As I stood staring at the door, waiting for it to open, I prayed Matt wasn’t around. I wanted to spend time with my brother alone, without that overbearing man watching our every move. We were siblings, for God’s sake. Why he behaved as though Andy belonged to him was beyond me.
Or did Andy really belong to him in some way?
A dreadful thought struck me, and my heart raced. Oh God! What if Andy was in some sort of contract with Matt like I was with James? My body shook, and a fearful groan escaped my lips.
The door opened, and once I saw Andy, I flew into his arms and hugged him tight.
Andy gasped in surprise. Once he realized it was me, he relaxed and wrapped his arms around me.
“I’m so glad you’re still here,” I said, my face snuggled against his shoulder.
“Of course. I’m always here,” he said. “Why are you so freaked out?”
I drew back. That was Andy all right. He always saw right through me.
He led me into the room as I said, “I thought you might have gone out to work or something.” I wasn’t sure what type of work it was, and I desperately wanted to find out.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I work. But not until the afternoon.”
I dreaded this. “What type of work do you do?”
He was vague, as though he didn’t really want to tell me. “This and that.” He smiled cheekily, and I was once again struck by how gorgeous my brother was.
I sat down on the sofa and frowned at him. “What is this and that?”
He sat beside me and looked down at the coffee table, his brown eyes intense. “Mostly, I work as a waiter. The private club section.”
“They have private clubs here?” I asked, wondering what that was.
He chuckled. “Yeah. The pay is very good.”
The sound of very good pay for a waiter had me suspicious. “It’s not dangerous, is it?”
Andy flicked his eyes to me for a brief second and then lowered them again. “No.”
My stomach dropped. Shit! I knew he was lying. I knew Andy too well. But how could a job as a waiter be dangerous?
“Andy, you’re really a waiter, aren’t you?” I couldn’t keep the tremor from surfacing in my voice. The thought of him doing anything remotely dangerous scared me. We’d been through enough of that shit to last us a lifetime.
He shrugged. “I am a waiter, Mia,” he confirmed adamantly. “Now stop pestering me about my career. I know it’s a bullshit job. But I’m working on it. When I’m out of this mess, I promise I’ll go to college and study business and, you know, really change my life.”
“How long will that take?” I asked, staring at him long and hard. I knew Andy could do it. He was intelligent. He had very good marks back in high school, jumping grades and everything. He even landed himself a scholarship. If only certain shit didn’t happen with Uncle Herbert, destroying his self-esteem, then he would have been a college graduate by now and working in a proper company, earning a steady living. Maybe even with a nice girl to settle down with.
“I don’t know. Maybe another three to four years,” he said.
I smiled at him. “Are you looking forward to it?”
He looked a little lost at my question. He glanced away, and I saw the slight panic in his eyes. “I… I don’t know.”
I frowned. Surely he must be looking forward to a better future?
“You do want to leave this type of life, right?” I glanced around the place and thought actually, this was quite nice. The room, I meant.
I used that to encourage him. “Imagine this as your own place and not Matt’s.”
He smiled. “Yeah. That bastard. I’m going to get me a place like this myself, just to show him I can do it. Just to show him I mean business.”
I laughed. “That would be so wonderful, Andy. You’ll have a room for me when I come to visit, yeah?”
He pulled me into his arms and chuckled. “Are you kidding me? Visiting? No way. You’re staying with me, sis. Once I get to that stage, you’ll quit that pathetic job of yours and will be living with me.”
I snorted. “What about your girlfriend or wife or whatever?”
I watched him closely and saw the dark look in his eyes again. “I’m not interested in that, Mia.”
I licked my lips and nodded. “I guess you want to get your life sorted out first. I understand. I’d do the same. It’s easier, isn’t it?”
He sighed. “No, that’s not what I mean. I’m never going to get me a wife. Or a girlfriend for that matter.”
“Huh?” I sat up and stared at him.
“Do you hate me, Mia?” he asked, desperation in his voice.
My heart ached for him. I didn’t know what he meant, but regardless of what it was, I’d always support him.
“I’d never hate you, Andy. You’re my brother,” I said, hugging him tight.
He stroked my back and nodded. “Thanks, sis. You’re awesome.” He leaned back and frowned. “And why the hell are you wearing such a big shirt?”
I smiled and shrugged. “Would you believe me if I told you a very tiny canine destroyed most of my clothes I brought along with me? Followed by a humongous canine who likes to rip my clothes for fun?”
He blinked and then burst out laughing. “What the hell!” He continued laughing merrily, and I loved that. I loved it when he laughed with such abandonment, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. In a way, it signified to me that life for him was good, and I was happy and relieved.
Once he managed to stop, he said, “We have the worst of luck, eh? You and I?”
I agreed by nodding.
Andy stood. “Come on. Take that off. I’ll lend you my shirt. At least we’re pretty close in size.”
“No, that’s okay,” I said, blushing. The reason I didn’t want to take off the shirt was because of the bruises on my body, and also, I couldn’t bear to part with James’ shirt. I’d come to like it so very much.
Andy caught my wrist and pulled me up to him. “We’re siblings, Mia. I know we’re not the same gender, but what the heck? Better you wear my shirt than that humongous thing. It looks like you’re drowning in it.”
It was true. I looked ridiculous. I burst out laughing. “You’re right.”
“See?” Andy confirmed. Then he led me around the coffee table toward the walk-in wardrobe on the other side nearer the bathroom and bed.
Inside, I gasped at how immaculate the place was. Expensive, sleek suits, shirts, and pants hung neatly on the hangers. Ties were folded and placed in their slots. Gosh. Talk about a neat freak. Everything was clean and sleek and just so OCD.
“Wow! It’s very immaculate in here,” I commented.
“I keep my side nice and tidy too,” Andy said, drawing my attention to him. “You know me.”
Yes, I knew my brother. He liked his place clean and tidy, like me. But not to the extreme like this, and I knew it was Matt. I should call him Matt the clean freak! Or Matt the control freak! Matt the OCD freak!
“But, you know, sometimes I mess it up just to piss him off,” he said, a hint of teasing in his voice. “And it really pissed him off.” I noted he was shuddering slightly, and a smile crept across his lips.
“What type of relationship do you have with Matt?” I couldn’t help asking. They were sharing a place and a wardrobe. And Matt certainly did not treat Andy like his friend.
James and Matt? Yes, they were definitely friends. But not Andy with Matt. There was something else, deeper and weirder, between the two that I couldn’t put my finger on.
I watched Andy as his hands paused on one of the shirts. There was a long silence, as though he were struggling with the answer himself.
I felt uncomfortable. I loved Andy, but his relationships with other people were his business, not mine. I felt like I’d just overstepped my boundary and worked to rectify myself.
“I’m sorry, Andy. You don’t need to answer that question.”
“No,” he said quietly. “That’s not it.” Another pause and then, “I don’t know. I don’t know what our relationship is.”
He sighed deeply and unhooked that particular shirt. It was a light-blue-and-dark-gray-checked shirt. He handed it to me and then proceeded to find me a pair of jeans.
“Andy, no need for the jeans. Just the shirt will do.”
He glanced at me and shook his head. “With that short dress, you’re way too tempting for those lousy men on the streets, Mia. You don’t understand men. You’re too innocent, living in such a small town where no one knows you exist. I was innocent too. Until I came here.”
He grabbed a pair of jeans from a slot in the corner and handed them over to me. “Here, change.”
I took the offered pants and nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Andy.”
He chuckled. “No problem.”
I began to undo the button as he turned. He was about to head out the door when he stopped in his tracks and just stared at me. He looked sick.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Andy?”
He didn’t say a word, just grabbed my wrist and peeled the material of my shirt over my chest.
“What the hell?” he swore, his eyes dark.
MiaI was confused and looked down at myself. There was a dark bruise on my chest and lower, too, still covered by the shirt. Shit! I thought in dread. I knew this would happen. I knew Andy would react when he saw the bruises.Oh, when we had been living under Uncle Herbert’s reign, he’d seen enough bruises on me to last both our lives. That was why he’d vowed to protect me, whatever may come, even putting himself in the firing line. That was why he never wanted to see another bruise on me ever again.Andy undid the rest of the buttons and took the shirt off me. With only my bra on, he twisted me around to examine me closely. I was more than a little shocked by his aggressive treatment.“Andy! What the hell are you doing?”He growled. “How the hell did you get all these bruises?” he asked through gritted teeth.Well, what could I tell him? That I’d gotten those bite marks and bruises from James during our lovemaking sessions? No way!“Mia? Tell me who the fuck hurt you!” he demanded.
James“You know how hard it is to keep those bastards under control,” Matt said, rolling his eyes heavenward. “Fuck! The police are useless. Drugs and prostitution are booming in Las Vegas.”“All you need to do is keep our turf save,” James said. “Make them understand we’re not to be fucked with.”Matt laughed. “No need to worry.” He crossed one leg over the other. “It’s taken care of.”“How’s Andy going with the infiltration?” James asked, his eyes dark.“Good, I guess,” Matt said, shrugging. “Can’t we put him in another job? That boy’s too fucking tempting for most men.”James laughed. “Come on, Matt, you know how it works. We need someone like Andy. Someone with the good looks and the brain, who still looks innocent and gullible enough to be lured and fall into a trap. He’s smart enough to look after himself.”“James, I get it,” Matt muttered. “You don’t need to lecture me. He just worries me sometimes.”James wasn’t surprised by that. Matt was falling in love with Andy, and he did
James“Please, Mr. Maxwell. Sign a contract with me.”James raised a brow mockingly. “I did, remember? And look where that got us.”Andy’s face flamed red, but he wouldn’t give in. “Please, let my sister go. She’s been through enough.”James sighed in agitation. “Look, Andy, I understand you want to help your sister. But it’s too late. It was her decision.”Andy shook his head. “No, you don’t understand, Mr. Maxwell. You just don’t. Mia doesn’t deserve this. She—” He stopped short, frustrated.Matt watched with interest while James frowned in suspicion.“What?” James finally asked. “She doesn’t deserve this? Are you claiming I’m mistreating your sister?”Andy snapped, “Yes. That’s exactly what you’re doing, aren’t you? I saw the bruises.”James raised a brow. “It’s just sex play. You of all people should know that.”Andy looked sick. “I know it’s sex play,” he said quietly. “I’ve experienced it enough to know. But Mia… She can’t handle it. She’s been through enough. I can’t stand seei
MiaThere was definitely something wrong about James. I could feel it in my gut. Though his face was as stern and expressionless as ever, I could still sense something was amiss.Once again, I took a peek at him, and instantly my heart skipped a beat. Gazing at that handsome man and standing so close to him in the small space of the elevator did nothing to ease my fascination and craving for him. My foolishness of molesting him in his sleep last night did nothing to soothe the sudden urge of wanting him the moment I’d seen him at the door just moments ago. Even though I did vow to myself last night would be the very first and last time I’d do such an embarrassing and naughty thing.But it was quite nice to be naughty sometimes. The feelings of just letting go and doing whatever you desired most were wonderful. Apparently, making love to James while he was still deep in slumber was one of those things for me.Even right now, all I wanted to do was to kiss him and throw myself into his
MiaThe moment I heard that voice, my stomach fluttered with delight and my heart did a somersault. Clutching the dress even tighter against my chest, partly to hide my nakedness against the arrogant man who appeared without invitation and mostly because I was nervous around him, I turned to look at him. I tried my best to look pissed, but I didn’t know if I could manage that. I really just wanted to throw myself into his arms, naked and all.“What are you doing?” I asked, my throat dryer than it should be.“Checking on you,” he said, leaning against the doorframe and folding his arms across his chest as if he had all the time in the world.I frowned. “I’m half naked here,” I said. “It’s the female changing room. I suggest you leave before Rose calls security.”He smiled, his eyes twinkling. “She won’t.”He sounded confident in his statement, which irritated me. I bit my lip and said, “You’ll be sorry when you get an ear blasting from one of those guys.”He laughed and came into the s
MiaI stared, wide-eyed, at the ten or so boutique shopping bags sitting prettily on the sofa and felt more than a little awed. Those were all for me. I couldn’t believe it. James had bought all those for me, those clothes I’d tried on three or so hours ago back at Fleur.After that unexpected, intense lovemaking session in the changing room, after I’d finished organizing myself into some sort of a decent girl who hadn’t gotten ravished by a billionaire in public, he’d purchased every single item given to me to try on, including, of course, some undergarments.And now…now he expected me to get ready for dinner? With him and Tory and his other friends? I suspected William was one of those friends mentioned.I made a sour face and thought it would have been nice if he’d told me earlier instead of just a few minutes ago before he left to attend to his business once again.I sighed and grabbed a bag. I peeked inside, and instantly my eyes brightened with delight. It was the pink dress I l
MiaWe were definitely late for dinner as we stepped into one of the fanciest Japanese restaurants in Vegas called Nihon Restaurant and Bar. Of course, after our quick sex session, James had himself ready in fifteen minutes, while I had to redo my hair and makeup and rearrange my dress completely.As we came through the door, a waiter greeted us. “Irasshaimase.”James nodded and simply said, “Tory.”The Japanese waiter understood immediately and politely ushered us up a grand staircase to the next level. It was very quiet here, with only the soothing, light music of Japanese instruments. The decor and lighting here were also designed in a very traditional Japanese style. The atmosphere was beautiful and relaxing.The waiter slid open a door and bowed as we walked in.“James,” I heard a man said. “Finally made it, eh?”“Mm-hmm,” James replied.As I stepped to the side, I finally realized who spoke. Darkly handsome, Tory came and gave James a manly hug and handshake. Then he turned his
MiaThe moment James shut the door to our hotel room, he said, “Take the dress off before I ruin it.”I glanced at him over my shoulder, a perplexed look on my face. “Excuse me?”He chuckled. “You like that dress, don’t you?” At my nod, he continued. “Or would you rather I tear it off you?”I understood the meaning behind his words immediately and blushed profusely. “How rude. You’re not allowed to destroy any more of my new clothes,” I said clearly.He raised a brow at me in challenge. “I paid for them.”I folded my arms across my chest. Heck, I knew I looked insignificant and small compared to him, but I wasn’t about to let him annihilate my beloved new garments, even though he did pay for them.He came to stand right in front of me and said, “Go on. Take that dress off.” He was lightly caressing my collarbone as he stared down at my cleavage. His fingers trailed down toward that area of interest as he said, “I can’t trust myself not to damage your new dress.”I swallowed. I was bec