I wanted to share all of this with Brook, and today I was going to get the chance to finally be alone with her, and see what made her tick, and let her see the real man, not the one other people thought they knew, the real me. She needed to know who she was getting involved with, and I was going to show her. While keeping her safe as well.
“So we are good to go on the plans today though, right?” Tony asked.
Last night we had made our plan of seduction, and it started today. We had five days until our romantic dinner at the most exclusive restaurant in the Bronx. That was how long we gave her to get used to the idea of being with us, and then we were taking it to the next level, I really thought it was more than enough time. We were going to be together twenty-four/seven, so we could get to know each a lot in that time.
“Yeah, today I will take her to the hospital to visit Ms. Maddie, and then lunch at the pub, a tour of the building this afternoon, where she can see where we work and what we have done. Then dinner tonight, I figure we can order out again,” I said.
Tony rolled his eyes. “We are going to have to cook for her sometime you know.”
I frowned. “Why? I don’t cook for myself, neither do you, we would make a mess of it, hell our food would probably scare the shit out of her. I will call Ma, see if she can whip up something and drop it off this afternoon in the oven. Tomorrow we call yours, and so one.”
“Our moms? Are you sure?” Tony said skeptically.
I rolled my eyes. “Come on, they have already figured this out, you know that. It is easier to ask them for help than to wait and see what they’ll do next, this way, they will think they are helping, and maybe get off our backs a little. Hell, if we told them what we wanted I bet they would jump at the chance to get us paired off with Brooklyn. They want kids, remember.”
Tony laughed. “Yeah, but I think we should take this one step at a time, don’t you?”
I shrugged and then looked at Tony. “The sooner she figures out she is ours, the sooner we can get on with it. Man, I told you, it seems like we have waited forever to find someone, I know she’s made for us. I don’t want to wait another second.”
“Slow down.” Tony smiled. “We will get there.”
“Yeah, but in the meantime, my cock has a mind of his own and right now, it gets hard every time she is near.” I frowned.
It was Tony’s turn to roll his eyes. I shrugged and then went to grab my keys, I had a date with an angel.
Tony
“Same guy,” Jet said and flopped down in the chair across from me. I had arrived to the office to find they had already done a lot of the leg work. Unfortunately, it wasn’t anything that would specifically help us right this second. That is what we needed, just a break. We had too many pieces of the puzzle with no real direction.
“Can we track down the tattoo?” I asked Jet who was already shaking his head.
“No can do, looks homemade,” Jet said and I sighed and leaned back.
“Okay, Brant, what about the kid? He was beaten up, Ms. Maddie said there were fights, they are underground. Maybe someone in the gym knows something about it,” I said.
“I can ask around when I go to work out later,” Jet said and I nodded.
“We also need to get some more guys, with all this going on, we are going to need to double up on the patrols of Southside Haven, and also we need someone on Reese as well,” I said and stood. “I am going to go talk to Michael now that he is in.”
Jet walked me down to the gym floor and then he went to work out while I went to Michael’s office in Slinging Ink. He apparently had already gotten a call from Fin since when I opened the door I heard Mike say he was going to need help covering some of the shifts because he needed to be flexible. Good, this was all hands on deck, and right now, we were going to need everyone to get their shit together in order to keep everyone we loved safe.
Chapter Fourteen
Fin
I listened into the receiver of the phone with a half ear while Tony filled me in on what was going on at the gym. So far, today had gone well, but something was wrong with Brooklyn, something I couldn’t put my finger on. Since breakfast she had seemed to pull away, and also she had been extremely polite, like you would be to a stranger or something.
“I’m going to the gym now to see if I can find a few more guys who need some extra money. Jet said the gym was full today,” Tony said.
I made a noise of agreement but then said to Tony, “I am not sure the talk went as well as what we thought.”
“What? Why?” Tony snapped.
“Yes, Mother,” Brooklyn said. “I called my bosses and they said I could take as much time as I needed. You don’t have to worry, I’m going to have one of the guys run me over to my apartment to pick us some more clothes, then by the office to pick up my work laptop. I can work from anywhere then, and as long as I make sure I keep the computer locked when I am not using it, they don’t have a problem.”
“Good, honey,” Ms. Maddie said. “Now, tell me all about Fin’s house, I have wanted to get inside that thing for years.”
“It is nice,” Brooklyn grinned and said, “but I won’t be there for long, I’m going to talk to Reese when he gets back and see if he wants to maybe share a hotel room. I found a hotel with security.”
I growled into the phone, “Yep, the talk didn’t work, tonight we are going to need to spell it out real clear.”
Tony chuckled. “Okay, I will make sure I stop and get some wine for dinner.”
“Do that, I will fill you in later, right now, I have a few things to straighten out with our woman,” I said firmly and hung up the phone. Ms. Maddie was frowning and whispering something to Brook who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but right here.
“Brooklyn,” I said quickly when it looked like Ms. Maddie was gearing up to lay into Brooklyn over something. She looked up at me and I saw her face was flushed, like she was embarrassed about something. “Why don’t we run and get some lunch and then bring Ms. Maddie back a treat.”
The relief that flowed out of her was palpable. Brooklyn turned and kissed her mother, whispering something in the older woman’s ear and then grabbing her coat. If either of us would have waited and watched for a second more, we would have seen Ms. Maddie frantically grabbing for her cell phone to call someone.
We would have also heard the old woman yell into the phone. “Code Red, we have a Code Red.”
Brooklyn
Paddy’s Pub was doing a hefty business when we walked in. The seating at the bar was full and Fin led me with his hand in the middle of my back to a booth in the back. When I sat down, I expected him to sit across from me but instead he squeezed on the bench beside me. Great. Now I was going to have to sit through lunch with his thigh rubbing up against mine, a reminder that was the only way he would ever touch me. There went the appetite I had—along with the dream of having a chance with him and Tony, damn it, since they told me about what they were looking for, I had been thinking about it. Growing up, they’d been mine in my dreams, but after this morning’s talk that crumbled. I needed to pull my big girl panties up and finally move on, I’d never be what they wanted, which made me sad because to me, they would have been my everything.
“What was that sigh about, sweetheart?” Fin turned toward me, placing his arm around me on the back of the seat, effectively pulling me out of my self-doubting thoughts.
“Huh?”
“You worried about your mom?” Fin said as he stared at me, as if trying to read what was going on in my head. Which I knew he couldn’t or he would have known for years that I loved him. And Tony. It hadn’t started out as love of course, more like infatuation from afar, but as the years went by the more of what I felt grew along with me. At first I could account for it being that I was always around them, our families were close, but when they left to go to college and then to pursue their careers, I’d missed them, thought about them, wondered what they were doing while they were away. Pathetic, but they�
��d been a huge part of my life even if they didn’t know it.
“Umm…no. Just making a mental note of what I need to pick up at my apartment. Then all the things I’m going to need to do to get Ma’s house ready for her to come home.” Not like that was a lie, it was things I’d thought of, just not in the last five minutes.
“Hmmm. Okay, make a list. Either Tony or I will go by and pick the items up or a couple of the guys will. You aren’t going there.”
“Excuse me, what do you mean I’m not going there? It’s my apartment and I have to go by the office anyway.”
“Not safe, and until we figure out what is going on with the shooting, you won’t be going anywhere without one of us, sweetheart.” Fin turned back, moved his arm from around me, and pick up the menus the waitress dropped off, handing me one.
“Without one of you? I know everyone is looking in to what happened with my mom but I don’t understand what it has to do with me. I have been thinking since you told me that and I disagree. I appreciate everything you have done, but Reese and I will stay with Mom at her house and we will be fine. I appreciate you letting me stay at your place but you don’t need us there when they release Ma, which they say will just be in a few days. We wouldn’t want to impose on you or make you feel you couldn’t have women over if you choose.” I picked up my menu and opened it, pleased with what I said.
“You think I want to bring women over?”
“Well, wasn’t that what this morning’s talk was about? You and Tony informing me about your lifestyle so I wouldn’t be shocked when you both shared her. I know about ménages, I’m not dense,” I huffed and stared down at the menu. Men—they act like women don’t read or know stuff, I know stuff, a lot of stuff.
“You know about ménages? You?” When I looked at Fin from the corner of my eyes, his lips were twitching. Well that was fucking rude and it hurt because he was trying not to laugh at me, like it was so unfathomable that two men would want me. The more I thought about it, the less it hurt, ‘cause it started to piss me off.
“Yes, I do. I read. That is not the point though. The point is, when Ma gets released you can have your house back so you can do whatever and no one will be in your space.”
“No one will be in whose space?” Mia said and slid in across from us.
“What are you doing here?” Fin asked.
“God, can’t a sister who stopped in for lunch and saw her brother and best friend sitting together stop by and say hi,” Mia said and smiled at both of us and yanked the menu out of Fin’s hand.
“No, so why are you here? I personally know you haven’t been to Paddy’s in over a year,” Fin said and grabbed the menu back from Mia.
“Yeah, ‘cause my six pain in the ass brothers and your sidekick embarrassed me while I was on a date,” Mia threw daggers at Fin, which didn’t seem to bother him, as if the smirk on his face wasn’t clue enough.
“What can I get you three?” the waitress asked as she stopped at the end of the table.
“She’s not staying,” Fin said as he pointed at Mia and then proceeded to place his order of a burger and fries and turned to me, “what are you having, Brook?”
I looked at Mia who just shrugged and shook her head. Since the burger and fries sounded good, I ordered the same and the waitress walked off to fill our order.
“Shouldn’t date boys who pretend to be men. We only asked him what his intentions were.”
“Oh yeah, and then you each pulled up chairs and sat down. Around him. That’s not intimidating at all, so Sean asked him what kind of job he had. Cal laughed and asked if he was old enough to work. Bry wanted to know if he did drugs. Michael proceeded to ask if he was afraid of needles. And don’t get me started on Falon and you. Add in Tony’s “Do you have a record? I can find out” and it was a perfect evening. God, everyone in the place was listening to the conversation and didn’t even bother to cover up their laughs. That’s why I haven’t been here for a year,” Mia was on a roll but stopped when the waitress dropped off our order before she continued.
“And I only stopped in today because Ma called me, so there,” Mia said and grabbed a fry off Fin’s plate and shoved it in her mouth. I looked between the two when I felt Fin flinch when Mia mentioned their mother. Lately trying to keep up with everyone’s conversation was rough. It must be because I’ve been on edge with all that happened with my mother.
“Ma sent you here? Why?” Fin’s voice almost sounded guarded.
“Because you are a dumbass and need help.” Mia smirked as Fin frowned.
Me, I continued to eat, watching the sibling play by play and not understanding what was going on. It seemed par for the course lately. As if everyone around me knew something but no one wanted to share. And at least with Mia here, I didn’t have to continue the discussion on Fin’s extracurricular activities. I could eat and listen.
“Christ, why can’t everyone mind their own business and let me and Tony handle things?”
“Because you aren’t taking care of it. She was worried you two were dropping the ball and her and Sonia were going to stop by but they have been cooking and putting meals in the freezer. Which reminds me, there will be a lasagna in your oven for dinner. Now I’m leaving, ‘cause three is a crowd. My advice, explain exactly what you want. Don’t mix words. And my last clue, a person with minimal experience is innocent about men. I mean no idea about men and how they operate, even flirting goes over the head. You get what I’m telling you?” Mia asked Fin.
“Yeah, I do. We are going to take care of that tonight. That is, if no one stops by.”
“Heard that from Dad. I don’t have sympathy for you, I’m going to enjoy every minute of discomfort the moms bring. Call it a little payback for how I feel,” Mia said and stood.
“You don’t have to go. We didn’t even get to talk.”
“Oh, honey, we will have plenty of time for that. You and my brother finish your lunch. I need to get back to work anyway. Tell your mom I will stop by again tomorrow and see her. We’ll have to have a girls’ night soon. If you need any help, sweetie, remember, I am always there for you.”
“Okay, sounds good.” Mia’s been my friend most of my life. We, along with Tony’s sisters, were surrounded by boys growing up. Between Reese, her brothers, and Tony, who were older than us, we didn’t get by with much. Five to eight, it sucked.
Mia left and Fin and I finished our meal without another word. When I sat my napkin down on the table was the first words he’d spoken in ten minutes.
“Ready, baby?” he said just as his phone rang.
“Yes,” was the only word I got out as he looked down at his phone.
“Gotta take this, come on.” Then he got up and motioned me to go first while he threw money on the table to cover the bill and we headed out.
“Yo, what’s up?” Fin asked and I could only presume it was a brother or Tony. The caller was verified when he spoke again.
“Brook and I will stop by on our way back from lunch. Yeah, it went, we will discuss it later. We got work to do though, man,” Fin’s eyes cut to me as he held the car door open, “No clue,” he paused and listened as he closed my door and walked around to his side and got in, “From Mia” was said as he started the car and pulled away from the curb.
“Be there in ten,” was said and he hung up.
“So why don’t you tell me what you know about ménages,” he said and smirked at me.
“Ugh, I am not going to sit here and discuss threesomes with you,” I said and turned to look out the window.
“Why not? I know you haven’t had one. Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
“NO!” I turned back to him, “You and Tony can do what you want. When Ma gets released I will be out of your way and you two can resume your sexcaspades.”
“Sexcaspades, really?” He burst out laughing, which made me mad. Like I needed him to tell me I wasn’t enough for them. I didn’t need to be told something I already knew.
“I don’
t know why you are trying to goad me, we’ve had the talk this morning. I get you share women with Tony. Just because I may not have had the experience doesn’t mean I don’t know how it works. I just don’t see the need in discussing it with you.”
“Oh, attitude, I like it, sweetheart. And as far as discussing it. We are going to discuss it, again, because you evidently didn’t get the talk this morning, but you will tonight,” Fin said, then pulled up to the curb in front of the gym, got out and came around to open my door. “Mia was right, not like I would ever tell her though,” he said, more under his breath than to me.
“Ugh, everyone around me speaks in freaking code. I wish they would just say what they mean,” I said and headed for the front door to the gym with Fin following behind.
“I can speak plain,” he said and grabbed the handle on the door, but not immediately opening it as he faced me. “Here it is straight up. We want a woman between us. One we both want to have around for the long haul. Haven’t found that till recently. Imagine our shock that she’d been under our noses for years. That’s on us, but now that we know, we are trying to give her time to get to know us. However, the longer it takes the harder it gets. And, sweetheart, it’s pretty hard now. We will finish this conversation later,” he said and held the door open.
“No talk needed. Happy for both of you that you found someone,” I said as I walked through the door and past him.
Vengeance: MMA/Ink Romance (KO Ink Book 1) Page 11
