“It’s what money buys, but you can’t buy class. Which you have in spades. You’re fine, pretty girl. Go take a seat. I have to talk to the hospitality manager.” He presses a chaste kiss on my cheek, making me feel better within a second. When I look down on the racetrack in front of me, I feel a sense of excitement I’ve never experienced before. A smile stretches my face when I hear the familiar voice of Reign walking down the steps.
“Well, well, look at you.” His eyes are taking me in as I turn around to greet him.
“You look great, Kenny.” Before I can reply, he grabs my hand, brings it in the air, and starts spinning me around.
I like Reign.
He’s fun, sweet, easy on the eyes, and definitely one of the Wolfe brothers who is on my side, making me like him even more.
“And you even put knee-high boots on. How the hell did you get past him?” He looks down at my new boots before nodding his head towards Franklin. I thank Josie in my head for putting my outfit together.
“Oh, stop it.”
“I mean it, girl. You look great.”
“Thank you,” I reply before I take a seat in one of the chairs. Reign takes the seat on my right as I examine his outfit. Unlike his brother, he isn’t wearing a pullover. No, Reign stopped at the dress shirt with a tie combined with a long black coat. The ensemble is capped off with Adidas shoes and a scally cap.
“I thought men didn’t have to wear hats to the races?”
“Oh, we don’t. But it’s my only opportunity to wear this cool thing.” He winks as Franklin takes his place on my left, placing his hand on my leg. It feels familiar, as if I belong to him, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of it while I fight to ignore the flutter in my belly.
“So when do the races start?” I ask.
Franklin softly squeezes my leg so I look at him.
“Not for another hour.”
“An hour? Why are we here already then?”
“To make an appearance,” Reign mumbles beside me.
Before I can ask why, Connor walks down the steps towards us. His huge body is covered in a sweater and a leather jacket, clearly not interested in following racing day etiquette but looking nice, nonetheless.
“Hell will freeze over before you’ll see him in a three-piece suit. Makes sense, though. Have you ever seen a ruffian in a suit?” Reign whispers this in my ear when he sees me checking out Connor.
“Where’s your suit, Connor?” Reign bellows for the sake of it.
“Shut up, tool,” he snarls before he turns his troubled face to Franklin. “I need to talk to you about your girl. Something’s wrong.”
Franklin jumps up then turns towards Reign, pointing his finger at him with a reprimanding look.
“Stay with her!” Without giving me a second glance, he follows Connor back up and out the door, leaving me behind with Reign and a lot of confusion. An aggravated ball forms in my gut when I consider Connor’s words.
Your girl.
Flashbacks of Emerson telling me about his side chick run through my mind, and I can’t help but feel stupid. How could I have been stupid enough to think I’d be the only girl in his life after one night? The thought that I had made me feel even more stupid because even though I’d tried to keep him away the last few days, what happened last night definitely made me feel something. Made me realize it’s impossible for me to pretend otherwise. It’s a little too late to keep my feelings out of it, and even though I don’t want to like him, I do. I hear Josie’s voice booming through my head … ‘make him fall in love with you.’
But what if I fall for him first?
I brush the thought away, knowing my feelings don’t matter. I just need to gain his trust and keep him interested. My track record may not be the best with men, but I do know one thing: they all want to be challenged. I’d vowed to myself that I would never let someone treat me like a side piece ever again, and I’m sticking to that. Right now, all I need to do is focus on keeping his attention long enough to please Emerson.
Deciding to be brave, I turn my head to Reign.
“His girl?” I ask.
He has a relaxed grin on his face until he sees my expression. His face falls before he considers my question and lets out a chuckle, pissing me off even more.
“Honestly, if I’m one of many girls on a list, I’d like to know. I have no illusions. I mean, I realize that he’s Franklin fucking Wolfe, but if he’s sleeping around with multiple women, I would appreciate a heads up. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting him to be exclusive with me, but I don’t want to be confronted with other women who share his bed. I don’t normally share, but I may consider it because something about your brother keeps my attention. But I’d like to have all the facts first. I think that’s the least I deserve.” I finally stop rambling, trying to hide the insecurity I just spewed while simultaneously feeling brave as fuck at the same time.
Tell ‘em, Kenny.
Reign smiles at me with sympathy before he gets up and holds out his hand. I huff in response, my aggravation now replaced by anger over his lack of an answer.
“Come on,” he commands as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Not until you answer me.”
“I’ll show you.”
I roll my eyes at him. Is he for real? As if I want to be watching Franklin with his girl right now, whoever the bitch may be. I can’t believe I let Josie talk me into thinking I could actually do this. How do you keep the attention of a man who has an entire city at his disposal?
“Come on, silly. You can trust me.” He’s looking down at me with a devilish gleam in his eyes. I try to keep my face straight, but I can’t help feeling the corner of my mouth tilt up slightly. Finally, I place my hand in his before he pulls me on my feet and ushers me outside of the box.
My arm is hooked in his and his free hand is resting on mine as he leads me through the corridors until we reach the paddock; the late afternoon sun instantly warming my face. The track is filled with women wearing heels and big hats, escorted by men wearing three-piece suits like Franklin and Reign.
“Where are we going, Reign?” I finally ask when we come closer to the stables, near the groomsmen taking care of the horses.
I glance around me, looking for Franklin, even though I’m scared of what I may find. Not that I expect Reign to confront me with one of his brother’s girls. I know I should focus on the main goal—gaining Franklin’s trust—not worrying about who he fucks and when, but after spending the night with him, I can’t help what I feel for the man. It’s strong enough to not want to see him wrapped around someone else.
“Kenny, really. You can trust me.” Reign offers me a smile while we keep walking. “My brother is an asshole. But he’s not the kind of asshole you think he is.”
“Aren’t they all?” I mutter loud enough for Reign to hear.
“Who made you believe that?” His voice sounds concerned, making it hard for me to keep my distance, even though I know I should.
Without answering, I let out a deep sigh, hoping he’ll let my comment pass.
“Spill it, girl,” he commands in a jovial tone, even though I can tell he’s serious.
“My ex.”
He stops us in the middle of the path, horses either side of us, as he looks at me in concern.
“Is that why you don’t trust men? Did he cheat on you?”
I avert my eyes in shame before I offer him a silent nod. It’s not my fault, I know that. Many people have told me that a hundred times, but whether it was my fault or not doesn’t take away the shame of it. Embarrassment that I let him toy with me, let him do whatever he wanted. That I still do now.
“Did he hurt you?” He nudges up my chin, forcing me to look at him as my eyes well up.
I hate the concern I see in his eyes, the genuine interest that makes me want to tell him everything about Emerson Jones and how he haunts my past. And my present now too. How I was breaking loose, finally finding myself and the confidence to hold
my own. Thinking I’d grown to the point where I would not let him waltz all over me. Who was I kidding?
I can’t stand myself standing here in front of Reign, acting like that’s all in the past when really, having Emerson in my life has never weighed heavier on my heart than it does right now. For a split second, I contemplate telling Reign everything, hoping the Wolfes can save me from my demons and keep my brother safe at the same time. But the thought is quickly pushed away by memories of Emerson’s dark eyes, his cruel grip, and his history of brutality.
I take a deep breath.
“Yes, he did.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Kenny. But my brother will never hurt you like that.” He cups my cheek before he tugs me into his chest, giving me a warm hug. I smile at how affectionate Reign is, reminding me of my own brother. When he pulls back, he wraps his arm around my shoulder, moving us forward again.
“Come on, it’s right there.” He nods towards the last stable on the right where Connor is draped over the stable door, a stableboy standing next to him.
I frown in confusion, wondering what’s going on when Connor sees us approaching, mirroring the puzzled look on my face.
“What are you doing here?” he booms before we reach the stable.
“Kenny wanted to meet Franky’s girl,” he emphasizes.
Connor’s brows shoot up in realization before he lets out a chuckle.
“Yeah, okay, fair enough.”
I crane my head to look into the stable, seeing Franklin crouched down in front of a gorgeous, auburn-brown horse while holding one of the hoofs in his hand. Its mane and tail are light blonde, in bright contrast to the rest of the brown fur, giving it a royal appearance.
Franklin looks up when he hears Reign’s voice, his eyes meeting mine before he lets go of the horse’s leg and straightens his body.
His impassive face makes me wonder if he’s unhappy to see me here. His eyes meet Reign’s with a questioning look, then he glances at me with a smile that is barely detectable.
“Kenny here is dying to meet your girl.” Reign wears a mocking grin.
Franklin shoots me an apologetic look then moves closer, reaching out his hand towards me in silence. I grab it without hesitation before he tugs me closer and curls his hand around my neck. As his eyes roam over my face, I enjoy how close we are, even though the stable door is still between us.
“Are you jealous, pretty girl?” he taunts with a smug grin.
“Maybe.” I shrug, telling myself it’s just an act.
“Don’t be. Come on, meet my girl.” He lets go of me, grabbing one of my hands before he opens the bolt with his free hand, ushering me inside the stable.
Seventeen
Franklin
“She’s my lucky charm,” I explain as Kendall reaches out to pet my girl’s velvet nose. “This girl has never lost a race.”
“Is that really her name? Lucky Charm?”
“No, her name is Posey.” I move closer, invading her personal space, my breath fanning her face while we both stroke the soft fur of my horse. “And that’s her sister, Inka.” My finger points to the black horse standing in the stable next to us before I quickly glance at Reign and Connor, who are watching us with interested expressions on their faces. My jaw flexes in annoyance, not liking being a part of their entertainment, which I communicate to them with my eyes. They never take an interest in the female company I keep, but apparently, all of my asshole brothers have a feeling this one is different because they keep butting their big heads up in my business.
“Right,” Connor finally says when he sees the look on my face. “We’ll see you back in the box.” He claps Reign on the back as a sign for them to leave, but my youngest brother doesn’t move, displaying that mocking grin of his that pushes all of my buttons.
“What?” he drawls, as if he’s oblivious to my wishes.
He’s not.
In fact, Reign and I may not see eye to eye, but we can have an entire conversation without voicing one word, the looks on our faces speaking for us.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stay calm.
“Leave, Reign.”
“Fine,” he chuckles as Kendall turns to give him a sweet smile that heals my fucked up heart yet irritates me at the same time. I like that she gets along with Reign, knowing that out of all four of us brothers, he’s the one who deserves every kind smile that he receives. But I don’t need anyone on Reign’s team. He already makes life harder for me every chance he gets. I growl when he shoots her a wink, laying his ridiculously boyish charm on her before he finally walks off with Connor.
Asshole.
When they are out of sight, I bring my eyes back to Kendall and brush a strand of hair off her face, the tips of my fingers caressing her fair skin.
“You guys don’t really get along, do you?” she asks carefully. She avoids making eye contact with me, telling me she’s unsure of how I will respond to her question. It’s none of her business, and I can’t help but hear Killian’s words in the back of my head, asking me to be careful. But for reasons I can’t explain, I want this girl to open up to me, and I’m smart enough to realize that won’t happen if I don’t do the same.
“It’s not that we don’t get along. We used to get along better than any of us.” Her eyes find mine again as she looks up from beneath her thick lashes. I let the corner of my mouth rise up a little, showing her she doesn’t have to be wary of me.
“What happened?”
“Life happened. I did things Reign didn’t agree with.” I softly push her back, crowding her space until her back hits the cold concrete of the stable. “Are you the jealous type?”
She huffs in response while I brush my nose against hers, needing to taste this girl like I did last night. To sate the craving that I thought I’d satisfied yesterday when really all it did was make me long for more. Wanting to corrupt her more until there is no way back for her.
“No, yes. I don’t know.” Desperation reshapes her face, and she wrings her hands, making me want to fix whatever issues are going through her pretty little head. My mind is dying to know what made her so insecure that she’s scared to answer a simple question.
“Who hurt you, Kendall?” My question surprises her because she jerks her head back and her eyes widen. It’s like I can see the cogs turning in her brain. First, she starts chewing the inside of her cheek, but then I watch her grow almost an inch after she squares her shoulders.
“Who says anyone hurt me?” Her defiance turns me on, even though I just watched her scrape the bottom of her internal barrel to find the strength to challenge me, making her even more of a turn on. I don’t feel the need to scare women, especially not this one, but I can appreciate anyone who can overcome their fears, and standing up for herself is clearly a fear of Kendall Ryan’s.
“You got insecure when you heard Connor refer to my horse as ‘my girl’, you are scared to tell anyone what you want, yet you try your hardest to change that, and you become smaller and look like you’re scared I will lash out when you ask me personal questions.” She just blinks while the back of my hand strokes the soft skin on her cheek. “Who hurt you, pretty girl?” I ask again.
“My ex,” she admits, looking off in the distance as she rubs the back of her neck.
“The ancient one?” I growl, looking into her deep blue eyes. My fingers dig into her sides while I try to curb my frustration, thinking about some asshole treating her like shit.
She gives a single, decisive dip of the chin, looking at the floor before I bring one of my hands up to nudge her chin, forcing her to look at me.
“Is he from Boston?”
She shakes her head, a hint of panic in her eyes.
“Does he live in Boston?”
She closes her eyes as if she’s hoping I will go away and stop asking questions, that’s never going to happen.
I’m a Wolfe, after all.
“Just leave it, Franklin. It’s in the past. Yes, he hurt me. But I
’m trying to work on myself, to do a better job of sticking up for myself. Let’s not talk about my ex.” I can see fatigue creeping into her features, and all I want to do is take her worries away, to kiss it all better while I look for the son of a bitch so I can teach him a lesson on how to treat a woman. My eyes assess her face while my thumb softly strokes her jaw.
“Okay, Kenny. But let me make one thing clear,” I say while my eyes peer down at her troubled face. “Never be scared to ask me anything. Don’t hold anything back. You can trust me. I want you to trust me. Be honest with me. About anything.”
Her eyes darken a bit as her hands reach out to my coat. She starts fumbling with the buttons; her face fixated on my chest.
“Hey.” I run my hand through her hair before I fist it and tilt her head back so I’m peering down at her with a more demanding look this time. “I mean it. Trust is key to me.”
I lean in to press a soft kiss to her lips, doing my best to convince her of what I’m saying.
I’m not as ruthless as most people paint me to be. I value people; I value relationships. Relationships are built on trust and loyalty. Give me that, and I’ll give it back.
“Okay,” she finally whispers, though I’m not sure she really believes me. I tug her to my chest before I kiss her soft lips again. “Come on, pretty girl. The races start in twenty minutes.”
“She won’t be racing?” She looks back at Posey with a confused look on her face.
“No. Today is the junior league. Posey was supposed to race tomorrow.”
“But she can’t now?”
“No.” I shake my head. “She won’t.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Someone put a nail in her hoof.”
Franklin: A Boston Mafia Romance (The Boston Wolfes) Page 10