Men In Control (Smith Brothers Complete Series)

by Brenda Ford

  I rise my glass and clink it against Sheri’s in a cheers gesture. We sink the rest of the drinks before ordering another. Much as it was a strangled conversation, I’m glad that Sheri knows now. It would have been way worse if she discovered the truth from someone else. It’s out there now. Everyone who needs to know, does.

  However, scared my friend is for me, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I have had the most amazing time with Angelo. I swear, he’s even better than I ever thought that he was going to be. He’s so sweet and attentive to me. So, loving and kind. The way that he speaks to me and holds me, kisses and loves me… it’s like I’m in the middle of a dream or something. This incredible fantasy. Sheri will see. She’ll understand.

  “So, anyway…” I decide to change the subject. “What was Luke doing on one knee?”

  Her face immediately relaxes as she thinks about her own love life. “Oh, he had dropped something. Silly, right? I guess that just shows how into him I am though. I never would have wanted another boyfriend to propose. It might have only been a little while, but with Luke, it’s just different. It’s better. All of it. I just… I haven’t ever had this desperate feeling of not wanting it to end. I don’t know how I would cope without him now.”

  I smile and nod, glad to see my friend in a good place. This of course leads on to a ‘what were we thinking?’ conversation about past boyfriends and flings, leaving us both in fits of laughter. But everything that we discuss just makes me feel even more lucky, even happier that I finally have my man. The one that I have always wanted.

  Sure, things might happen soon. Everything could explode in a moment if Alex and Mandy are still seeing one another, or if it ever comes out, but I’m separate from that now. I’m not in the middle of it anymore since the picture didn’t work, so me and Angelo will be fine. I’m confident in that.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Angelo

  “We’re very rarely all together like this anymore,” Brad says proudly as he looks around at us all. “Not unless it’s someone’s birthday. How the hell did this manage to happen? Everyone in one room.”

  I roll my eyes and snort. “It isn’t that rare, Brad. It has happened from time to time.”

  “You lot are always so busy,” Nelson declares while not looking up from his phone screen. “I’m in high school so I’m always around at the moment. It’s you lot and your busy jobs keeping you away.”

  “Me and Angelo have an excuse!” Oliver pipes up. “Our boss is an asshole.”

  We all laugh at that while pointing and making gestures at Brad. He might be our stand in father since our parents died when we were only young, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time taking the piss out of him. He rolls his eyes and ignores all of us winding him up, shaking his head now and again.

  “My job is probably the busiest,” Wesley jumps in. “And I’m still here a lot, so that’s no excuse either.”

  This comment alone sparks an argument between all of my brothers about who has the craziest life style and why. The only person who doesn’t say anything, who hasn’t said anything at all since he arrived here, is Alex. He’s not being himself at all, sitting at the back of the dining room, barely making eye contact with anyone.

  “Alex?” I say quietly, only wanting to talk to him without everyone else jumping in. “You okay?”

  But somehow, this little comment grabs the attention of Nelson who manages to drag his attention away from the screen of his phone for just a moment. “Yeah, Alex, you are quiet today. What’s going on?”

  “He’s hung over, obviously.” Wesley rolls his eyes. “He’s a rock star, isn’t he?”

  “It better just be booze and nothing else,” Brad warns. “You know I’m not happy about you being around drugs. You tell me right away if something happens in that department so I can help you out.”

  “Uh oh,” Oliver chuckles. “Daddy Brad is out. You better be careful, Alex. He might ground you.”

  “Or make you go to your room to do your homework,” Wesley joins in. “Or chores around the house…”

  The others continue to rib Alex for a while, but I don’t join in with them. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. I didn’t want everyone else to turn this in to something to laugh about. I’m pretty sure that Alex’s mood is something to be concerned about. I haven’t ever seen him this way before. I need to get him alone.

  “Guys, does anyone want another drink?” I ask loudly, trying to turn to focus off Alex. “I’m headed to get a beer. I’m sure I can’t be the only one with an empty bottle.” I wave my bottle as evidence.

  Luckily, they are all very predictable and they leap on the chance to get a drink without getting up. It’s also good that they start talking about something else entirely as I go. The more pressure that they put on Alex, the less likely he will be to say anything about it. Whatever ‘it’ is. Rachel hasn’t mentioned anything about Alex being in a bad mood recently, but I can’t help wondering if it’s something band related.

  “’ll give you a hand.” I’m surprised when I hear Alex behind me. I have managed to get him alone without even trying. “It isn’t easy to carry six beers all by yourself. Plus, I need a minute. Away from all that noise.”

  I turn and stare at him, trying to work out what’s going on behind his eyes right now. He’s shut down though, his walls are up high. Whatever is hurting him, he doesn’t want the world to see it.

  “Alex, you know that we’re all here for you, right? Whatever is going on. If you need us…”

  “I’m fine,” he snaps right away, closing down even more. “I don’t need any help. From anyone. I’m fine.”

  “But you don’t seem to be in a good place at the moment. I just want to help, that’s all.” I take a step closer to him, but he backs off, making me even more suspicious. “You can talk to me about whatever. Even if it’s something that I have done…” My blood runs cold as his eyebrow cocks. “Is it something that I’ve done?”

  “What could you possibly have done?” he asks bitterly, his arms folding across him.

  “Well, me and Rachel,” I reply regretfully. “I know you have said that you’re okay about it…”

  “I am okay about it.” He shrugs. “I’m fine. You two seem really great together. I’m very happy for you.”

  “I just don’t want to do anything to affect the band, that’s all. If that’s the problem…”

  “It isn’t,” he snaps. “Nothing is the problem. I just need some space, that’s all. Some time to breathe.”

  “Right.” It’s clear that I’m not going to get any answers right now. “I see. Well, I’m sorry.”

  “Please don’t be sorry. Please, I just… I don’t know. I don’t want to talk about it right now, that’s all. There are certain things that I need to deal with by myself, that’s all. Just give me some time.”

  I haven’t ever heard him like this before and it really is troubling to me. But what can I do if he doesn’t want to speak to me? I can’t force him to. I can’t make him spill everything. All I can do is be here.

  “Yep, time. I can give you time. That isn’t a problem. I didn’t want to make it worse.”

  There’s a thick silence between us. One that’s absolutely filled with tension. I can’t recall a time where it has ever been this way before. Strained between me and Alex. I don’t like it one bit.

  Ring, ring… Ring, ring… Ring, ring…

  The sound of the phone is loud. So loud I assume its mine so I dig my hand into my pocket to grab it, but before I can wrap my fingers around it, Alex has his and I see the source of the sound.

  “Not now,” he groans, sounding like he’s in agony. “Seriously, not now.”

  I wish I could see the screen of his phone. I’m sure that this call is linked to whatever his issues are and since I’m desperate to solve them this could be the clue that I need. But he’s keeping his phone close to his chest. He is definitely against me finding out what’s going on in his life, which i
s sad. We’re all brothers who have been through a lot together, but Alex is my twin, making our bond even stronger. I’m not judgmental. He should feel like he can talk to me about anything. I feel like I can speak to him no matter what.

  “Who is it?” I whisper, knowing that I won’t get an answer. “Do you have to pick up?”

  “I do.” He nods, ignoring my first question. “I’m going outside to pick up.”

  I watch him go, my heart sinking as he does. As soon as he’s gone, I race in to the front room with the beers still in my hands, and I gather my brothers around for a quieter conversation.

  “I’m worried about Alex,” I hiss immediately. “Really worried. This is something else.”

  “It’s the booze,” Wesley insists with an eye roll. “Don’t panic, he’s just had a few too many.”

  “You do know that he can be a miserable fucker when hung over,” Brad agrees. “I don’t think that this is something we need to worry about. See him tomorrow, he’ll be fine.”

  Nelson nods along but I notice Oliver shaking his head. I give him a look, silently begging him to speak.

  “I think we need to worry about Alex as well,” he says. “He isn’t being himself. He’s been a bit weird for a while, in my opinion. He hasn’t seemed as happy with things as he should be. Which seems strange to me because the band is doing really well at the moment. I thought that was all he wanted. Maybe the reality of it is too much?”

  “Maybe,” I reply doubtfully. “I don’t know. I suppose it could be. He just got a call in the kitchen that seemed to stress him out. He went outside to answer it. I guess that could have been band related.”

  Everyone jumps on this, the idea getting bigger by the minute, but all this does to me is convinced me that it isn’t something musical. Alex does want the band to go big, it’s all that he has ever wanted, and I don’t think he is anywhere near the stage of panicking about that yet. The band will get a lot bigger before that happens. No, to me, this seems like something more personal. Like he’s having trouble in another area of his life somehow. I have been distracted recently, consumed by my feelings for Rachel, which means I haven’t been there for Alex like I need to be. That is something that I will rectify now. I’ll make sure I’m better.

  I lean back and let my brothers carry on the discussion, while looking towards the door. Alex hasn’t come back yet, which is strange. That’s been quite a long conversation. Perhaps I can sneak outside and over hear a bit of the chat. I don’t particularly like the idea of eavesdropping but needs must.

  “I’ll be back in a moment,” I mutter while rising to my feet. “I’m just going to talk to him.”

  I stalk quietly towards the door, my heart racing as I go, and I peer around the front door where I’m sure Alex will be. But the area is empty. The land around the home that our parents left behind for us is big – not massive, but big enough – but he has to be somewhere. Since I’m determined to help Alex now, I need to find him. So, I start the journey around to find him. As I walk, I try to work out what I’ll say when I see him. He’s just told me that he needs time and space and I’m already defying that. I suppose I could have sent one of the others, but I just think that it needs to be me who digs deep enough to find out what’s going on, to help my brother out.

  “No,” I hear Alex yelling in a tone that I haven’t heard from him before. It isn’t angry exactly, more fearful and frustrated. “I can’t do that. You know I can’t. It just doesn’t work like that.”

  Instead of approaching Alex, I remain where I am and listen in. It’s a challenge to pick up every word when everything is hammering away inside of me, but I do my best. There is so much depending on this.

  “Because… look, it just doesn’t… stop…” He’s clearly being interrupted every time he tries to speak. “No, I can’t just… no, it… right, I see. Fine. I’m coming now. We can talk about this in a moment.”

  He hangs up the phone and glances to the left. I dive behind a wall as he looks to the right like I’m a criminal who doesn’t want to be seen. I don’t want Alex to know that I’m trying to find out what I’m doing here because it might make things worse. I’m here to make it better! Or to at least try to anyway. I wait for just a couple of seconds before I look again and that’s when I see Alex walking away. He’s leaving without saying goodbye to any of us. Whoever was on the phone, whatever is going on, it is more important than his family. The mystery deepens. I need to unravel it now more than ever.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Rachel

  I glance at my phone again to see if Angelo has messaged me, because I can hardly wait for him to come to mine. I have had a fun night with Sheri, especially after we got over the hump about Angelo, but I can’t wait to see my man now. He’s been with his brothers, but I know he’s keen to see me too.

  Knock, knock.

  Just as I’m about to freak out and call him, there’s a knocking at the door. A sound which makes my heart skip with joy. He’s here at last! Even after all the warnings I have been through about how this could go all wrong, I’m excited to see him. I can’t wait to get my hands all over him now.

  I tug the door open and practically leap in to Angelo’s arms, pressing kisses all over him. Perhaps it’s because I have had a couple to drink, but it takes me a couple of moments to realize that he isn’t responding in kind. I slide down to the ground and stare at him with curious eyes. Yep, he doesn’t look happy at all.

  “What’s going on? You look really upset, Angelo, has something happened?”

  Immediately, as always, my mind darts to Mandy. I don’t know how well she has let the relationship with Angelo go, he hasn’t said much about it, but now I fear she might want him back. I don’t know much about her, only that she doesn’t see like the sort of woman to let something go that she considers hers.

  “It’s Alex.” My heart stops. This has to be something to do with Mandy. Has he found out? Has the explosion that Sheri warned me about come already? “He seems really weird at the moment. It’s strange.”

  “What do you mean, weird?” I ask cautiously. “What’s going on with him?”

  “I don’t know. He was just extra quiet when we were all together today. Not like himself at all. Has he been quiet at band practice?” I shrug, because I’m not really sure what answer to give here. “Well, he was. Then when I asked him about it, he closed down, shutting me off completely. He only gave me vague answers.”

  I don’t like this one bit. I’m certain this has to do with his affair. Maybe it’s got bad now because Angelo isn’t with Mandy. Perhaps she’s broke things off with Alex too because it isn’t exciting anymore. But I can’t give any of this information to Angelo without admitting that I have known all about this.

  “Then he got this call and he went outside to take it. He doesn’t ever do that. So, I went out after him. I just want to help him, you know? I don’t want to eavesdrop or anything, but if he won’t tell me, then what else could I do?” I get a sick bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach as I wonder what he heard. “He seemed to be arguing with someone and then he just left without saying goodbye to anyone.”

  I bite down on my bottom lip, trying to keep everything that I know inside. This is utterly horrible and the more that unleashes, the worse it will get. Sheri is right, this is going to be problematic. When all of this comes out, it’s going to open a lot of fresh wounds, creating a lot of pain.

  I really don’t want Angelo to be worried about his ex. I want him to be focused on us. I don’t know what will happen with Alex and Mandy and their relationship, but I also don’t want to think about it. Especially not tonight when I have been so looking forward to spending time with my wonderful boyfriend.

  “I’m sorry that’s happening,” I say while cupping his cheek in my hand. “I will have a look to see if I notice anything at band practice. I haven’t yet, but I will take a look for it.”

  “Thank you.” Angelo bends down and presses a kiss to my lips. “I appre
ciate it.”

  He pulls away ever so slightly, but I tug him back down towards me, crashing our mouths together this time. To distract Angelo from his worries, I need to seduce him and get his eyes only on me. So, as we kiss, I allow my other hand to travel down his body, brushing over his sexy muscular stomach, until I can cup his bulge. It seems that my attempts to turn him have worked already because he’s hard as steel in there.

  “Mmm, your hand,” he moans as I stroke him through the outside of his trousers. “You’re so hot.”

  His words entice me to slowly slip my whole body downwards towards the ground. I kiss him as I travel to the ground, my mouth caressing the material of his clothing as I do, until I hit the floor.

  “Oh God, what are you doing?” he growls with lustful need for me. “You are going to destroy me.”

  I allow those words to wash over me as I unbuckle his trousers and slide them down, bringing his underwear with them. His cock springs free, standing to attention for me. Now, I have seen him naked many a time, but not this close up. He is absolutely massive, scarily so, and I am about to take him in my mouth.

  I stroke him a few more times first, touching him with my fingers while I bring him closer to my lips. The gasping sounds of desperation draw me forwards, my tongue shooting out, until I graze his salty tip setting the taste buds on my tongue on fire. His hips buck, this must be really good for him, which makes me swirl my tongue further around his tip, tasting all of him. While holding him at his base and tasting his tip, I feel like I have all of him in my mouth already. But that’s something I’m yet to experience…

  I dart my eyes up at Angelo, locking my eyes upon his as I push him all the way to the back of my throat. It’s an intense feeling as he spreads my lips wide and practically consumes my whole mouth, but I continue moving until I am at his base. The sounds bubbling in the back of his throat showing me just how turned on he is are my driving force. I know for sure that I will do anything to have him falling apart at my power.