23. Parker
PARKER
I smiled as I spread them out over the spare bedroom. The Olsen twins had a similar thought with their fashion. Only someone who knew what to look for would recognize these paintings for the masterpieces they were.
It was a way for the disgustingly rich to tell each other apart from the less wealthy masses without flaunting their wealth in the face of society.
Would Little Love recognize these? I bet her sister would.
Wouldn’t that be fun to deck out our feisty little captive with the best art, the finest jewelry, and the most unassuming but high fashion?
When we were in a place where they could have a happy family reunion, Grace would be so envious of her sister, who wouldn’t even understand the worth surrounding her.
I loved that. Little Love found importance in other things. But I secretly found a thrill in setting up such a scenario.
Setting aside two of my favorite paintings, I’d slip them on her walls later when we decided where she was going to settle. Grey’s place wouldn’t work out long-term. Not with Lafe trailing after her like a lost puppy. Andre was beginning to change his tune as well.
A ferocious pounding attacked my front door.
“My, my. Who could that be?” It could be one of two brothers. Andre or Grey. I couldn’t wait.
Closing and locking my guest room, I damn near skipped to the front door. Something had happened yesterday between Amorette, Grey, and Andre, and I was dying to know what it was. Those fuckers hadn’t been in a place where I could have needled the truth out of them last night.
I wouldn’t while Lafe was there. I wanted the truth. The whole truth, and Lafe was too emotional to let them finish whatever sordid tale they had.
Andre stood on the other side of the door with a grim expression.
“Why, hello. What brings you to my neck of the woods?” I grinned and stepped back so he could come in. He headed straight for the kitchen while I shut the door and locked us in.
“I put on a front for Matías, but Vicente is planning something. There are too many rumblings in the Institution. My own network in the mansion is practically pissing their pants from the tension in the air.”
“That’s…not unexpected.” I sighed. This was important, to be sure. Nevertheless, I wanted the dirt. Why was Andre suddenly so touchy with our little love, and why did Grey allow it? If I had tried half as much, he would have gutted me. Or at least tried to make me think he would have.
Grey must have thought over my words.
“Stop smirking. Fuck, this isn’t fun and games anymore, Park,” Andre snarled.
“Sorry. Rogue thoughts.” I smothered the smirk and leaned against the island facing him. “Before we talk strategy, and don’t worry, I have ideas—”
“You always have ideas,” Andre deadpanned as he grabbed the counter behind him and leaned his ass against it.
Oh, I saw how it was. No one was allowed to touch your shiny surfaces but you could put your greasy paws all over mine.
I almost snorted. I didn’t give a fuck about smudges. Andre didn’t either if he really dug into it. He was just a control freak.
“Of course I do.” I rolled my eyes. “Shoving it up people's asses—metaphorically—is how I passed through the years without killing myself…or you. Back to what I was saying. We can discuss this to your heart’s content after you answer a few of my questions.”
He raised his brows, giving me a get the fuck on with it look.
My traitorous lips twitched before I could even get the first question out. “What happened with Amorette yesterday?”
He didn’t react at all. The bastard was expecting me to question him about it.
“What makes you think something happened?”
“Oh, come on!” I slapped a hand against the granite counter.
“I was with Grey and Amorette yesterday. They fucked in the gym before they got ready for his fights.” Andre’s eyes widened.
“You didn’t know that, did you? You were in the gym before I was.
” Absolutely no way he would not recognize the good fucking stamped over Amorette if he’d been there.
Although I one hundred percent believe he would have fled as soon as they started.
“So you’re a voyeur now?”
I grinned. “Don’t change the subject. I’ll play ball with this one, in any case. Yes, when it comes to Little Love, I admit, I’m quite the voyeur. The few times I’ve seen her come have only mildly quenched my thirst for her.”
Another shock whipped across his face before he flattened his expression.
“Is that why you’ve only selected women eerily similar to Amorette when we’ve gone out?”
“Fuck off,” I growled. Did they all think they had something to hold over my head because of that absurd piece of information?
I hadn’t even realized I’d been doing it, although looking back, I couldn’t see how I missed it.
I’d never admit it to these bastards, though.
That I was trying to slide into Amorette’s panties was enough of an admission.
“You’re avoiding the question. How about I recount the conversation I had with Grey yesterday? ”
When he seemed like he’d object, I continued. “I’ll even paraphrase it for you. That way you don’t have to worry about it going over your head.”
His eye twitched and his hands clenched on the edge of the counter. Big brother didn’t like that at all. He’d punch me right now if he thought it wouldn’t hurt his chances of talking out his issues with Vicente.
“I’ll take that as your permission to go on.” I paused, then went on when he didn’t object. “Little Love is a curious little thing, don’t you think?”
Andre was undoubtedly starting to lose his patience with my storytelling. Well, too fucking bad.
“Not in the intellectual sense, although she is that too. I mean in the very essence of her presence here. We were all heading in our own directions. We were never close, but before Little Love appeared? We were already miles apart and getting farther and farther every day.”
“You don’t have to remind me of that, asshole.” Andre sneered but hurt flashed in his eyes.
“I’m not trying to piss you off. It’s the truth. Who knows how long we would have stayed together. Or even been alive. How long do you really think you could keep Grey from underneath Vicente’s blade? Or Lafe from overdosing?”
He ground his teeth and looked away. Andre knew everything I was saying with perfect clarity. He just didn’t want to admit it.
“Yes, I wanted to leave,” I said softly.
“Maybe I still might. Although every day that Little Love is here, that future seems more and more distant.” I knocked two knuckles against the counter and shifted my weight to the other leg.
“We’ve talked more lately. We’ve had each other’s backs more presently. Why do you think that is?”
“You act like she’s the answer to all our problems.” He shook his head.
I laughed. “No. She brings more problems than she solves. And big ones. Especially that pesky little moral compass she loves so much.” At that, he smiled a little. “Nonetheless, think about it. We all have different tastes in women, yet we all want her.”
I waited for him to contradict me, but he didn’t. And that was a beautiful thing.
“You have trouble believing I’m in this for the right reasons, or that I’ll stick around.
What better than to have a woman between us who we can all share?
All protect. She’ll tie us together in a way we weren’t before.
Isn’t that what you want, big brother? For us all to be one big happy family,” I said sarcastically.
He huffed a disgruntled laugh. “Like families are forever. Who’s to say she even wants all of us?”
“She does.” I was sure of it.
“Then who’s to say we all want her for more than just a fuck?” Andre really believed that. It was written all over his stony expression.
“We do. Otherwise, we wouldn’t lose our goddamn minds over her on the regular.” I grinned, and he returned it. But his died quickly.
“I still haven’t heard about your conversation with Grey. Even if she wanted us, and even if we wanted her, I’m not sure Grey would actually share.”
“He’ll share.”
“You’re so sure.” He cut his eyes at me in a way that said he suspected there was more to my answer than just speculation. There wasn’t. Not really. I just knew Grey, and body language was a beaming tell.
“Twice, I’ve been in the room while Grey sexed up Amorette.
Twice, he didn’t kill me. I won’t go into the fun details…
unless you’d like to trade stories.” I grinned, but he didn’t bite on that one.
Damn. “But Grey has a fascinating reaction when it’s us over anyone else.
If I were one of the soldiers, he’d have gutted me and continued his thrusting like nothing was wrong.
He might think he wants her to himself, but he’s turned-on by the idea of us sharing her.
I just pointed that out to him. Gave him some… food for thought.”
Andre dropped his gaze to the floor. He was unquestionably remembering what had happened between them. I wanted to know what that was. I was curious, but I also needed validation that I was right.
We entered a stare down. My big brother was working out how much he wanted to share and how much he didn’t.
Just give me a little crumb, Andre.
That was all it would take. I didn’t ask for much. Then I could share with you the plans I had for Vicente. The plans I’d been working on for years. The plans I’d already put in motion.
Mia digging up dirt on Vicente was just the tip of the iceberg.
He rolled his lips and leaned forward—then his phone rang.
Sighing, he pulled it out of his pocket to check it. Our burners weren’t the most sophisticated, but they did everything we needed with the maximum discretion.
His brows pinched, and he shot me an irritated look.
“I don’t know what you think I did, but I’ve been a good boy. I swear it,” I deadpanned.
“Mia’s here.”
The words were like ice water onto my scheming mind. “What do you mean Mia’s here?” The last time we spoke, she was going to her father’s.