by Lila Rose
So why did I feel like I’d disappointed him somehow?
Snorting to myself, I rinsed the plate and placed it in the dishwasher. It didn’t matter if I disappointed Wolf or not. I didn’t care.
My gut twisted again as I rubbed at my neck, my gaze lifting to the window just as the rain started pouring. Suddenly, I wasn’t in the mood to go see the brothers.
The sooner I got out of this place, though, the better. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I left the kitchen and made my way to Mimi’s room. I knocked once. If her mum was still in there, I would leave.
The door opened, and Mimi gave me a small smile. “Hi.” She opened the door further, and I walked in. When she closed the door, I pulled her into a hug and caught her drawing in a shuddering breath.
“Hey.” I yelped when she pinched my side. “What was that for?”
“Why couldn’t you have been like this back when we—”
“Because I was a dickhead.”
“And because we aren’t it for each other.”
Sighing, I rested my chin on the top of her head. “Yeah.”
Mimi hugged me tightly. “I’m glad you’re here though.”
“So am I.” Because if I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know Mimi for who she actually was, and even though she wasn’t my one, I wanted to have her in my life. “You doin’ okay?”
With a shrug, she moved over to the bed, sitting in the middle of it, crossing her legs. She patted a spot, and I sat near her, leaning back against the headboard.
Mimi’s gaze stayed on her crossed legs while she played with the hem of her oversized tee. “It’s hard being here,” she admitted.
“It would be. Your dad’s a dick.”
She gave me a small giggle, exactly what I was trying for. “He is.”
“What do you wanna do, babe? No pressure. I’m here for you, to have your back. I’ll go when you do.”
Her hand shot out and clasped mine. “Thank you.”
“No need for thanks, honey.”
She shrugged with a smile. “I… I need to think about what I want to do.”
“Take all the time you need, Mimi.”
She nodded. “Taro’s throwing a party for Ryo’s birthday soon. He’s asked me to go.”
Taro.
Never really took in his name before.
And I don’t need to now either.
“I’ll go if you want to.”
“I’ll see,” she said softly.
“No problem.” Mimi went back to staring down at her legs, lost in thought again. “Hey, how about we head to that huge-arse theatre room and watch some movies?”
A small smile touched her lips. “That sounds good, actually.”
“Cool.” We moved off the bed and headed for the door. I wasn’t sure if I was offering a day of movies for a distraction just for Mimi though. I reckoned I needed it also.
Because of him.
Which was damn weird.
Chapter Six
Ruin
“Giving you a good morning kiss.”
Opening my eyes, I cursed repeatedly and even hit the bed with my fists a couple of times. Those damn words had been waking me up since Wolf had said them over a week ago. It pissed me off. I didn’t get why my mind was stuck on those words, since it was obvious Wolf had been, like he said, messing with me at the time.
However, he’d stopped his teasing after that incident.
Of course, I was glad he had, but in doing so, he’d become more aloof with me. If we were in the same room together, he’d nod in greeting but wouldn’t talk to me. While I didn’t understand the cold change, it was for the best.
It was.
Yawning, I pressed a hand over my mouth and… morning breath. A thump against the wall that connected to Wolf’s room had me sitting up. I was ready to see if there was anything wrong, but nothing else happened after the first noise.
I could easily go back to sleep since I didn’t get much the night before. I’d been in Mimi’s room comforting her since, once again, she’d been distraught over her father and his shit words when she’d tried to reason with him.
The guy needed to die already. It was cold, but damn true. The longer the mean bastard lingered, the more hurt it brought Mimi, his words festering in her mind.
It fucking gutted me to see her in a state where she couldn’t stop crying and found it hard to breathe. Eventually, last night, her mum had come to take care of her and had asked me to leave. I didn’t until Mimi gave me the go-ahead.
Christ, I knew there were people out there with shit parents and families. My real father had been one. He was a long-gone memory, though, as Nary and I had Stoke in our lives. He’d shown us how important we were to him by taking us on. Not only that, but by looking after and loving our mum. When they’d had a kid together, a sister for us who was now nine, I thought things would change and Stoke would be different to us since we weren’t his biological kids. Especially since Nary and I were older. But they hadn’t.
We were just as important to him as Rayne was.
I was damn lucky to have my family. Mum had never been as happy as she was with Stoke. Nary had her own happily ever after with Vicious, after her nightmare situation, and Vicious had stepped up to claim his woman after they’d been dancing around each other for years.
It was my turn to find mine. It wouldn’t be anytime soon, though, since I didn’t have that connection Mum had with Stoke or Nary had with Vicious.
I hoped Mimi could find her someone as well. Hell, she deserved it. Shit, everyone did, but some more than others.
A knock sounded on my door. I pulled back the blankets, got out of bed wearing only black boxers, and opened the heavy door.
“Mimi, you okay?” I asked, opening the door further to let her in. She entered and started pacing.
“I want to go home, back to Ballarat.”
My brows dipped. “You sure?” I’d thought she’d stay until her dad passed away.
“There’s no point in being here. He doesn’t want me here.”
“I do” came from the doorway. Wolf stood in it, already dressed for the day.
“Taro,” Mimi uttered, stalling her feet. Her head dropped, gaze to the floor. “I need to go.”
Wolf, ignoring me, moved into the room and got close to his sister. “We’ve always known he’s a vile piece of shit, but Mother loves him still.”
Mimi nodded. “I know.”
“Wouldn’t you want to be here for her?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “I do. It just… it hurts, Taro.”
Wolf tugged her into his arms. “I know, sweetheart. I hate how he has treated you. Hate it with every bone in my body.”
Mimi sucked in a shuddering breath and looked up at Wolf. “For Mother, I’ll stay, as long as Ruin can stay with me.”
Fuck. I had hoped to go, but Mimi knew I’d stay and help her through this. She needed to know someone had her back from home, someone who also wasn’t her brother.
“You’ve got me, honey,” I told her.
She smiled sadly over at me and then wiped at her eyes. “I’ll go and see if Mother needs anything.”
“All right,” Taro said, and we watched her walk from the room, but not before she reached out for my hand as she passed. I took it and gave her a reassuring squeeze. She breezed out the door with her head held high, but I knew it was an act.
I glanced back to Wolf and caught him quickly averting his gaze away from me. He nodded once and moved off towards the door.
“You sleep in your suits?” I blurted, and I didn’t know why.
He paused. “I sleep naked, but that’s not something you need to know, right?”
I swallowed. I didn’t. Why did he have to fucking say it though?
“Right,” I answered. He took a couple of steps. “Why’re you ignorin’ me?” Shut the fuck up, man. I didn’t care that I was no longer on his radar. It was better that way.
Then why did it burn my chest every time he
kept quiet?
Christ, I should have kept my mouth shut.
Wolf turned slowly and cocked his head as he studied me. I ground my teeth together when my gut tightened.
Was the tightness for disgust about the way he looked at me with heat in his eyes?
Or did my gut act up for another reason?
Nope, fuck no, it was disgust.
There was no interest there. That was fucking laughable to even allow that random thought to brush through my mind. Especially since no other guy had caught my attention in that way.
Then why did I keep talking to keep him here?
Why did I feel like a shithead for snapping at him that morning in the kitchen?
Maybe it was because I didn’t want Wolf to think I hated gay people. I didn’t. I had many in my life and loved them all like family.
Wolf just got under my skin in a way I didn’t understand.
“You told me to fuck off, Ruin. I’ve fucked off.”
Lifting a hand, I ran it over my hair. “Look, I’m not homophobic or anything. I have gay people in my life back home. You scared the hell outta me that morning by sneaking up.”
He dragged his top teeth over his bottom lip, and I knew it was because he was trying to hide his smirk, but he failed. He took a step back my way. My heart skipped a fucking beat, and I suddenly felt like prey. It wasn’t good.
“Are you saying if I warn you beforehand, I can greet you as such again?”
“What? No.” I forced a laugh. Jesus, where did he get that idea from?
Wolf hummed under his breath before smiling.
“What’s that smile for?” I demanded. I didn’t trust it.
Wolf shrugged. I wished Mimi was back in the room or that I hadn’t stopped him when he went to walk out the first time.
“Are you attending the party tonight?” Wolf asked, taking another step my way.
I cursed under my breath when I backed up a step, and his smile turned wicked. I didn’t fucking retreat from anyone. Clenching my hands at my sides, I glared at the man before me. “No.” I wasn’t going to go to some swank party when I could look out for Mimi in our rooms since she wasn’t into it either… unless she just said that yesterday for my sake. Now I didn’t know.
“Do you think I’m too hard on Mimi by having her stay?” The sudden change in subject surprised me.
“Ah, no.” And I didn’t.
“Why?”
I rubbed at the back of my neck. “I would have done the same for my sister. If our dickhead of a dad was alive but on his deathbed, I’d try and get Nary to stay until he passed, so she had nothing to regret for the rest of her life.”
His eyes softened. “Those have been my thoughts also. But if you think she needs to get out of here, to go home, let me know. I won’t stop her if it’s truly what she wants.”
“I know you won’t. But I reckon she’ll need this in the end.”
“I hope so and that I haven’t pushed her.” He glanced towards the windows and back again. “I think a night of drinking and seeing old friends could also do her well.”
I should have seen that coming.
“Meanin’ you want me to get her to go.”
A grin grew on his lips. “It would do her well. It’s for Ryo’s birthday, so it will only be friends and some family.”
“You sure it’s a good time to have a party with the shit goin’ on with your uncle?”
“I don’t cower.”
“I never said you did,” I told him, because I honestly didn’t believe he ever would.
“The party will go on. Will you make sure Mimi comes?”
Pausing, I thought about it. Maybe a night with friends would do her good, get her to relax a little and take her mind off things once more. “I’ll try.”
“That’s all I could ask for.” He looked to his watch. “I have to go.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
His gaze dipped down my body. “Are you sure you want me to go?”
My gut twisted. I looked down and saw I was half hard. “It’s called mornin’ wood.” And that was all it was. It had nothing to do with the guy in the room who looked at me like I was dessert.
Christ. It really didn’t.
“You weren’t before.”
“I was, you just didn’t notice, and why the fuck am I explainin’ anythin’ to you?” Turning my back on him, I adjusted myself and begged my dick to quit trying to get attention from just anyone.
Wolf chuckled low behind me. “I think he likes my attention.”
“You’re wrong. I’m goin’ for a shower.” I started for the bathroom.
“See you tonight, Ruin,” he practically purred.
I flicked a hand over my shoulder. “Whatever.”
More laughter followed before my bedroom door closed. I looked down at my dick. “What the fuck, man?” Of course I didn’t get an answer, but I swear to Christ, my dick had a mind of its own.
Although, it’d been a while since I got laid, and I was used to pussy whenever I wanted it.
Having a woman in my bed could happen tonight, and suddenly I was looking forward to this party… if Mimi wanted to go.
Mimi decided it would be good to attend. Even though I didn’t try too hard to convince her, she caved easily. With her hand in mine, she dragged me across the damn ballroom floor towards the bar on the far side. People mingled around the place. I knew none of them except for Mimi, our guards, Ryo, and Wolf. I just didn’t know where the last two were.
“Vodka and tonic,” Mimi ordered and glanced at me. “What are you in the mood for?”
“Beer, anything on tap,” I told the waiter. I’d have one or two, but I didn’t trust the people around me, so I’d stay sober enough to take on anything that came our way.
Mimi handed me the beer before we moved off to the side of the bar to make more room for others. Mimi smiled and waved at a few people but stayed by my side.
“You can go mingle,” I told her.
She shook her head. “I’m fine here.”
“Mimi, enjoy your night. Go talk to people you haven’t seen in a long time. I’m good on my own.”
She looked up at me. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, honey.” I wouldn’t tell her I’d keep an eye on her, as I wanted her to relax. She needed to unwind. I didn’t like the looks some people threw her way, though.
“All right, but only because I saw an old friend. I won’t be gone long.”
I grinned. “Sweetheart, you ain’t my keeper. Don’t stress about me.”
Her hand reached out, and she squeezed my arm. “I won’t be long.”
“Stubborn,” I muttered as she made her way over to a group of women around her age. Some hugged her, welcoming her back with warm smiles. A couple stood back and glowered. Fucking bitches.
Glaring at them, I took a sip of my beer and moved back further so I hit the wall behind me. The women caught my stare, said something to Mimi’s group, and walked off. Good. After another chug of beer, I glanced around the place. People danced, talked, some kissed, and that was when I saw Wolf.
Holy fuck.
My pulse picked up speed.
He’d dyed his hair.
Instead of black, it was now blond with dark roots showing through.
Jesus Christ, it suited him.
My gut twisted.
I dragged my gaze away from his hair and noticed he stood with a woman in his arms as he threw his head back, laughing at something she’d said.
He shook his head as he dipped to kiss her on the cheek, then neck.
My gut tightened more.
I really had to get my stomach checked.
Snorting, I forced my gaze away and swallowed back the last of the beer before leaning closer to the bar to place the empty glass on it. When I straightened, a sultry voice said from my other side, “Hello, I don’t think we’ve met.”
A gorgeous red-haired woman stood before me in a silky black dress and heels. She lifted her hand in front
of her. I wasn’t in the mood, but I wasn’t a total prick either. I took her hand and pressed my lips briefly to it before I dropped it. “Hey, darlin’, name’s Ruin.”
“Elise.” She smiled as her gaze ran over me, then bit her bottom lip. Usually, my dick would wake up with that type of attention. I knew she was interested, but the fucker was fast asleep.
I shifted my gaze over her shoulder, checking on Mimi. She was still talking and looked happy. It was good to see.
“How do you know Ryo?” Elise asked.
“Through Mimi,” I told her, looking back to her. I wished I had another drink to put up with this small talk.
“Oh, Wolf’s sister?”
“Yeah.”
She shifted closer. “Are you with her?”
“No.”
“Good to know.”
“What’s good to know?” a new voice said. A voice I knew, one my sleeping dick perked up at. The motherfucker.
“Wolf, it’s good to see you,” Elise said, tilting her head back and lifting to her toes to kiss Wolf’s cheek. His light hair brushed his shoulders as he looked at me. Why did I like the new colour?
My gut clenched.
Seriously, I had to see a doctor about that.
“You also, Elise. I see you’ve got your sights set on our guest here.”
Elise giggled, while I glared at Wolf, since it was his fault for the havoc in my gut. He smirked back at me.
“I mean, who wouldn’t want to?” Elise said.
I went to look at her, but Wolf’s “Indeed” had my gaze shooting straight back to him. I realised from his smug smile a second too late that’s what he was looking for—my attention on him.
Straightening, I glanced to see Mimi still entertained. “Fuck, I don’t need this shit,” I muttered to myself. Louder, I said, “I’m gettin’ a drink.” I walked off without another word, even when Elise called out to me.
What the fuck was going on with me?
I needed not only my body examined, but my head as well. I shouldn’t care that Wolf was back to messing with me.
Chapter Seven
Ruin
I wandered around while keeping close to Mimi and dodging Wolf and the mountain of women who rubbed themselves on him. Not that I cared. I didn’t. Hell, it was probably the hair that got the women’s attention in the first place.