Negotiating Tactics

Seven

Noah

“Can you keep up old man?”Beau called, his grin as taunting as his words.

I had been hunched over, taking a series of deep breaths to slow my heart, but at my youngest brother’s words, I stood up and started dribbling the ball.

“Don’t get cocky, kid. Besides, I might let you win so lunch will be on you,” I said, switching hands before I threw the ball at Beau.

He scoffed as he snagged the ball and then threw it back. “Let me win.”

I dribbled and then blew past him, shot, and watched with pride as the ball swished through the hoop.

“Did you play in high school or something?” Beau asked as he dribbled the ball and walked toward me, his easy demeanor not fooling me one bit.

“No,” I said through clenched teeth.

Beau didn’t push, and I made no effort to offer any additional information.

He wouldn’t get it anyway.

Because what was there to say?

Who could think about extras like basketball when Mom and Nonna were barely keeping a roof over our heads?

And when would I have had the time for those luxuries around the odd jobs I did to help out as much as I could?

Beau wouldn’t get that, and I was in no mood to explain.

I swallowed the bile that burned in my throat and reminded myself that it wasn’t Beau’s fault.

No, that blame lay directly on Prescott Wilder’s feet.

And I was determined not to take Prescott’s failures out on Beau or the others.

Beau dribbled a couple of times more and then started to smile. “Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Dominic Wilder out of the office in the afternoon?”

I looked over my shoulder and watched as Dominic approached.

He wasn’t smiling, but he was dressed casually, and even more, seemed relaxed.

Or as relaxed as Dominic got.

He stopped in front of us and then gestured for the ball, which Beau launched at him.

“Are you ready to get your asses kicked?” he asked before he slammed the ball back at Beau’s chest.

The game was officially on.

“Two out of three. Not so bad,” Beau a long time later, huffing.

“Yes, Beau, losing two out of the three games instead of all three is quite an accomplishment,” Dominic said.

Beau shoved Dominic with his shoulder then looked at me.

“Yeah, not so bad for you either,” Beau said.

“It looks like being married is agreeing with you,” I said to Dominic.

“Being married to Birdie agrees with me,” he said.

“It does. I can’t think of the last time you did something like this,” Beau said.

“Well, she insisted on quitting, so I don’t get to see her at the office. Meaning I don’t feel inclined to be there as much,” Dominic said.

We walked through the basketball courts of the exclusive gym that I suspected was Wilder family owned and went to the juice bar.

I couldn’t help but shake my head at that.

Juice bar?

Mein a fucking juice bar.

I’d made a name—and a fortune—for myself, but this kind of shit still threw me off sometimes.

But Dominic and Beau seemed relaxed, and I tried to mimic them, though I knew I would never fit in a place like this.

Not really.

“Thanks for letting me crash,” I said to Dominic after we got our green smoothies—another twilight zone moment for me.

“I told you, anytime. And I take it you and Alex were able to get along? I didn’t realize she would be there,” Dominic said.

I decided not to share just how well Alex and I had gotten along, mostly because I wasn’t sure that we had.

I’d been disappointed but not worried when she’d been gone. It had taken me hours to realize she wasn’t coming back.

And hours more to accept it.

“She was fine,” I finally said. “Did they fix her apartment?”

I took a sip of the smoothie, trying to hide my satisfaction at this unexpected opportunity to go fishing. I’d been desperate for more information about Alex, and the ferocity with which I wanted her was the only thing that had kept me from marching directly to her apartment and finishing what, to my mind, had only gotten started.

“Yeah. Birdie said she lit into their asses and got them to make the place at least habitable,” Dominic said.

“Why are you so interested in Alex?” Beau asked.

“I can’t ask a question?” I responded, though it wasn’t lost on me that both men realized that hadn’t been an answer.

Beau’s eyes were sharp, probing, even though he wore his usual relaxed, jovial expression. “I guess that’s better than the silent treatment or you glaring at everyone.”

I huffed. “Don’t be so fucking sensitive.”

“Yeah, Beau, don’t be so sensitive. I’m the one whose wedding he ditched,” Dominic said.

“Same goes for you, Dominic,” I said.

He laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to apologize for only halfway attending my wedding?”

“Nope,” I said, and we all laughed.

I appreciated it. I should have stuck around, but the wedding had been intense and more emotional than I’d expected, so I’d cut bait.

I was glad Dominic didn’t seem to be holding it against me.

We sat in silence for a few moments as I debated whether or not to ask the question that was at the top of my mind.

I finally decided to go for it.

“Did the old man write you letters?” I asked.

I still found it difficult to say his name, but the others knew who I was talking about.

“He did, though I didn’t find it right away,” Dominic said.

Instead of answering the question himself, Beau said, “What’s the story?”

“You know I told you about that stipulation in his will?” Dominic said.

“Yeah,” I grumbled, thinking about how arrogant and invasive that stunt was.

And, as embarrassing as it was, it also served as another reminder of how little I meant to him.

He’d gone so far as to meddle in Dominic’s life after his death.

Had cared so little about me that he’d missed mine.

I shook off the grim thought and refocused on Dominic. “Yeah, not his finest moment, but he explained himself in his letter.”

“Prescott explained himself?” Beau said, looking shocked.

Dominic nodded. “I know. Not what I was expecting either.”

“Tell us,” I said.

Dominic looked surprised. Both he and Beau knew how touchy the subject was, and all of my brothers made an effort not to mention Prescott in my presence. I knew what I was asking now was out of character, but Dominic responded.

“Turns out, he knew that Birdie was perfect for me. He also apparently knew that I would never have acknowledged that without a little nudge. He provided one.”

“You sound almost grateful,” I said, my face twisted with disgust.

“I wasn’t, not for very long time, but whatever bumps in the road, he did lead me to Birdie. And I’ll never regret that,” Dominic said.

“What about you?” Beau asked, looking at me.

“I got mine. I burned the fucking thing,” I muttered.

I wasn’t sure why I was lying to them, wasn’t sure why I hadn’t in fact burned the fucking thing, and then regretted even bringing this up.

Neither brother said anything, which I respected.

Beau finally broke the silence. “I’ll open mine eventually.”

But even as he spoke the words, there was a tension in his voice, something that I wouldn’t ordinarily associate with him.

“Are you going to be sticking around for a while?” Beau asked.

He was changing the subject, but I wasn’t sure if it was for my benefit or his.

Either way, I decided we should both take the out.

Plus, I’d been waiting on that question and smiled when he finally asked it.

“Maybe,” I said.

“Wow, so decisive,” he huffed.

I shrugged. “Living on the road is getting old. But it’s also familiar. I may take a break and hang around here for a while and see what’s going on.”

It wasn’t lost on me that Alex was at the forefront of my thoughts, but not the only one.

That restlessness was real, and though I didn’t want to acknowledge it, the thought of spending more time with my brothers was more appealing than I’d ever imagined it would be.

But when I added Alex into the mix…

As far as I was concerned, we had unfinished business.

At the very least, I wouldn’t be going anywhere until that was settled.

What came after that…who knew?

“I haven’t decided, but I think I’ll stay at the townhouse longer if that’s okay with you,” I said, looking at Dominic.

“The place is yours as long as you want it,” he said with a decisive nod.

We went quiet, but some of the ease of before was gone.

My issues were with Prescott, but there was still uneasiness, if not outright tension, with my brothers.

I hated to acknowledge it, even to myself, but it was there.

Secretly, I worried that the minute I let myself get too close, they’d decide Prescott’s bastard was beneath them.

Then, they’d cut me out and pretend that I didn’t exist.

Just like our father had.

Dominic stood. “Why am I sitting here with you assholes when my woman is at home waiting for me?”

Beau looked at his watch. “And I have to get back to the office or Dana is going to make me take PTO,” he said.

I laughed. “Isn’t it your company?” I asked.

Beau stood and smiled. “We’re equal partners, but I know who’s in charge.” Then he turned serious. “We’ll see you around, right Noah?”

It was a loaded question, and I didn’t miss the depth of it, or the implications.

“I think you will,” I finally said.

Tried to pretend I wasn’t happy when both of my bothers smiled.