22. Corbin
CORBIN
L ance and I ended up at one of my favorite bars. It looked too run-down to attract many tourists, even though it was right in the heart of the Quarter. They made the best Sazerac in town, and the inside was always dark and cool.
Archie, the owner, was working the bar as usual. In my mind, he didn’t really sleep. I would think he was a vampire, except he didn’t fit the image, being somewhere in his midseventies, round, and balding.
Lance waved at him and kept walking.
“You little shit. You know you can’t have that monkey in here,” Archie called. This was a debate they had again and again. Since he’d acquired the little monkey, Lance didn’t go anywhere without Tony.
“You know you love Tony,” Lance hollered back. Archie flipped him off. “If anybody questions it, I got your back. You know that.”
It was against city ordinance to have a monkey or any other animal that wasn’t certified as a necessary assistant to their human in a bar, but this was a city where no one even tried to hide the fact that all you needed to get around an ordinance was the appropriate bribe.
Archie knew he had nothing to worry about.
The Theriots would take care of any problems he had.
His business license was secure, even if Lance brought in a whole troop of monkeys.
We managed to find a booth toward the back of the bar where it was quiet enough for us to talk, not that I was looking forward to Lance grilling me more.
Before he had a chance to start in on me, Archie showed up with a Sazerac for me, a beer for Lance, and a bowl of cherries and orange pieces for Tony.
Lance fake punched Archie’s arm. “See? You love the little guy. I knew it.”
Archie rolled his eyes and headed back to the bar. Lance and I didn’t talk much as we finished our first drinks. A waitress brought over another round before we even had to ask.
I thought about Beau saying I was used to everything being done for me, that I never had to put out effort, never had to work.
He was right, but I wanted to take part in the family business.
I was willing to risk everything because I liked the lifestyle we had, though I had to admit I didn’t hate working at Beau’s shop as much as I’d expected to.
Yes, I had to get over being sweaty and dirty, and after two days, I was still sore as hell, but I liked the buzz of work in the shop.
I liked being around so much activity and listening to the banter between the people who worked there.
I wanted to be part of something, not just a doll that sat on the shelf while everyone else took care of things.
I realized Lance was staring at me. “Something’s going on with you. What is it?”
I pressed my lips together in an attempt to keep from speaking. I’d downed my drinks way too fast, the one I’d had at the house and the two there. If I started talking, I was going to say more than I meant to. I should never have accepted Lance’s offer.
“Corbin, I’m going to find out one way or another. You might as well just tell me.”
Now that Lance had the idea something was up with me, he wouldn’t rest until he figured it out, and it wouldn’t take him long. “Fine, but you can’t tell Remy.”
“I’ll only tell him if I have to.”
“You don’t have to. This is nothing… It doesn’t involve him.”
Lance narrowed his eyes, making it clear he didn’t buy my dismissive attitude. “Seems like maybe it does if his car’s involved.”
“His car is already fixed, okay? I parked it in the casino lot, and some asshole scratched it. The scratches are gone now, and Remy will never know they were there.”
“If it’s really that cut and dried, you wouldn’t be all agitated about it. Spill the rest.”
“Beau’s the one fixing it.”
Lance shrugged. “He’s the best and the only one Remy trusts.”
I looked up at Lance and held his gaze. His lips curled into a smirk. “Beau hates you, and he’s been giving you shit?”
I sighed. “It’s worse than that.”
“Did he hurt you?” Lance was suddenly all anger and aggression. I was afraid he was going to jump up from the table and go track Beau down.
“No, that’s part of why I didn’t want to tell you. Stop treating me like a kid. I don’t need to be protected all the time. When Remy brought Henri home, you didn’t go all protective on him.”
Lance laughed. “Actually, I did it, but there’s also the fact that Henri barely weighs more than Tony. He’s not as much of a threat as Beau.”
“Anyone with a gun is a threat. I hate how people assume just because a person is smaller they can’t be deadly.”
Lance nodded. “Point taken. I know you’re well trained, but you’re inexperienced and also my little brother. It’s my job to worry about you.”
I knew I was lucky to have a family that cared. Not everyone had that. In fact, it seemed like a rarity these days. “I told Beau he couldn’t say anything to Remy, and he didn’t take that well.”
“He’s not a man who likes to be told what to do.”
I snorted. “That’s for damn sure. He would only agree to keep quiet if I worked for him at the shop.”
Lance choked on his drink, and it took him several moments to compose himself. “You’ve been working at the body shop? Like getting dirty and shit?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know anything about working on cars.”
If my drink hadn’t been empty, I might have thrown it in his face. “I’m learning.”
“Whoa. You’re letting someone teach you something? And actually listening?”
I signaled our server and ordered a frozen daiquiri this time. I needed a serious punch if Lance was going to keep being such an ass.
As if he knew how frustrated I was, Tony hopped up on my shoulder and started grooming me. “You’re a good monkey, aren’t you? You’re not mean like Lance. Maybe you should come live with me.”
Lance scowled. “Tony is mine. I’ll dismember anyone who tries to take him.”
“Even the little brother you’ve sworn to protect.”
Lance flipped me off, and I petted the little creature. Tony hopped down and scurried over to Lance when my drink arrived. I took several long sips from the straw and gave myself a brain freeze. Lance laughed as I clutched my head.
“The fucking drink is too cold.”
“You ordered it frozen. What the fuck did you expect?”
“I expected to hate Beau even more after working there for a day.”
Lance studied me, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. “This is getting interesting. Keep going.”
“Do not tell Remy.”
“I already promised.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
He sniffed in mock offense. “I always tell the truth.”
“That’s such bullshit. You’re lying right now.”
“Corbin, what’s going on with you and Beau?”
“A lot.”
“What does that mean? Oh my God. You’ve gone from hating him to fucking him?”
It was more than just fucking, but I managed to keep those words inside. “This isn’t… I’m not sure what it is. I wish there could be something, but…”
“This is… Wow. I never expected this. What do you mean you wish it could be something?”
“If it weren’t for Remy.”
“What’s Remy got to do with it?”
Did he really not get it? “Beau thinks Remy will kill him if he finds out we’re together.”
Lance shook his head. “Remy respects Beau.”
“Yeah, but does he want us together?”
“Whoa, do you mean you’re…”
“No, I just meant that if we… I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
This time it was Lance who asked for another round.
“So which is it?” he asked. “Do you hate Beau, or do you like him?”
“I shouldn’t be saying any of this.” If I’d thought I could walk out without making a drunken fool of myself, I would have.
“It’s me,” Lance insisted. “You can tell me anything.”
“You can’t just charm information out of me. I’m not a target or an enemy or…”
“You’re my brother. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“When you’re not mocking me or excluding me or?—”
He reached across the table and took my hand. “Corbin, I know we’re hard on you, but you do know we care about you, don’t you? We’d do anything for you.”
“Then treat me like an equal.”
“Are you ready to act like one?”
I took a shaky breath. “Yes, I think I am.”
“Remington’s going to have to see that.”
So many thoughts and emotions swirled in my mind, and I was too drunk to sort through them all. “I want him.”
Lance looked confused for a moment.
“Beau. I don’t know if I like him, but I want him.”
“Why didn’t you take the car somewhere else if you hated Beau?”
“Because I didn’t know if anybody else would fix it right.”
I did not like the knowing look Lance was giving me. Tony paused in the middle of eating a cherry and chattered at me. I swear, sometimes I was sure the little monkey could follow our conversations. “He’s hot, okay?”
“He sure as hell is, but you sure complained about him a lot.”
“I complained because he… because he…”
“Because he doesn’t let you get away with shit.”
Damn, Lance really was calling me out tonight. “Yeah. That.”
“Maybe that’s exactly what you need.”
“There’s no reason for me to look for that when I’ve got you and Remy busting my ass all the time.”
Lance shook his head. “You need somebody outside the family to challenge you because, as you know, we’re ultimately going to spoil you.”
“That’s not true. Remy refuses to give me anything I want.”
Lance raised his brows and stared.
I muttered obscenities at him, then polished off the last of my drink. “Fine. Remy indulges me often enough, but not on the things that count.”
“Like driving his Ferrari and staying at his house while he’s gone?”
“I’m house-sitting.”
Lance shook his head. “We have security to do that.”
“See? That right there. You’re making it clear I’m not needed.” Oh God, why had I said that?
Lance grabbed my hand. “We do need you, Corbin.”
“No, you don’t, and neither does Beau. No way in hell is he going to want me for long. I’m too fucking annoying.” I pressed my fists to my eyes as tears threatened to fall. What was wrong with me? I was about to start crying in Archie’s bar.
I slid from the booth and stood. “I need to go home.”
“Home home or to Remy’s?”
I realized that when I said that I’d been picturing Beau’s shop.
I knew he lived above it, but I had no idea what his apartment was like.
Suddenly, I wanted to know that very much.
Right then, I decided I was going to do what Beau asked.
No matter how much I wanted—needed—to touch myself and imagine all the things he could do to me, I wasn’t going to. I was going to be good for him.
I took a step, swayed, and had to reach for the edge of the table to keep from falling.
“Sit down, Corbin.”
I shook my head, making the room spin faster. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You can barely stand up. Let’s settle up, and I’ll take you to my condo where I can keep an eye on you.”
Archie came over to our table. “You taking that one home?” He pointed at me.
“I sure am.”
“I’ll put the charges on your account. Take care of him, all right?”
“Why is everyone obsessed with taking care of me? You, my brothers, Beau.” It was different with Beau. He wanted to protect me, but he didn’t act like I couldn’t do anything, like I didn’t have opinions.
“Come on, Corbin.” Lance took my arm and pulled me toward the door. I nearly fell on my face, but he caught me.
When we stepped outside, I recognized one of our guards in the driver’s seat of a black SUV that was double-parked, forcing traffic to move around it. “You called for a ride?”
“Hell yes. You might not be that heavy, but I didn’t want to carry you home.”
“I can walk.” Just as I said it, I tripped again and nearly face-planted on the sidewalk. The only thing I remembered after that was Lance half carrying me into his condo and putting me to bed.
The next thing I knew, I was waking to an incredibly loud pounding sound.