Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
I try calling my brother multiple times in the taxi before giving up and sending him a text message apologizing for what Xavier’s said.
He doesn’t reply, but I see my car down the street when the cab pulls up.
I pay the driver before climbing out, and my brother is leaning on the mailboxes just off the property grounds.
I instantly know why when I see Jack leaning against the office wall outside, watching him.
Brian isn’t stupid enough to step over while Jack is watching. He knows Jack will call the cops. Brian whistles and waves me over. I see Jack push off the wall before walking over in our direction.
“Can’t do anything, Jack. I am not on your property. I am just here to see my sister.”
“You are still loitering, Brian,” Jack snaps at him behind me.
“I tried ringing you,” I tell Brian as I stop in front of him.
“Left my phone at a friend's house,” he says with a shrug.
He actually seems calm today, and it unnerves me.
He knew I was at work. Was he planning on waiting all day for me, or was he hoping that Jack wouldn’t be around so he could break into my apartment again?
“Have you got fifty bucks?” he says, and I roll my eyes, digging out my purse from my handbag.
I can feel Jack watching in case anything happens; it worries me knowing how willing Jack is to step in because I know Brian would hurt him if Jack gets close enough.
“Where are you staying?” I ask him.
“I am helping a friend, so staying with him. I owe him some money, but I have come to a new arrangement with him.”
“What sort of arrangement?” I ask him, but he shakes his head.
“Here are your car keys. I would have parked it in the parking lot, but your guard dog over there would have called the cops,” he says before waving at Jack.
I take my keys from him, looking at them.
“How are you getting back?” I ask, not wanting to offer him a lift. I can tell he is on something by his dilated eyes and the way he speaks, barely opening his mouth properly.
“Friend is picking me up in ten minutes. I sent him a text when you pulled up.”
I nod. “I will just move my car into the parking lot. I will be back in a second,” I tell him.
Walking over to my car, I notice he’s washed and cleaned inside it. I shake my head because it is so unlike Brian, making me wonder what he is up to. Getting in, I start it and turn into the lot and park my car next to the stairs. Hopping out, I lock it up and walk back over to Brian.
“So, those men you were with the other day. What’s their deal?” he asks casually.
“They work in my office,” I tell him, leaning on the brick wall holding mailboxes.
“Are you fucking them?” he asks, and I turn to look at him.
“No, of course not.”
He smirks. “Fuck you’re a terrible liar. I knew you were a slut. Didn’t think you would fuck three men, though. If you aren’t fucking them, why was one in your bed?” he says, shaking his head with a laugh.
I don’t even bother correcting him; there is no point as he won’t believe me, anyway.
“So, which one of them is your boyfriend, or are you seriously with all of them?”
“None of them, Brian,” I tell him.
“Tell them to mind their own business. Would hate for anything to happen to one of them.”
“That’s not even funny. Don’t say shit like that,” I warn him.
He pushes off the wall before moving in front of me and leaning forward. I cringe away from him, pressing closer to the wall.
“And what are you going to do, Bella? Call the cops? Should I tell them what you did? Don’t try and tell me what I can and can’t do. You fucking owe me. Five years I lost, five fucking years. I tell you to ditch them, you ditch them. Got it?”
I nod.
He leans closer and presses his lips to my forehead. “You know I am only looking out for you, Bella. Can’t have my baby sister led astray,” he says, dropping his arm across my shoulders and tugging me to him.
I try to push off his chest when a car suddenly pulls up out the front.
“My ride's here. Come meet my friend,” he says, dragging me over to the black Audi.
It is an older model, but the man driving it is covered from head to toe in tattoos; I can’t see a single piece of skin on his shaved head. His arms and chest are covered, as well as his neck.
“This the baby sister?” the man says, as Brian tugs me over to the car.
“Yep, this is Bella. Bella, this is Tank,” he says, patting my shoulder.
It is obviously a nickname, but it sounds suiting, considering he is huge.
I wave awkwardly. “Hi,” I say softly before trying to pull away from my brother, not liking how the man is staring at me.
“She is a pretty little thing. The boys will like a turn of her,” he says, and I step back, jerking out of my brother's grip at his words.
“What? He was playing around. You take shit too seriously, Bell. I will see you later,” he says, kissing my cheek before climbing in the car.
“Are you alright, Bella?” Jack says.
I look over my shoulder to see him next to the mailboxes. I nod, walking over to him.
Tank honks the horn before driving off down the road with my brother.
“I rang Latham and let him know he was here.”
“Why would you ring Latham?” I ask Jack.
“Because aren’t you two together?”
“What? No! I work with him. That’s it.”
Geez, what the hell is going on with everyone assuming I am dating?
“Ah, never mind. But he was concerned and asked me to call if I saw Brian around here,” Jack tells me, and I sigh before walking back to the staircase leading up to my apartment.
“Just call if you need me, Bella. You know where I am,” Jack tells me.
“Yeah. Thanks, Jack,” I tell him as I walk up the steps to my apartment.
On the plus side, I have my car back, but something is definitely off with my brother.
But the first thing I am doing when I get inside is looking for another apartment.
I can't stay here. They are causing me more trouble living next door, and if they keep interfering, someone is going to get hurt.
Getting inside, I toss everything on the counter before hunting for my laptop.
Setting up, I go to make a coffee when I hear a knock on my door.
“Bella, open the door,” Latham says.
“Fuck sake,” I whisper to myself before throwing the door open. I groan when I see all three of them standing there.
“If you are here, who is manning the office?”
“Had calls diverted,” Latham says, holding up his phone.
I roll my eyes, and Latham pushes past me and walks inside.
“By all means, come on in,” I fume.
Blaine pecks my cheek on his way in while Xavier pecks my lips, and I swat at his arm, making him chuckle. I shake my head, going to make coffee while they walk off to the living room.
“Black, please,” Latham calls, and I flip him the bird behind his back.
“With less attitude, Bella. Oh, and hold the spit,” Latham says, and I roll my eyes.
I should spit in his coffee, but he would probably still like it.