Chapter 30
CHAPTER
THIRTY
Brooks
“This is a birthday party?” I ask in disbelief.
Audrey smiles, taking my hand and leading me through a row of perfectly manicured hedges.
I didn’t expect that she’d want me to attend the party with her.
I wasn’t even certain that I’d be able to find her before she arrived or that she’d talk to me if I did.
I second-guessed whether showing up was the way to go and wondered if she’d seen her brother and, if she had, what he might’ve said to her.
But when she opened the door, and I saw the look in her eyes, I knew in my heart that everything was going to be okay.
My chest tightens as we enter the venue, a building straight from a movie set. I knew the Vans had money, but not this kind of money. Holy shit.
“I’m extremely underdressed,” I whisper as a couple walks by like they just got out of a Hollywood awards ceremony. “Are you sure you don’t want me to just wait in the hotel room?”
She grins at me. “You’re my boyfriend. If anyone says anything, I’ll punch them.”
“Don’t do that. Your mechanics are all off.”
She giggles, and I wrap my arm around her waist as we venture farther into the room.
Giant chandeliers hang overhead, the light reflected by thousands of crystals cascading from them. Massive windows overlook a stone patio and, beyond that, an expansive lawn with at least two fountains that I can see.
Tables are placed equidistant from one another, arranged so perfectly that it feels staged. Flower arrangements decorate so many surfaces. And, knowing the cost of one dozen roses, the price tag for the flowers alone must be enough to buy a small car.
“I’m not sure that this is the right time to point this out,” I whisper, “but you were making a big deal out of an eighty-dollar bra. Look at this place.”
“It’ll make sense when you meet my mother.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
We meander through the room, stopping to say hello to a few people who approach Audrey. She’s amazing to watch as she works the room. I’m not sure where the shy woman I originally met is. This woman is a genuinely gifted social butterfly. She’s pure class with nothing fake.
“It was nice to meet you, too,” I say to a man and woman dripping in diamonds. “I’m going to have to ask you for a favor.”
“Sure.”
I run a finger across my mouth. “If you spot a Lewis Lemon in the vicinity, you need to make a decision.”
Her head swings to mine. “Why?”
I just stare at her.
“Gianna,” she says, groaning. “Gianna mentioned Lewis.”
“So, if that happens,” I say, blowing out a tight breath, “you can steer me away from him, and we’ll all have a great night. Or you can point him out to me, and I’ll accompany him to the emergency room.”
She smacks my chest. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, Doc, I would.” My jaw clenches just thinking about anyone hurting her. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about you. Just let me know how you want me to handle it.”
“He’s not here. At least, I haven’t seen him. If I do, I’ll point him out, and you can avoid him, please.”
“Okay.”
Her cheeks flush, and she leans in. “But if you want to make a horrible face at him that makes him need the bathroom urgently, I wouldn’t be mad.”
I laugh, pulling her closer to me. God, I think I might love this woman.
“Darling girl!” A woman who must be Audrey’s mom comes around a corner. “You made it.” She pulls her into a hug, kissing both of her cheeks. “Hugo said he came to pick you up, but you were running late. Is everything okay?”
Oh, she’s more than okay, Mrs. Van. Your girl had two orgasms before we could get out the door.
“Yes, of course,” she says, slipping her arm around me. “Mom, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Brooks Dempsey. Brooks, this is my mother, Jessica Van.”
Jessica turns to me and makes no bones about assessing the situation. She looks me up and down—quickly. Tastefully. Then a smile like her daughter’s stretches across her face.
“Well, Brooks, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says, her eyes sparkling.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Van.”
“Please. Call me Jessica.” She looks at her daughter and winks. “Come. Let’s find your father. He’s been waiting for you to arrive.”
Audrey laces our fingers together, and we follow her mom through the crowd.
“She likes you,” Audrey whispers.
“You think? I’m dressed like a pauper compared to these people.”
She giggles. “My mom is a fan of good-looking men. While your attire might not include a jacket and overpriced shoes, you’re hot.”
“I’m hot,” I say, mimicking her. “I’ll take that.”
We walk down a long hallway with arches opening to the party until we reach an elevator.
Audrey squeezes my hand as she and her mother banter about her social club and her being nominated as co-chair for a function.
I can feel Audrey cringe, but she maintains her composure, and Jessica doesn’t seem to notice.
“Here we are,” Jessica says, leading us into a penthouse-style suite. “Your father wanted a private space to meet with a few clients as the night went on, so the club let us use this room.” She rolls her eyes. “As they should.”
Audrey tries hard not to laugh, and watching her struggle is adorable.
“Look who I found,” Jessica says. “Your baby girl.”
A large man turns from a floor-to-ceiling window with views all the way to the harbor and sets his sights on his daughter.
His face lights up as she makes her way to him.
Wow. No wonder she loves her parents. There’s only adoration and love in their eyes as they see her. That’s what parental love looks like.
And I’ve seen it all my life in my mom’s eyes. I’m a lucky bastard. My mom has looked at me and loved me … with no regrets. Fuck. I’ve had that all along. And if I’m even luckier, this woman beside me might look at me the same way one day.
“Hey, Aud,” he says, pulling her into a hug. “How are you, sweetheart? Mom said you had a delay this evening. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, Dad, I’m sorry. I didn’t think Brooks would be able to join me this evening, but his meetings were cancelled.
So, he hopped on a plane and surprised me just before I walked out the door.
” Audrey returns to my side, peering up at me.
“Dad, this is my boyfriend, Brooks Dempsey. Brooks, this is my father, Robert Van.”
“Brooks Dempsey?” He walks to me with an extended hand. “I knew your face was familiar.”
Not sure how to take that, but I shake his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I say, nodding.
“Boyfriend, huh?” He grins at Audrey. “It’s about fucking time you started dating real men and stopped listening to your mother.”
“Hey!” Jessica says, laughing.
I cover my mouth, trying not to laugh, too.
“I was sure you were gonna bring that little rat Cranton home with you.” Robert shakes his head in disgust. “That kid isn’t worth the gum on the bottom of your fucking shoe.”
“That boy is a turd,” Jessica says, shaking her head. “Cute, but a turd.”
Well, I may hate her brother, but I’m loving her parents.
“How’d you two meet?” he asks, taking a glass of champagne from Jessica. “Through Drew?”
Annnnnd there goes the oxygen from the room.
“No, actually,” Audrey says, clearly not having thought this through before now. “We met through Astrid. Her boyfriend, Gray Adler, grew up with Brooks.”
“No shit? What a small world,” he says, looking at me. “Are you from Tennessee?”
“Yes. I grew up in Sugar Creek with Gray.”
He laughs before sipping his drink. “One small town and two extraordinary athletes. What do they put in the water down there?”
“You’d be surprised,” I say, grinning.
Robert chuckles and starts to say something, but the elevator dings and footsteps fall behind us. I look over my shoulder, my gut tightening as if it senses war. Sure enough, Andrew appears.
I’ve never noticed how much he looks like Audrey, with the same blond hair and bright blue eyes. He has his mother’s bone structure, which is probably why he’s susceptible to being knocked out, and his father’s ability to own a room.
“Hey, Dad,” he says, not seeing me. “Do you remember Mike Lombarto?”
“Sure do. Why?”
“He’s here. He’s about shitfaced off the champagne, though, so if you want to say hello, you better make it quick.”
Robert sets his glass on a table. “I do need to say hello to him. Thanks, son. He’d probably like to say hello to you, too, Jessica.”
She slides under her husband’s arm and leans her head against his side. “Do you want to walk down with us, kids?”
Andrew’s brows are furrowed in confusion as he follows Jessica’s line of sight. I brace myself, turning slightly sideways, ready to fight if he charges me. That’s not how I want this to go down, but if he starts shit, I’ll finish it.
His attention lands on me, and the temperature in the room plummets. His hands form balls at his sides.
I smile politely, keeping my composure. If one of us is going to look like an asshole, it’s not going to be me.
Audrey grips my hand, squeezing so hard that it would hurt if she had any strength at all. I feel her anxiety beside me and want to hold her closer to comfort her, but don’t. If her hothead brother wants to pull some punches, I don’t want to be worried that she’s in the way.
“Andrew,” Robert says, “good timing. Have you met Audrey’s new boyfriend, Brooks Dempsey? I figure you probably have, but you never know.”
The whole room looks at Andrew—and he doesn’t fail. He places a perfectly composed mask over his face and smiles like we’re old friends.
“Hey, Brooks,” he says, a little too loud but convincing enough. “Good to see you. Never imagined seeing you here with my sister, but surprises are always nice, aren’t they?”
“That they are. It’s good to see you, too.”
He holds my gaze like it’s a weapon and he’s trying to end me on the spot.
“We better get downstairs and see Lombarto,” Robert says to Jessica.
“Why don’t you go with them?” I say to Audrey.
Her eyes are huge. “I can stay with you. Or let’s both go.”
“I actually have something I need to go over with Andrew.” I smile at Robert before sliding my attention to his son. “It’ll just take a moment.”
“Come on, Aud,” Robert says as he and Jessica head for the elevator. “I want to speak with you about something, anyway.”
Audrey kisses my cheek. “Are you sure?” she whispers.
I nod. “I’ll catch up with you in a second.”
She glares at Andrew before joining her parents. As soon as the elevator doors close, Andrew lets loose.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he booms.
I keep my right hand back but stay calm and collected.
“I’m here with an ultimatum,” I say, repeating the words he spewed to me not that long ago.
“The fuck are you talking about. Get out!”
“I guess you haven’t heard the news.”
He seethes. “What fucking news?”
“I retired today.”
It takes a minute for this information to fully sink in.
“So, this is how it’s going to work,” I say, unflinching.
“You’re going to be nice to your sister.
No games, no talking shit, no meddling—nothing.
You do that, and I’ll keep every shred of evidence my investigator found that proves beyond doubt that you’ve been involved with fight fixing, test tampering, and a few other unscrupulous behaviors that put the sport in disrepute. ”
His face turns a shade of red that I’ve never seen on someone who isn’t ready to pass out.
“And if you don’t,” I say, smiling at him. “I’ll plaster that shit on every fucking social media page, send letters to every fighter, agent, commissioner, manager, and fight fan that I can find.”
“What are you talking about?”
I shrug. “You can think I’m blowing smoke up your ass, or you can believe me.
I don’t give a shit. Because here’s the thing—I love your sister and I’m going to be with her until she says otherwise.
And what I really want to do—fuck, how badly I want to do it—is ruin your entire life like you’ve tried to do mine.
I mean, I get off on that at night sometimes.
” I look him dead in the eye. “Give me a reason.”
He runs his hands down his face and takes a step back. “Why would you give me the option? If you really had all this shit about me, why would you keep it to yourself?”
I glance at the spot where Audrey just stood and smile.
“Because that would hurt her. And probably your parents, who are great, by the way.” How did he turn out to be such an absolute asshole …
and effectively hid his true self from his family?
Mind-blowing. “And as much as your pain would give me great joy, making Audrey happy is really all I care about. I imagine that seeing your name in the headlines and being disgraced everywhere sports are discussed—maybe even a mugshot—would send her spiraling. Your mother, too. And I just … I’m not that kind of guy. ”
He takes the glass his father left behind and downs it.
“I will tell Audrey about our call,” I say.
“And I’ll tell her that you made it clear that if I didn’t leave her alone, that you’d make my life hard.
But I’ll keep the rest to myself to spare her the pain of it because she doesn’t need that.
It won’t help anything. If you decide to play this differently, let me know. ”
He takes his hand and swipes it across an ice bucket, sending glasses and debris across the room. “Fuck you!”
I chuckle to myself and watch him storm away down a back stairwell. I shouldn’t find as much pleasure in this as I do, but … whatever.
The elevator is open, and I take it back downstairs, finding Audrey beside her mother. She collapses in my arms, relief evident in her sigh.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, searching my eyes.
“Everything is fine.” I kiss her nose. “Are you having fun?”
“No.” She frowns. “Want me to fake illness so we can leave?”
Jessica moves around her daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but you’ve made an appearance. If you two want to leave, don’t feel obligated to stay.”
“Are you sure, Mom?” Audrey asks, confused.
She brushes a strand of hair off Audrey’s shoulder. “Darling girl, I just want you to be happy.” Jessica lifts her gaze to mine. “And I think you finally are. Enjoy your night.”
She drifts off into the crowd of people that’s growing by the minute. Audrey watches her in amazement.
“So …” I say.
My voice seems to ground her to the present because she looks at me and giggles. “Why are we still here?” She takes my hand and pulls me to the exit. “Let’s go.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice.
I’ll follow this woman anywhere.