Chapter 17 #2
I take a long drink, starting to accept that maybe Ever had a point.
Everything Arson claims is lining up with what my parents told me.
“That they were out on a date night at Beelzebar when they overheard my birth parents trying to sell a baby to a guy involved in the skin trade business. Mom used her siren abilities to convince them to sell me to them instead for the couple hundred bucks they had in their wallets and then took off before the spell wore off. Grabbed everything they couldn’t leave behind and were on the road that night, not stopping until we made it halfway across the country.
Pretended mom gave birth at home, so while they aren’t sure how old I was when they found me, we figure I’m about a month older than what it says on my birth certificate.
I’ve always gone by that birthday though, for simplicity’s sake. ”
Ever squeezes my knee in silent support, and Arson’s eyes narrow on the contact, taking a slow drink.
But he doesn’t chop off my hand or throw his glass in my face, so I’m counting it as a win.
After a few minutes of everyone lost in their own heads, Arson sets his drink aside and gets to his feet, running a hand through his dark hair anxiously.
“Were they nice?” Pacing, his agitation ramps up.
“I’m sorry for how long it took me to track you down.
If I’d known you were out there, I’d have come for you sooner.
Then nobody in this damn town would talk to me and, well,” he gestures emphatically at Ever, like that explains everything. And really, it does.
I blame the alcohol for my loose lips. “She’s a really pretty distraction, I don’t blame you.”
Ever cants her head, taking another drink before tentatively asking, “So… were they good to you, then? The people that took you in?”
Acutely aware that it’s a touchy subject after hearing she grew up in foster care, I give her an apologetic smile. “Yeah. They’re the best parents anyone could ask for, and I know how lucky I am to have ended up with them.”
Arson offers a sharp nod. “Alright then, it’s settled. If you like them that much, they can be our parents now, and we forget those waste of spaces that birthed us ever existed.”
Ever chuckles. “Pretty sure it doesn’t work that way.”
“Does too. He’s my brother, so his parents are my parents,” Arson argues. “That means when we get married, they’ll be your parents too, so you better get with the program, pretty girl.”
“Who says I’m marrying you?” Ever fires back with a teasing glint in her eyes.
“The invitation I’m typing up tomorrow,” he says without missing a beat. “I’ll make sure to send you one so you can save the date.”
She laughs, cheeks warm as she tops off her glass. “You’re ridiculous.”
Ever might think he’s joking around, but that gleam in Arson’s eye makes me think he’s crazy enough to actually do it.
When it blows up in his face and sends her running for the hills, she’ll need a getaway driver…
I shake my head sharply. That kind of thinking is dangerous and only going to lead to heartache. Because Ever? She could have anyone that she wants.
And I’m the guy that’s always left sitting out alone in the cold.
“You seriously made all of these?” Arson asks, touching everything in my workshop and giving me an eye twitch.
“Yes, and I’d appreciate it if you put that down before you blow the place up.”
“It’s a bomb?” he asks excitedly, looking at it with renewed enthusiasm and making no move to set it down.
Ever shakes her head at him and carefully plucks it out of his hands. “Read the room, Arson. You may not have grown up with siblings, but remember, you’re in his space touching his things, and he specifically asked you to put it down. Keep it up, he’ll ban you from his shop permanently.”
Arson’s lips part in surprise. “He can’t ban me, we’re brothers!”
Ever stumbles a bit, and a shadow snaps around her waist without Arson so much as twitching.
I hate to admit it, but that level of control is impressive.
“He sure as shit can,” she objects. “If he designed a barrier around an entire city to keep humans out, he can easily make one to boot a demon with boundary issues from his workshop.”
Arson’s eyes widen. “You’re the one that created the barrier?”
Sheepishly, I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, but it’s pretty out of date. I’ve been meaning to refresh it, but I keep getting side tracked with other projects. I know it’s not my best work, but at the time-”
“So you’re the reason I couldn’t use my powers and got hit by a car,” he presses, and I wince, bracing for him to take a swing at me. Yet, much to my surprise, it never comes. “Thanks, man. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have met my future wife.”
I blink at him, at a loss for how the hell to respond to that reaction. I’m saved from having to reply as Ever pulls out her vibrating phone and glances at the screen in confusion. “It’s my old boss.”
“Hello?” Her confusion morphs into rage in an instant. “What the fuck, Adam? You seriously harassed Carrie into using her phone?”
This close to her, I can faintly hear a man snap, “What else was I supposed to do, Everest? You fucking blocked me, and we need to talk.”
While she argues with him, Arson and I share a look.
This guy is clearly going to be a problem, because if he’s jumping through this many hoops to contact Ever, he isn’t going away anytime soon.
You’d think the distance and new girlfriend would be enough to distract him, but money makes people do crazy things.
Lawyers usually know how to work people though, so I can’t imagine what he’s thinking he’ll accomplish talking to her like this.
Maybe he’s given up on charming her and thinks he can threaten her into signing a contract?
Rage warms my already heated blood, and I blame the liquid courage as I pluck the phone out of her hands and switch to a video call. The screen lights up a minute later with the prick's face, his smug expression falling when he realizes it isn’t Ever.
“Ever’s husband speaking, how may I help you?” I ask calmly.
“I beg your pardon?”
“If you insist. Go on then; beg.”
The guy sputters, red creeping up his neck. He doesn’t even acknowledge me at first, continuing to talk to Ever. “Everest, babe, enough with the games. It’s cute you think I’d be jealous, but I’m not that hard up for pussy. We need to discuss business.”
Ever starts to tell him off, but Arson claps a hand over her mouth, catching onto what I’m doing. In the shell of her ear, he whispers, “Trust us, angel.”
It takes everything I have not to bite Adam’s head off, but I maintain my composure. “I handle the finances in our marriage, so if you have business questions, you can discuss them with me, or not at all.”
There’s a lengthy pause before he clears his throat. “No wonder she ran off without a word. How long was she cheating on me with you?”
“Did you want to talk business or not? I’m a busy man.”
Through a clenched jaw, Adam says, “Everest left before signing the final contract with my company and stole the product we commissioned. Either she returns the technology she stole from us, or we’ll be pursuing legal action.
Out of respect for our previous relationship, I’m giving her a chance to take care of this before she’s financially ruined; you as well now, since she conned you into marrying her so quickly, likely for this exact reason.
If you need a divorce lawyer, I’ve got some friends I can recommend. ”
“It sounds to me that if a contract wasn’t signed, the commission isn’t legally enforceable and your company owns nothing. Have they paid her for the project in advance?”
“We’re still in negotiations-”
“And did you initially provide the specifications for the project and approach her to create it?”
He grinds his teeth. “Not exact-”
“So what you’re really saying is your company wished to purchase my wife’s invention, and you fucked up and sent her running for the hills before she signed on the dotted line.
Sounds like a you problem. Instead of threatening her, you should have been trying to sweeten the deal to convince her that signing with your company was in her best interest instead of driving her into the arms of your competitors. ”
I hold Ever’s shocked gaze as I finish, “If you contact my wife again, I’ll be suing you for harassment.
You lost, Adam. Not just the payday, but an amazing woman you took for granted.
Go lick your wounds and leave us the hell alone.
” Ending the call, I shut it off and tuck it in my back pocket. “Tomorrow, we’ll get you a new number.”
“Damn, brother,” Arson says, clapping my shoulder. “Who knew you had it in you?”
Heat blooms across my cheeks as reality crashes back in.
What the hell was I thinking? I take a seat, putting my face in my hands and groaning.
“I’m so sorry, Ever, I don’t know what came over me.
I should have checked first that you were okay with me handling it, but I’ve dealt with plenty of men like that in my line of work.
It’s misogynistic as hell, but they’ll listen to a man they don’t even know before the woman they’re harassing, and-”
“Thank you.” Ever’s lips gently brush my cheek. “Seriously, Myles, I appreciate it. It sucks, but if that’s what it takes to get him to back off, that’s what matters.” Her eyes sparkle with mirth as she teases, “Besides, it was kind of hot hearing my husband put him in his place.”
The tips of my ears burn, heart beating out of my chest. Arson, bless his soul, pulls the attention off of me and scoops Ever up in his arms. Immediately, I take back my appreciation as he drops her in my lap and says, “Here, you can borrow my emotional support girlfriend for a while, you’ve earned it. ”
Dirty thoughts flash through my brain at the offer, and I avoid looking at Ever so she can’t see my flaming face. No hiding my rapidly hardening cock digging into her thighs, though.
“Never agreed to be your girlfriend, and you can’t give me to your brother as a reward,” Ever chuckles, riding a heavy buzz and flipping him off.
“Fiancè, right, my bad,” Arson corrects unabashedly, ignoring her protests.
“Arson, you can’t just… I mean, why would you,” I stammer, cutting myself off before I make a complete fool of myself, at a loss for words.
“I can and I will. Ever clearly likes you, and what my girl wants, she gets.”