15. Lex
LEX
Damn, he’s not coming.
He’s a stubborn little thing, but he can’t fool me. He misses me and he wants me. I’ve seen how happy he is when he gets my presents, and he listens to my voice message multiple times.
What can I do to get through to him?
“Evening, boss.” Doc walks up, and he looks nice in his suit. He’s obviously a handsome man, but I’m not interest in him like I am his brother. Why am I so interested in his brother?
“Because he’s broken.” Mal’s words echo in my head.
“Brendan.” I nod to the chair across from me, and he takes a seat.
“Thanks for inviting me to dinner.”
I nod, and Brendan and picks up his menu. I watch him until the server comes back to take our orders. Then he looks around the room.
“Is this one of your restaurants?”
“It is.” Maybe I should give him more. I want him to like me, for his brother’s sake. “It was my first restaurant.”
“That’s cool. Did you cook?”
“No, by that time I was rich enough to hire the best chefs.”
“Must be nice,” he teases.
“It is.”
“Do you have bodyguards here?” He looks around the place.
“No.” I never show my hand. But I have three men with me right now. Just in case Rory decided to come, even though Tag is with him.
“What other businesses do you own?”
“Most of the hotels in this city.” A few that are covers for my sex dens and casinos. “I have a distillery.” With an illegal fighting ring in the basement. “A few ateliers.” Which are all legit.
“You like fashion?” I look down at my impeccably tailored bespoke suit and raise an eyebrow. “I’m just surprised by that for some reason.”
“Clothes make the man.” Be the best dressed in a room and people will fall all over themselves to get to you.
“It’s true. I could probably use some work. It just hasn’t seemed as important recently.” He gets a far-off look, probably thinking about Rory’s attack.
“I’ll get you the number of my tailor,” I offer, and he laughs.
“I’d never be able to afford your tailor.”
He’s not wrong.
“My treat.” I can’t have my doc looking like a slob.
“No, I couldn’t accept—” He rolls his eyes when I glare at him. “Thank you, boss,” he deadpans, and I smirk.
Just then our meals arrive, and we eat mostly in silence.
“I’d like you to work for me full-time.”
“Full-time? Don’t you have health care for your employees?” I think he’s teasing.
“I do, but not for knife wounds.”
“Or bullet holes.” I shrug cause he’s right. “But isn’t this working? Why do you need me full-time?”
“The men don’t only get hurt at night.”
“I suppose not.” He eyes me seriously.
“This is your choice. I’ll pay you whatever you want, and you can come live on my estate. That way you won’t be running out here in the middle of the night.”
“What about my brother?”
“He’d be welcome as well.” And he’ll be sleeping in my bed.
“Let me think about it.”
I nod and take a drink. “Where is Rory tonight?” I ask. As if I don’t already know.
“He didn’t want to come out.” Brendan takes a drink of his water. “In fact, he told me to tell you to fuck off too.” I huff a small laugh. Feisty boy. “Why did he tell you to fuck off?”
“Because he found out who I am.”
“Why did that upset him?”
“Because I wasn’t who he thought I was.” I can see why he’s upset. I never lied to Rory, but I kept something important from him and made him feel like his opinions don’t matter.
“Listen.” Brendan sighs. “Rory is a sweet boy, but, and please don’t kill him or me if you’re not okay with what I’m about to say, but I think he might have a crush on you,” he rushes out.
Thank god I’ve had years of showing no emotion or my smile would have given away how much I like hearing that.
“Why would I kill you?” Does Brendan think I’m a homophobe?
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Then why tell me at all?”
“Because I don’t want you to hurt his feelings.”
I would never.
“Why would I?”
“Not intentionally, but your…” He searches for a way to say asshole that won’t get him killed. “Aloof demeanor might make him upset.”
“I’ll be nice.” He tilts his head like he doesn’t believe me. “What? I can be nice.”
“Sure.” He chuckles.
“You said Rory told me to fuck off too. Why?”
Brendan sighs and leans back in his chair. “Because he found out that I hired a mob boss to avenge his attack, and he thinks I think he’s stupid and wouldn’t figure it out.”
“Rory’s not stupid,” I growl.
“That’s what I said, and he’s too sweet to want revenge.”
“Did he call the attacks off?” I’ll just ruin Chad’s life and say it was suicide.
“Nope.” Brendan smiles.
“Good.”