He shot her a quizzical look. “Mythical beast?”
“Because a griffin is this magical animal from folklore that protects treasure and prized possessions.”
“Like you,” he said with lidded eyes.
That made her go all warm and fuzzy, but then he turned quiet.
“What is it?” she asked, returning her head to his chest. She liked hearing his heart pound.
“There’s something else I need to tell you.”
This had her sitting up, dragging the sheet to her chest. A slash of panic slid through her. “More secrets?”
“Not to do with me. You know everything there is to know about me. It’s about someone else you know.”
“Okay.” Where was this going? “Who?”
He hesitated. “Your father.”
“I don’t need to speak about him anymore. He’s alive, that’s all I need to know.”
“Would your feelings be different if you knew the deadly sin I sensed wasn’t coming from him, but your mother?”
“What do you mean?”
“When we intercepted the kidnappers, I realized his greed was rather small in comparison to other criminals I’ve met. For a mafia boss, it didn’t make sense. The only possible explanation is that your mother influenced him to become the man he is today. I feel like, maybe he was coerced.”
She thought about it, and while her heart ached to understand, her head pointed out the facts. “He still did many bad things. He’s murdered people. Stole from them. Put guns in the hands of teenagers. He should go to jail. There’s no coming back from murder.”
Griffin turned away, and she realized her mistake too soon. “No, Griffin. Don’t ever think you’re in the same league as him. Please, baby, believe me.”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder about the point of all of this. Are we making a difference, or drawing out the pain…”
“You sound like Humphrey Bogart from Casablanca.”
“Maybe he had a point.”
“Griffin. I believe in you,” she said, teary eyed, and it earned her a small smile.
“Your father turned himself in,” he said. “He’s already in prison.”
“He did?”
“He confessed to a lot of crimes. He wants to pay for his sins.”
Lilo’s heart cracked a little, because now she was thinking of questions like: can a person change; can he earn forgiveness; and, how long do you hold a grudge?
“I can go with you to see him, if you would like some closure.” Griffin’s hand landed on hers.
“I suppose it would be a good opportunity to ask him about the pictures. I now understand why they’re so valuable, and why you didn’t want to show them to me.”
“I should have trusted you from the start.”
“Well, there goes my unicorn.” She slapped herself in the face, only now realizing she could never write an exposé about Griffin and his family. Not now. Not ever.
“Unicorn?”
“Yeah, I… God, this is embarrassing.” She flushed. “I’ve wanted to write about the Deadly Seven for years. Wanted to be the journalist who cracked your identity, or at the very least uncovered your purpose. Anything, really. It was going to be my big break. I can’t do that now. I was completely ignorant to think writing a story like that wouldn’t be harmful. I see how much pain and suffering you all go through to help out those who don’t deserve it.”
He took her hands in his. “You can still help.”
“How?”
“Control the narrative. Don’t let Doppenger write his lies.”
She bit her lip. Going up against Donnie? Yes. Damn him. She was so done with that overpowering greedy jerk. Fred had loved her story. She could do this.
“I will fight for you, Griffin,” she said. “I promise you this. People like Donnie won’t get to write rubbish about your family again. Not while I’m at the Copy.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “He won’t stand a chance.”
A small smile tickled her face, and then her stomach rumbled. “Um. Do you have any flour and baking supplies here?”
A worried tick appeared next to his eye.
“Actually, don’t answer that, you look like you bench-lift bakers for fun.”
He blinked. “I just use normal weights.”
That made her laugh and she slapped him playfully. “Any other food?”
“Not suitable for breakfast.”
“No problem.” She hopped out of bed, all energized and ready for the day. “Let me take a shower, and then I’m taking you to breakfast.”
She’d just had to pick somewhere cheap.
As she crossed the room, she felt his heated gaze on her back as she opened his bathroom door, then just as she entered, he shouted, “Wait!”
But she’d seen the damage to the tiles in his shower. The wall under the faucet and spray nozzle had been shattered and dented as though someone had taken a mallet to it. “What happened?”
He came up behind her, hands in his pockets. “I was angry.”
For the first time since being with him, she was a little concerned he had a temper she needed to be aware of, and a sliver of doubt reminded her that Donnie was an angel when they first started dating too.
“It was after I left you in that stairwell,” he uttered. “I was angry at myself.”
Angry at himself. Not her. The opposite of what Donnie was like. She had nothing to worry about. He needed her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
A day later, Griffin was in a booth at Heaven, watching Lilo from across the room as she spoke with the waitress at her station about a special order she wanted made. He had mentioned that he wasn’t a fan of garlic, and she took it upon herself to ensure his order was made without. She liked doing things for him, and he liked doing them back.
He also liked doing things to her.
The memory of how they’d spent the previous two nights had him heating up, tugging at his collar, and shifting his legs. He attempted to think of something else, but it was as though the more he tried to move his mind away, the more he envisioned her naked body beneath him. Above him. In his arms. In the shower. On his newly uncovered living room couch…
They’d spent the prior day at his place, surreptitiously removing the stolen items from his living room. She’d kept her promise and made sure to hold his secret close to her heart. The mass exodus hadn’t been too hard in the end, as most of the family were recovering from the opening night of Hell.
Lilo had helped him sift through his apartment. She approached the mess like it was a house renovating project. She helped him sort every stolen object into categoric piles. Jewelry, knick-knacks, clothing… Not once did she frown, or chastise him. In fact, she enthusiastically spoke about how much it would help those less fortunate than them. Together they’d delivered the items to shelters and goodwill centers around the city. She came alive with the project and still held the same glow in her cheeks today. He was grateful that he could see his living room furniture again. Very grateful.
His gaze flicked back to where she chatted with the waitress. She tried to pay for the meal, but he told staff that anything either of them ate would go on his tab. She’d been so used to being so generous in her past relationship, it made him edgy. On the other hand, he was happy to show her what being with someone who cared for her truly felt like.
She wouldn’t want for anything while he was around, and he hoped that would be for a long time.
“This seat taken?” Tony slid into the booth on the opposite side to Griffin, pulling his Hollywood sunglasses and ball cap disguise off.
He looked disheveled, but energized. The man twitched and buzzed like he had ants in his pants. His fingers thrummed on the leather. His hair was smoothed back as though he’d run his fingers through it a million times, and his pupils were dilated as they darted around, no doubt checking for misguided paparazzi who might catch him looking so out of sorts.
Griffin st
iffened. “As a matter of fact—”
Tony ignored him with a sniff and rested his arm lengthwise on the top of the booth, staring around the restaurant. “What’s up, my man?”
“When was the last time you slept, Tony?” Griffin frowned at him.
“What?” Tony’s gaze came back to Griffin.
“For an actor, you’re pretty terrible at hiding the fact you’re wired.”
“Fine,” Tony simpered. “Haven’t slept since Thursday. And before you go all righteous Griffin on me, give me a break. Shooting wrapped up, and it’s a few months before the next one, I’m winding down.”
“Looks as though you’re winding up to me.”
“Yeah, speaking of that.” He gave Griffin serious eyes. “I need to work off this energy. How about we spar?”
“You want to fight me in your condition?” Griffin asked incredulously. The man was obviously still high.
Tony shrugged and whined in an entitled way. “I’ve been waiting for hours for anyone to be awake. I wanna see what this new ability of yours has. Come on. It will be fun.”
“What will be fun?” Lilo said as she slipped back into the booth, on Griffin’s side this time. “Hello Tony. Nice to see you again.”
Tony gave Lilo a sly smile. “I’m actually surprised to see either of you out with all that gluttony I’ve been sensing.”
“What?” Lilo blushed. “I don’t eat that much. Okay, maybe I’ve had a few muffins lately. And that donut last night after dinner. And—I like baked goods, okay?”
Tony laughed until his eyes watered, and it made Griffin testy.
“People always think gluttony is to do with food,” Tony added, “but there’re other things we can’t stop indulging in.” His new gaze was loaded with innuendo.
“That’s enough, Tony.” Griffin then turned to Lilo. “You’ll have to excuse my brother, he’s a few days old.”
“A few days?”
“Still partying from Friday.”
“Yeah, bo-oy.” Tony whooped then faced Lilo with a look Griffin was sure melted many female panties . “I apologize for my rudeness, Lilo. It is good to see you again.”
She gave a small smile, but shuffled closer to Griffin.
“Your friend was fun, by the way,” he winked at Lilo and she blanched.
“You mean Misha?”
He nodded. “She knows how to party. You can invite her anytime.”
“Did you two… um… you know.”
Tony arched an eyebrow. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Griffin gestured at his brother. “He does kiss and tell which means if he’s not saying anything now, then nothing happened.”
“You’re no fun.” Tony threw a napkin at him.
Lilo relaxed beside him in a way that suggested she wasn’t pleased with the idea of his brother and her friend hooking up. He wouldn’t be happy either. At least not until Tony cleaned up his act.
Perhaps a good sparring session would be good for him—put him in his place and remind him of the dangers of indulging in that pastime for someone like them.
“I do need to work on my new ability,” Griffin murmured, conceding.
Tony clapped his hands together. “Excellent. Let’s go now.”
“You’re not hungry?” Lilo asked.
“Nope.”
“Well, I am,” Griffin said.
Tony looked immediately put out. “You’re going to make me wait?”
“I had plans before you arrived. I’m not changing them because you snap your fingers at me.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Tony slid back out of the booth. “Prepare for an epic battle, my brother. I’m going to see who else I can rustle up.”
“That’s a good idea,” Griffin agreed. “I need to apprise Parker about the poor club security.” He darted a glance at Lilo. “If I hadn’t been vigilant, Lilo might not be here.”
A flicker of a frown danced over Tony’s expression, but he stamped it down immediately. Probably didn’t want anything serious to ruin his buzz.
“Right,” Tony said, rubbing his hands. “I’m off to gather the troops.”
He slid his sunglasses and ball cap on, and then all but jumped out of the booth. As he passed them on the way to the exit, he flashed them a grin and clapped them both on the shoulders with way too much verve. “Laters.”
Griffin turned to Lilo. “I’m worried about him.”
“Yeah, I’m not surprised.” She lowered her voice in a conspiratorial way. “Does Parker know about his… ah, special diet?”
“Probably. Tony thinks he can hide it, but he can’t. We know him too well.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lilo followed Griffin along the basement hallway leading to the workout room. Griffin said she didn’t have to come, but she was thrilled to watch—to get an insider’s look at this talented family in action. It appealed to every journalistic instinct she had. It also made her extremely nervous.
Dressed in sweatpants and a simple cotton T-shirt, Griffin looked no less imposing. The relaxing past few days had done much to soften his almost permanent scowl, and put some color into his cheeks, but when he entered the room, he became quietly serious.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here?” she asked, wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt. “I mean, I know you trust me not to go blabbing, but I’ve only just met your family and—”
He pressed his lips to hers. The touch was small and gentle, but it was as loud as a shout. He was there for her, and he was in her corner. It was as simple as that.
He threw his hand towel over his shoulder and then took her hand.
The room was a simple gym. A padded mat in the middle, various electrical machines and weights around the edges. Mirrors on one side, and a few chairs on the other. Two people were on the mat already, training with boxing gloves and pads.
Tony and Evan. Tony had his shirt off and wore jeans of all things. Designer dark denim hung low on his hips, giving Lilo an uninhibited view of his perfect movie star torso. Tanned and already slick with sweat. Evan wore sweats and was also shirtless, but where Tony was flawless, Evan was all dark lines and twisted tattoos, except for the one over his heart that clearly said Grace. Lilo smiled at that.
“Lilo!” Speak of the devil.
“Grace!” Lilo grinned. “You have a day off?”
Grace lifted her medical kit and pulled a face. “Well, I thought I did, until these meatheads decided to hold an impromptu tournament.”
“Tournament?” Griffin scratched his head. “Since when?”
“Since your sister is going to kick all y’all lazy asses.” Liza walked in, followed by Griffin’s parents, a tall man in a check shirt and a short woman wearing yoga attire.
They all stopped and stared at Lilo. Her skin burned.
Liza’s gaze ping-ponged between Lilo and Griffin. She finally punched him in the arm. “Nice to see you loosened up, bro.”
His scowl deepened. “Why do you have to hit me all the time?”
“Why not?” She flared her eyes, challenging.
When Griffin huffed and went to wrap his knuckles with tape, Liza’s surprised gaze whipped to Lilo. “Wow. He’s… yeah, wow. Not even a comeback. He’s very loose.”
“We didn’t officially meet on Friday night.” Griffin’s mother came up and held out her hand. “I’m Mary, Griffin’s mother.”
“Oh—” Lilo shook her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Lilo.”
The woman’s shrewd eyes gave Lilo an assessing once over, then she smiled suddenly and it was like looking into the eyes of a lioness. Lilo sensed that she could be as deadly as her children. Mary indicated the tall older man next to her. “This is Flint, my husband and the father of these niños estupidos.”
“Hey.” His hand hit his chest, as though he’d been shot to the heart. “Why am I the father when they’re stupid?”
With a shrug, she smirked and walked toward the mat. “Because I am the mother when they are not.”
“W
elcome to the family.” Flint flashed a quick grin and went to join his wife.
“Um. Welcome to the family?” Lilo squeaked to Grace.
“I hope you didn’t have other ideas, because you’re in deep now. There’s no escaping.”
“Or else what? They hunt me down if I try to leave?”
“Nope. You’re just in. You belong.” That knowing smile spread on her face until she swung her medical bag and made her way to the chairs, saying over her shoulder. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“Me too.” Griffin came up behind Lilo and placed his taped hands on her shoulders. He nuzzled into her neck and inhaled deeply then tensed behind her. From the way he breathed deeply, she knew he was assimilating to the stimulation of her scent and touch. She patiently let him hold her, locked in his embrace until he worked through his visceral feelings. It made her weak at the knees and warm in the heart to know she was helping him with his sensitivity response. She knew him better than anyone else, and this was a way she could protect him—let him use her body to adjust to everything around him. She rotated and slipped her arms around his waist, looking up at him fondly.
“You mean that?” she asked quietly. “That you’re happy?”
“Hey,” shouted Tony from the mat. “If you two love birds are finished, we can get started.”
Griffin grinned, and it lit up his face. For some reason, he seemed very smug.
A deep cough sounded at the door. Parker stood there, dressed in a black business shirt and suit pants.
“I have arrived,” he said. “Now you can start.”
“All right, let’s get this lesson over with.” Griffin strode to the mat. “Who wants to be schooled first?”
Lilo made her way to the seats where Grace and Flint sat. To Lilo’s surprise, Mary had joined her children on the mat. Parker took Mary’s vacant seat and handed a clipboard to Grace.
“Do you mind recording?” Parker pointed at the clipboard.
Flint took it from Grace with a disparaging look. “She’s not your staff member, Parker.”
“What?” he looked offended. “She’s medically trained.”
Greed Page 23
