ethan.” Cassie stared at the gorgeous, dark-haired man. His blue eyes, the same as Roxanne’s, were somehow more mesmerizing. He had the look of pure class—a striking, chiseled face. Her eyes subtly scanned his clothes. While everyone was dressed casual, he looked like he was going somewhere, not his dad’s house for a family dinner.

  She realized that no one was talking and focused back on the group. They were all staring at her. Oh, God, did she just get caught staring at Ethan? She forced an awkward smile.

  Ethan broke the silence. “I’m going to get a drink. Ladies?”

  Cassie shook her head while the others said, “No thanks,” and “Good for now.” Ethan smiled again at Cassie and nodded his head, walking to the hallway.

  Sadie leaned in to whisper. “Yeah, I got caught enamored with him too, once.” She chuckled. “He has that effect on everyone with a vagina. Just don’t let T catch sight of it. Trust me, Stone didn’t like it.”

  Cassie burst out laughing, Sadie joining in. Roxanne rolled her eyes. “I guess it’s because he’s my brother but I just don’t see it.”

  They all laughed and continued to talk. Cassie’s mind wandered to T. Where is he?

  * * * *

  “So, we have him tagged just outside of Houston. Can’t seem to leave the area, which is good and bad. The good news is we don’t have to venture far to get him. The bad? There’s something here he’s after and he refuses to give it up.” Stone crossed his arms and leaned back against the study wall. This had always been their meeting place when they were at his dad’s.

  “His sister?” Bogs piped in, from in front of his computer, not looking up from the screen. He had been going back and forth with Trent.

  “Nah, his loyalties don’t run that deep,” T said, trying to figure it out like the rest of them.

  “Then what the fuck has this guy staying so close? With all the shit we got him on, there’s no way he’ll get off. He’s gotta know when we get him he’s going away.” Stone huffed.

  In their time in the business, they had some tough jobs, but this one was stumping them. What was worth the risk of getting caught? Had to be something big.

  Ethan came through the doorway and closed the door behind him. “Maybe he’s not as small-time as we originally thought. Maybe he has connections we don’t know about.”

  T shook his head. He had everything on Jimmy. They were thorough in their jobs, they did their research. He was a small-time dealer, only a few under him. He worked under Mike Serio, a dealer just a step above with no real connections. Drug dealing worked on a stacking theory and Jimmy wasn’t even playing with the top.

  “He ain’t even close to any of the big names.”

  “You’re sure?” Ethan questioned.

  “You asking me if I missed something, E? ’Cause the answer would be fuck no.” T tensed and growled. He didn’t like to be second-guessed, especially by Ethan.

  “I’m not saying you missed something. I’m just saying, could there be something that no one knows about?” Ethan was quick to explain. They had a good relationship but as with all his brothers, they had short fuses.

  T and Stone shared a look. Could there be something else? Someone else funding Jimmy? Stone raised his eyebrows in question. T knew he was second-guessing, too. They had always been like that since they served together; they knew each other better than anyone else.

  “Well, now that’s interesting!” Bogs stated.

  “What?” T asked.

  “There was an account linked to Tina’s.”

  “We ran her accounts when we started,” Stone said.

  “No, this one wouldn’t have been seen unless you checked the link, which wouldn’t have been available.”

  “Then how did you get in?” T questioned.

  Bogs smirked, looking up from the screen. “Because I hacked it.”

  “Damn it, Bogs. I told you we can’t do that anymore. You’re going to get us all arrested,” Ethan scolded, his face turning red in anger.

  Bogs huffed a loud, exasperated breath. “Seriously, man? You think I’d get caught? Where’s your faith in me? I’m offended.” He rolled his eyes. “No worries, man, I spoofed the IP address.”

  “So, what did you get?” T asked. What’s done was done; hopefully it was info they could use.

  “All right, I’ll dumb it down for you guys and leave the tech talk out. In layman’s terms.” He smirked again. Asshole. “An account was linked to hers but hidden because the deposits are from an offshore account. No tracking on it. The money hit the account and then was immediately withdrawn, and when I say immediately, I mean, minutes later.” Bogs sighed and shook his h
ead. “To do something like that, you have to have the system to do it, and people who know how. Man, little Jimmy ain’t so little in the scheme of things. He knows people.” Bogs’ face turned serious. “Big people.”

  “That means he’s got the backing to get out, leave the country. So why stay?” Stone questioned.

  T took a heavy sigh and stretched his clasped hands behind his head. This was bad. “Because there’s something he needs here. We just have to figure out what it is before he gets to it.”

  The announcement of dinner was shouted from down the hall. The guys all got up from their spots and headed to the door. Ethan paused when Bogs called out to them. One by one they looked back to Bogs, who closed down the computer and came to stand in front of them.

  “Trent and Dec are in, just got word.” They all looked at one another.

  “They want in on this, T. What do you think?” Bogs asked him directly.

  Of all the guys, Trent and Dec were closest to T and Stone. They all met in the service, and left at the same time. They partnered up shortly after. Dubbed as the cleanup crew, there were only specific jobs they worked on together. This was not one of those jobs. However, T’s gut was telling him they might be in over their heads. They needed Trent and Dec.

  T nodded. “They’re in.”

  Ethan opened the door and they all cringed hearing Roxanne shriek, “Dinner!”

  When T walked into the dining room, he saw Cassie seated next to his dad who was at his usual spot at the head of the table. He was saying something to her that had her smiling and then laughing. She covered her mouth as if it were the funniest thing she’d ever heard. T’s lip quirked up. He loved the sound of that laugh. He walked toward her when he felt a tug on the back of his shirt. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Sadie smiling. “I like her,” she whispered and winked before walking over to her seat next to Stone.

  He huffed out a breath, heading to his chair next to Cassie. His family was falling for her just as quickly as he had. It didn’t surprise him. What’s not to love about her? He looked over at her big smile and hated himself for it but couldn’t stop it; he leaned over and kissed her surprised lips. He knew he’d get shit for it, especially from Bogs, but he’d take it. This feeling he had, he’d never felt it before. He knew what it was, he just wasn’t ready to come out and say it.

  Turning back to the table, he was faced with smirks, smiles, and happy faces. Fuck!

  Roxanne dominated the dinner talk with wedding bullshit. He ignored her as most of the men at the table did. Except his dad, he listened and joined in. He constantly asked Sadie if that was what she wanted when Roxanne talked about the flowers and the caterer and the favors and every other bullshit wedding thing there was.

  Sadie, being Sadie, went with it all except the doves. T heard her utter, “Hell no.” under her breath.

  “Did you and Darla have a big wedding, John?” Sadie asked, trying to change the wedding focus to someone other than her. Well played, Sadie. She looked at T and scrunched her brows. He winked and she suppressed a smile. He let her know he knew what she was doing. She turned her attention to John.

  “No, just us, our family and close friends. Weddings back then were different. Simple. I think marriages today get so caught up with the wedding day; people lose sight of what the day really means. The first day of the rest of your life with your partner. Weddings are wonderful but in the big scheme of things, it’s just a day. But a marriage, well, that’s forever.” A small, sad smile played on his lips. “If you’re lucky.”

  The table was quiet. With that, T knew that everyone’s thoughts had left the wedding and gone straight to their mom. His heart grew heavy; it always did when he thought of her.

  T felt a gentle touch on his thigh. He looked down to see Cassie’s small hand there. Looking up to her eyes, a gentle smile of sympathy covered her face. His hand dropped from the table and clasped hers.

  He embraced her comfort. He needed it, he wanted it, and for the first time in his life, he was going to accept it from a woman.

  “Well, I think, I’m going to excuse myself. I have to run over to Grable’s farm. Promised I’d help him out.”

  “But Daddy, it’s almost eight.” Roxanne was concerned.

  “No timeframe on helping out a friend.” He winked at her, grabbed his plate, and strolled into the kitchen. His dad was the greatest man he knew, always there to help out a friend. However, this time he sensed that he was heading out not to Grable’s but to see his mom.

  T’s attention was brought back to the table by a single hand clap and the sight of Sadie smiling up at Stone.

  “I’m gonna introduce Pearl to your dad at the wedding,” Sadie said with a mischievous gleam in her eye.

  “The waitress?” Ethan questioned, his brow scrunched. His voice took on a condescending tone.

  Oh, man, T knew where this was going. This was Ethan’s most aggravating flaw. The one that he overlooked because he was his brother. Had they been strangers, it was one he’d kick his ass over. Shut the fuck up, E.

  “Yeah, she’s great. Lots of fun, attractive, I think they’d hit it off.” Her tone was excitedly hopeful.

  “I don’t think so,” Ethan said while taking a bite of dessert.

  “Why not?’

  He looked up at Sadie. “She’s a waitress.”

  “And?” Sadie tone had changed from excited to slightly annoyed. She squinted at Ethan and T saw her back go rigid.

  “E?” T warned, but Ethan ignored him

  E, man, shut up, stop now. But of course, knowing his brother, he wouldn’t, and he didn’t.

  “Sadie, my dad is a businessman, a professional. What would he have in common with a waitress?”

  “I was a waitress, Ethan.” She folded her arms over her chest and glared at Ethan.

  “Sadie, I think you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying.”

  “Then, why don’t you explain it, Ethan?” Emory sweetly suggested from the other end of the table. T rolled his eyes; this was not going to end well.

  “Yeah, man, why don’t you fucking explain it?” Stone bit out through clenched teeth. He rested his elbows on the table folding his hands in front of him, his body rigid. T knew Stone and knew his mannerisms. Stone was fucking fuming, trying to keep it in but he was seconds away from jumping across the table and beating the piss outta Ethan.

  “And talk slow so all us ‘un-professionals’ can understand you,” Emory snipped from her seat. Ethan glared at Emory, who returned his look with a smirk and a look that read, Take that. Ha.

  “Ethan?” Sadie called to him, grabbing his attention from Emory. “Explain what you meant, because I don’t understand why a kind, sweet, fun woman like Pearl wouldn’t be a great match for your dad, who is equally kind, sweet, and fun.”

  Ethan took a deep breath and tossed his napkin on the table. Roxanne tried to mediate as she always did with conflict in the family.

  “Sadie, I think what Ethan means is that your friend Pearl isn’t what my dad is used to. She’s not like my mom,” Roxanne calmly reasoned.

  Sadie turned her glare to Roxanne. “How would you know, you’ve never even met her, Rox. And Ethan didn’t say anything about her character, he said, ‘because she was a waitress.’”

  “Well…her moral character does come into play too,” Ethan quietly said.

  Sadie whipped her head to Ethan, who looked at Stone.

  Stone scowled at Ethan. “You’re an asshole.”

  Sadie turned on Stone. “You told him? Why, why would you do that?” Sadie’s fury was now directed at her fiancé.

  “Babe, I mentioned it in conversation. And I didn’t say anything bad about her. I know she’s your friend.” Stone glared at Ethan and sat back in his chair. “It came up and I shouldn’t have fucking said anything to him.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have, it’s none of his business,” Sadie snapped.

  “It is if you want to introduce h
er to my dad,” Ethan chimed in.

  “Wait, what am I missing?” Roxanne was confused.

  Ethan turned to Roxanne. “Pearl, while a very nice lady, was sleeping with her boss.” He turned to Sadie. “Her married boss.”

  “And you wanna set up her up with Dad?” Roxanne was shocked.

  T dragged a hand over his head. This was about to fucking explode all over the fucking dining room table. He peered over at Cassie, who looked uncomfortable watching the shit show happening in front of them. Ethan needed to learn to mind his own fucking business.

  Sadie glared at Roxanne and back at Ethan. Stone’s arm was shifted off her shoulder when she shrugged away from him.

  “Ya know what, we all have our faults, and for both of you to…”

  “I do not want my dad with someone of questionable morals, Sadie,” Ethan interrupted, his tone firm.

  A burst of laughter came from the end of the table. Emory was laughing so hard her eyes began to tear. She held up her hand. “Sorry, sorry…I just find it hysterical that you…who is banging his cousin…is questioning someone else’s morals.” She continued to laugh while the room lay in complete silence.

  “Emory!” Roxanne warned.

  “What? Oh, c’mon, Rox, you don’t see the irony in all of this? Please, girl, I love ya but wake up and see perfect big bro for what he is.” Emory looked to Ethan. “Immoral…just like the rest of us, no better, no worse.”

  The elephant in the room had everyone at the table speechless and uncomfortable, even Bogs, which never happened. Emory was the only one who looked calm and very triumphant at the moment.

  “I’m gonna clean up,” Sadie said quietly. Stone reached for her hand but she yanked it away. She grabbed her plate and walked toward the kitchen. The room remained silent. She stopped at the door and looked over her shoulder.