23. Parker #2
“How much do you trust Mia?” Andre was deadly serious.
Given the situation with Vicente and that she wasn’t made while on her job for me, I gave it serious consideration. She was my best friend. My oldest friend. But in this life, in the Institution, allegiances changed with the seasons, and friendships were something of a myth.
The life had banded us together because of the cutthroat jungle we were stuck in daily. If I had to wager on it, I’d throw in my most prized possessions or even my fight for freedom before I believed she was out to stab us in the back.
Still, a naive man was often a dead one.
“With my life. Why are you asking?”
“Because she’s come to compound barely more than a few times in the last three years. Why is she suddenly popping up without alerting us? It’s suspicious, and I don’t deal with suspicion well.” His nostrils flared as he typed out a message on his phone before shoving it back in his pocket.
Andre started for the door, and I followed.
“I was never here. Why would she come to the compound once she was done fucking with Grey?” I grunted out.
He returned the disgruntled gesture. I locked the door behind us and we wasted no time toward the commons.
“If I thought there was a modicum of a chance she was against us, I would slit her throat and be done with it.”
The long side-eyed glance he sent me questioned every word that fell from my mouth. “Could you? Would you be able to kill your brothers so easily too?”
Letting out chuffing laughter, I shook my head. “I value the things that are mine. But I also can’t stand betrayal. There’s a line, and Mia knows never to cross it.”
He didn’t believe me but left it alone as we moved through the commons.
“Where is she?” A Hummer was at the curb, but there was no sign of Mia.
“I’m not sure. The guard at the wall just wanted to let me know she was here so I wouldn’t be surprised.”
There weren’t any of our men in the commons either, but there was some small commotion coming from the professional wing. Andre was on the same page because we simultaneously pivoted to that hallway.
Some dishes were banging around, and Mia’s distinct giggle filled the air. It wasn’t her usual laugh. It was the giggle she took on when she was on a job. Pins instantly prickled the nape of my neck as I rounded the corner.
Little Love was washing dishes in the sink, and Mia was sidled right up to her side, tracing a finger down her bare arm. This was not mutual. This wasn’t even playful. Mia was being so aggressive while Little Love’s back was rigid and her head was snapped up straight.
I stalked forward and gripped Mia’s arm. “What are you doing?” My tone was light, but she knew better. We’d had this discussion when she’d stayed with me last time.
She grinned and rolled her eyes while trying to twist her arm out of my grip. “What’s your problem, Parker? I was just trying to get to know Amorette.”
“By making her hate your fucking guts?” I growled.
Mia paused, then glanced at Little Love, taking in the angry set to her mouth and her fiery stare.
Ah, yes. Little Love was a tiny hurricane, and we were in the eye of the storm.
I knew Mia preferred women, and Amorette fit at least one of the types Mia went for.
Although she was an equal opportunity fucker, so it didn’t matter.
What did matter was why I heard that grating fucking laugh she only used on jobs. Either Andre was succeeding in bringing me over to his cautious suspicion, or something was niggling in the back of my head. I just didn’t know what it was that bothered me so much outside the obvious.
My best friend since childhood sighed and deflated. “Look, Amorette. I don’t mean to scare you—”
“You don’t scare me,” Little Love snapped back and I grinned.
I loved her fire, even if it wasn’t hot enough to burn anyone.
Mia pursed her lips, probably fighting a smile too. “Regardless. You’re in the boys' lives for good. I can see that. We should be friends.” She tried to crowd Little Love, but I gave her a harsh shake. “I can be a very good friend to have.”
“That’s enough,” Andre barked, pulling Little Love to his chest. She didn’t go willingly, but she wasn’t fighting it, either. I was riveted by how they bent toward each other so easily. Andre would tell me what happened. Or Grey would.
One way or another, Little Love would be the glue that held us together while Vicente tried to bury us six feet under.
Mia audibly pouted, snapping me out of my trance. “Let’s go.” I pushed her in front of me and kept shoving her all the way down the hallway until we reached my office.
“What the hell was that?” I asked as I shut the door and parked my ass against it.
“What? Like you all aren’t salivating to stick your dick in it.” She laughed and gracefully fell into one of the chairs in front of my desk. My office was less pristine than Andre’s, but I hardly worked here, anyway. I preferred to do my research in my apartment or in a hotel close to the job.
“It doesn’t matter what we want to do. She’s not yours to touch.”
She gave me a bland look. “I’ve been underneath all of your feet since I could walk. I’m practically the only one allowed in your circle of brotherhood. Why is she fair game for the four of you but not for me?”
I ground my teeth and placed one foot on the door. “For starters, she doesn’t like you.”
“She likes me just fine.” She smirked.
“Amorette doesn’t like women. Second, you may be my closest friend, but you don’t get to waltz in and make demands or throw prissy fits.
You’re only allowed here because my brothers and I allow it.
And I have to say, Mia, I’m not thrilled with the way you’ve been popping up.
Not with Vicente trying to close in on us. ”
An unflattering mauve stained her entire face as she shot to her feet. “What are you insinuating? I have never—not ever—been a puppet for anyone. My friendship and loyalty are to you, and your brothers by default. Are you calling me a rat?” She scoffed, the thick, grating sound stuck in her throat.
“No. But I’m inferring that you’re acting out of character. I don’t like it,” I drawled, keeping my cool in the face of her rising anger. She had always been like this as a kid. Mia was calm and level-headed in most cases, but when her fuse lit, it lit quick.
“Fine. If that’s the way our friendship is heading, I’ll see myself out.
” She stormed toward me, stopping when I didn’t move.
“I would never betray you. Any of them. We’ve seen exactly how fucked up life can be and how quickly we can be snuffed out.
If you think for one minute I would throw you all to the wolves to cut every trusted ally away from me…
That doesn’t make sense.” She shook her head and shoved my shoulder.
I stepped to the side and twisted the knob, not quite ready to open it.
“You are my best friend, Mia. I hope that’s always the case, but you can’t deny that your behavior is strange.
More than anyone else, you know how to read a situation.
Don’t betray my trust, and we’ll be fine.
” I opened the door but stuck my leg out to stop her exit.
“And Amorette is off-limits to you. You can be her friend if—and only if—she wants to approach you for friendship. Nothing else. Start with that, and we’ll be good. ”
Pulling back my leg, I nodded toward the door when she didn’t immediately leave. She simply stared me down like she couldn’t believe what I was saying.
“Fuck you,” she muttered.
When I turned toward the door, Andre was there with Grey at his back.
“Lafe is with Amorette. To pick back up the conversation I tried to have earlier, we need to devise a plan on how to deal with Vicente.”
I only let my gaze wander past them briefly before smiling at my dear brother. “I’m glad you’re finally coming to your senses. Let’s chat.”