He sticks his tongue out at me and gives me a playful shove.
“Y’all done chatting like old women over here?” A voice deflates our little “Come to Jesus” moment.
“What’s the matter, Decker?” Kieran calls out, passing by him on the way to Dad. “Pissed you missed out on the tea party?”
“Nope. My grandma made me attend those things with her bridge club all the time growing up.” Decker shouts at him over his shoulder as he turns to face me, offering a broad smile. “How’s it goin’, Ev?”
“Ready to crush my opponent,” I reply, punching my mitts together. “You?”
“Depends on who I get paired with,” he quips as he shrugs, that easy smile still in place. “School going well?”
A puff of air leaves my mouth. “My earth science class is already kicking my ass, but it’s only one semester.” He laughs and nods in understanding. “How’s Lindsey doing?”
“We’re not together anymore.”
Wincing, I offer my apologies.
“It’s okay. We decided that it wasn’t working, so we agreed to be friends.” He looks toward my dad, who’s got his shoulder around my brother, play-punching him in the ribs, then back to me, taking a long, appreciative glance. “I guess you’ve got all the guys lining up to ask you out.”
I blush at his insinuation. “Not exactly…” Between Kieran and Luca scaring off their friends who’ve hit on me and RISE taking up my evenings, my time and options were becoming more and more limited outside of a random hookup. Given that I didn’t want my first time to be with some rando who chatted me up at the club, that left few options on the table worth considering.
He tucks his hands into his pockets, almost looking like a teenage boy than a grown man who’s now a rookie cop. “You think you might want to—”
“Evergreen, your dad wants to speak with you.”
My attention narrows onto the stupidly handsome guy walking up to us, confidence in every step he takes. “Luca, for the millionth time…”
“I know, I know.” He holds up his hands. “Your dad’s waiting on you.”
I smile at Decker, remembering that I forgot to ask him to be my partner. “Think you’d be up for sparring?”
“Sure,” he replies in a smooth tone, returning my smile. “Think you can keep—”
“She’s already been paired with me.”
I give him a side glance, but Luca’s intense hazel eyes are trained on Decker. “Says who?”
“Says your dad,” he returns, never breaking his stare-down with my now-reassigned sparring partner.
“Whatever,” I huff. “Talk later, Decker?”
He nods as I take off to see what my dad wants, the giggles of the girls filling my ears as they get in position with their partners for tonight—and maybe a few more nights outside of the gym if they get their way.
Crap. My empty-feeling right hand lets me know I left my water bottle where Kieran and I had our little heart-to-heart. I make a swift about-face and jog back, only to catch something I wasn’t meant to hear.
“…keep your job, stay away from her.” Luca’s voice is low and steady, a sharp warning in his words.
Decker nods and passes by me, not sparing me a glance.
I scrunch my brows at Luca, whose sheepish expression tells me he didn’t intend on me hearing that conversation. “What the hell was that?”
“Just trying to help the guy keep his job intact.” He brushes by me, his normally intoxicating scent souring within my nostrils, which are no doubt flaring at the moment.
How fucking dare he?
“Kher Bear, let’s go!” Dad calls from the center of the gym.
Grabbing my water bottle, my grip on it tightens as I make my way to the sparring area. “You wanted to see me, Dad?”
He gives me an odd look. “Luca told me you wanted to spar with him tonight. I figured you would want to give Decker a run for his money since he’s new.”
Why would Luca do something like that? Looking past my dad’s shoulder, I see my brother and Luca’s heads close together, Luca speaking lowly while my brother gives Decker the stink eye, then nods as he makes his way to Decker to spar.
Anger boils in my gut at those nosy jackasses and their constant interference in my life. This is the last straw.
My features smooth out, as to not give Dad any inkling that something’s amiss. “Nah, it’s been a while since I’ve mopped the floor with Luca. Figured he might need a reminder.”
Dad’s deep laugh echoes throughout as he taps his gloves to mine. “Give ‘em hell, love.”
Don’t you worry, Dad. I plan on it.
Luca sidles up and gets into position. “You ready?”
“Sure, partner.” We tap gloves and start to circle each other. He moves to strike which I block, then follows up with a blow of my own. “After all, I did request you.”
He pales at my confession, knowing he’s caught, and now realizes that the fire in my eyes isn’t just for show. I’m incensed and he’s going to pay for it.
Let’s see if you can keep your balls intact after this session, Mr. Giordano.
“By the way… You, Kieran, and I are going to have a little chat before we leave this evening.”
He gravely nods his head, knowing I mean business and that he’s gonna regret lying to me and Dad.
We spar until the other groups finish up, both of us sweaty and worn out. After a quick shower to freshen up for my shift at RISE tonight, I emerge to find my brother and Kieran long gone.
Cowards.
Tomorrow, though? They’re both getting a tongue-lashing as well as an ass-beating.
I may even throw in a shanking for good measure.
“Open the door, you asshats!” My fist kisses the smooth wooden door of their apartment again and again as I continue to pound the door incessantly. Somebody better open this door soon because if I have to drive all the way back to my apartment and get my key, I’m really going to be pissed.
My knocking halts abruptly as the oak door swings into the apartment, a bewildered pair of hazel eyes staring back at me. “What the hell?”
Ignoring one-half of the reason I’m here and those gray track pants and white undershirt that leave nothing to the imagination, I push past Luca in search of my idiot brother. The low murmur of a TV filters through Luca’s bedroom door in the otherwise quiet apartment. Lucky for Kieran, he’s nowhere to be seen. I turn back to Luca, who’s staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. He’s partially right. “Where’s the other dumbass?”
“Who? Dreidan?”
“Very funny,” I sass, pointing to the door opposite of Kieran’s bedroom across the communal living area. “You know I meant that sorry excuse of the Greene gene pool.”
He chuckles as he closes the door. “He’s out. Why?”
After he and I had that talk last night? That idiot will never learn.
Striding back to face him, I drop my voice to a quieter tone to catch him off guard as I cross my arms. “Well, I guess you’ll just have to pass along a message.”
“And that would be?” He smirks, mirroring my own moves, and taking a peek down at the generous helping of cleavage that’s now visible. Such a guy.
With my opponent momentarily mesmerized, I seize the opportunity and knee him in the thigh precariously close to those prized Giordano family jewels. His hands immediately fly to his junk and a look of shock twists his handsome face. “Shit, Ev! You almost got me in the balls. Wasn’t twice last night enough?”
My finger finds the center of his chest. “That was your warning shot. Next time, I won’t miss.” I start to pace, one of my tells that I’m trying to control the rage bubbling to the surface.
It’s a tell Luca knows well, which explains why he’s easing behind the kitchen island. That or he knows why I’m here.
“Just who the fuck do y’all think you are?” His dark brows shoot up, confusion apparent in his gaze.
“Don’t play that innocent bit with me, Luc
a. I’m talking about the fact that you two keep putting your noses in my business.”
Those dark brows now furrow down and together as I hold his stare. “I have no clue what you’re—” he cuts off as I show him the message Decker sent me last night, saying that we’d better not chance going out.
Realization dawns. Now we’re on the same page. Tan fingers pinch between his eyes as he mumbles, “What a fucking big mouth.”
“Don’t turn this around on him. I heard you warning him last night. Why do you keep interfering in my life the way you and Kieran do?”
“I’m just trying to look out for Decker. You honestly think it’s a good idea to go out with someone who works under your dad? Rian will murder him.” What a bunch of baloney. His eyes emanate what seems to be sincerity, but those hazel pools won’t derail me tonight.
“And yet, I’m still trying to figure out what business it is of yours? I told you a long time ago, you can’t pull this big brother garbage with me. You didn’t—”
Anger clouds over his expression. “Don’t even go there. You know this is not the same thing.”
“Yeah. You should’ve laid your big brother cards on the table when it mattered with Lia.”
“You don’t think I tried?” His voice raises, surprising him and me both. A moment of silence stands between us until he exhales. “You honestly don’t think I care about the fact that my sister won’t speak to me anymore and hasn’t for a long time because I let her down?”
“Look. I’m not here to bust your balls about that. I am however here to let you and my brother know that from this moment on, you all are not to say a damn word to a single guy who asks me out. Not one. It’s my decision and you all will not take that from me.”
Deep dimples pop on both cheeks as his smile spreads far and wide. Turning his well-defined back to me, he reaches into the fridge, and grabs two glass bottles of cola.
Stop thinking about his damn dimples! Rage, remember? “I’m sorry. Did something I say amuse you?”
Using the bottle opener that’s already on the counter, he pops the tops and slides one to me, taking a long sip of his. I flick my eyes to the bottle, then back to him, holding my unrelenting stare until he answers. After a few awkward moments, he finally cracks. “Have you ever stopped to think about why we do it?”
“Control, because you think you can, for kicks and giggles… Who the fuck knows with either one of you?” I wave a dismissive hand, knowing it’s probably a combination of multiple, ridiculous arguments.
“It’s because we don’t want you to get mixed up with the shitheads that keep buzzing around you. You don’t know most of them like we do, Ev.”
“All right, then. Enlighten me. Give me some examples. Let’s start with Decker.”
He stares at me like he’s having to repeat directions to a child. “I already told you. He works in your dad’s department and it’s a bad idea for everyone involved. Period.”
“Anderson Freeman. What’s wrong with him?”
“He has a temper when he drinks.”
Well, shit. “Okay. Jimmy Talbot.”
Luca stands there, thinking back through the annuls of guys they’ve apparently scared away. “Crazy ex who slashed the tires on his last girlfriend’s car. And the girl before her.”
Good Lord. I search my memory for the cute guy I met at a party a few months ago. “Avery Grimes.”
“Weird obsession with Kylie Jenner.”
I scrunch my face, trying to figure out his point. “Lots of guys think she’s beautiful.”
“Lots of guys want to bang her, not dress up like her and wear makeup like she does, all while getting caught dry humping a picture of Jimmy Fallon by his roommates. Whatever that’s about...” he grouses with a shudder.
Jimmy Fallon is a beautiful, beautiful soul, but that’s not important at the moment. “Maybe he was drunk?”
“Three times?!”
That’s…a lot to unpack. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. Wyatt Prichard.”
“Has a girlfriend back home. A girl who doesn’t know her boyfriend is banging half of the sorority house three doors down during the week, then fucks her on the weekends when he comes back home.”
Gross. Why the hell am I attracting all the rejects? I try to bury the thought of insecurity before rears its ugly head, reminding me of how I fall short to so many others. Too late. My shoulders square up to regain some semblance of composure. “What are you? The gossip queen of your sewing circle?”
“It’s the garden club, thank you very much, and I call it being well-informed.” That dark brow raises as he half-laughs. “Seriously, Ev. These are all guys who don’t even try to hide how ridiculous they are, and you honestly think they’re decent boyfriend material?”
He thinks you’re pathetic.
Swallowing that thought is like gulping down a lump of hot coal, but I do it anyway. “It’s not about who they are, it’s about what they represent. That you and my brother are taking matters into your own hands instead of being normal human beings and telling me these things so I can decide for myself.”
“Why let you deal with obvious problems when we can head them off at the pass?”
Now it was my turn to point out the obvious. “Because I don’t interfere in your lives, Luca. God knows Kieran needs someone to put him on a leash and muzzle his dick. I’ve had enough of his one-night-stands begging me to talk to him for them to last me three lifetimes.” I roll my eyes as he laughs heartily. Now for the one that hurts the deepest. “I’m sure you keep your bed hot as well, but you don’t see me saying anything.” My cheeks blaze red, but I try to tamp down on any other signal that would divulge the truth.
He searches my face, looking for who knows what. “Who says I keep my bed hot?”
“You honestly want me to believe you’re a virgin?” I scoff.
A serious countenance settles into his features. “I’m no saint, but I’m not your brother, Ev.”
“Good. The world doesn’t need more manwhores.” The thought of him with anyone is painful, but he’s a gorgeous Italian guy. He no doubt has offers coming from every direction. “Regardless, it’s not fair for you all to do this to me. I deserve to have someone to care about, too.”
His eyes soften a touch, but his face remains firm. “And you will, Ev. But it needs to be someone that deserves to call you theirs.”
“Like that’s ever gonna happen with you two eejits cockblocking me at every corner. I swear, I just need to grab the next guy I see when I leave here and let him take me to his apartment and fuck my brains out.”
His eyes darken at my suggestion. “You really wanna waste your first time on some guy who’s on the rebound or is some garden variety nutjob?” How the hell did he—“You get loose lips when you drink too much, Ev.”
A groan escapes me. Fucking truth serum. “That’s what all this is about? Y’all and your overbearing, antiquated need to protect my virtue? Seriously? You’re not even related to me,” I laugh bitterly. “Why do you care?”
His silence stretches on, but he holds my glare, making me squirm inside. “What? No snappy comeback or answer? Fine. If that’s what all this is about, don’t you worry your pretty little head about anything. I’ll take care of the problem first chance I get.”
I bolt toward the door, only to have a firm hand on my bicep reeling me back to him. “Let me tell you a little something, Evergreen. You’d better thank your lucky stars that you have a brother and a friend who want better for you. You honestly think I didn’t want to break that asshole Giacomo’s face when I found out how he did Lia?”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“I wanted to knock that bitch the fuck out, but Lia had already left him. You’d better believe that one day, I’ll make sure he knows just how much he fucked up.”
Lia had told me how Luca stood by and let her dad throw her out the night she told them she couldn’t take Giacomo or his abuse anymore. I always thought he just went along with it, but that
tormented look in his eyes tells me there’s more to the story. Nevertheless… “That has nothing to do with me.”
“You really think I want to add a second life sentence on because I also had to kill some dick for mistreating you?” His laugh drips with bitterness. “And you think fucking some random idiot’s gonna keep that from happening? Dream on, Ev. I fucked up once and I’m not doing that again. If that means you hate me for looking out for you, be my guest.”
I squint my eyes in challenge. “I appreciate the sentiment, Luca, but it’s not your job.”
His grip releases on my arm and I’m somewhat conflicted, yet immediately missing the warmth it left behind. “I’m glad you do, Everleigh, but it’s not your choice.”
Stay focused. “Well, see about that.” The door flings open as I make my way through it, looking up and down the hallway. There’s gotta be at least one decent guy on Luca and Kieran’s floor.
A rustle to my right reveals my target. Bingo.
“Hi, Tommy,” I greet him as the handsome guy with shaggy, light brown hair peers up from inserting his key into the door, his arms full of groceries.
“Hey, Ev. How ya been?”
Tommy has always been sweet to me whenever I’ve seen him around campus or when I’ve stopped by Kieran’s apartment. “Great, thank you.” His light freckles under his eyes and bright smile exude warmth and kindness. Maybe this wasn’t a bad idea. I tap into a little bit of my Madam Isis persona, my flirtier alter ego at the club. “Listen, I was wondering if you might be free later?”
His smile grows deeper and a hint of mischief dances in those medium brown eyes. “I think so. What’d you have in mind?” He peers past my shoulder, the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching from behind. “Hey man, how’s it goin—”
My world turns upside and I’m left staring at Luca’s frustratingly perfect ass as he hauls me forward and stomps back toward their apartment. I squirm, trying to get him to drop me. “Put me down, you jerk!”
Delivered in Sin Page 27
