He winks at me. “Yeah.”
I study my brother in his perfectly tailored suit. He’s always immaculately turned out, exactly like I was expected to be. His thick black hair is cut short, and I’ve never seen him with even the slightest bit of stubble. He looks way too young to live the life that he leads. He might only be twenty-four, but he’s wise beyond his years. “You two make a very handsome couple.”
He laughs out loud at that.
“I hope I get to come to your wedding one day.”
He inhales a deep breath. “Me too, sis.”
I find West in the kitchen making dinner. “Sorry I’m late. It was my turn to cook tonight. You need me to do anything?” Now I feel even more guilty that my extended lunch to see Nico made me late with my deliveries.
“Nah, I’ve got it. I was home early, and I enjoy cooking.” He glances up from the raw chicken he’s cutting. “But come here.”
“Where?” I say, feigning ignorance.
He licks his lips. “Right here, princess.”
I step closer and grip the back of his neck, barely brushing his lips with mine. “Here?”
He growls. “Unless you want chicken guts in your hair, give me your fucking lips.”
Smiling against his mouth, I curl my fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck. “These lips right here?”
He sucks air through his teeth. “I’d much rather kiss your other lips, princess, but I’m making dinner here.”
I snort a laugh. “That’s not what I meant.”
He tugs my bottom lip between his teeth for a brief moment, then slips his tongue into my mouth. My body sags against him, and I whimper. I’m such a slut for this man’s kisses. For anything from any of them. I have no idea why the universe chose me to be the luckiest girl on this planet, I’m just glad that she did.
He breaks the kiss, leaving me wanting more. Using lips and teeth, he works his way up my jaw to my ear. “I’ll definitely be kissing those other lips later.”
“I sure hope so,” I say, wrapping both arms around his neck. God, I love him. I love all three of them. I wish that I could tell him who I really am. But what if he blames me for my father’s mistakes? What if he only sees me as Carmine Constantine’s daughter and he doesn’t remember the little girl who begged her father to spare his life?
“Something wrong, princess?” The concern in his voice makes my breath catch in my throat.
“Everything’s good.” It’s just a small lie, right? It doesn’t hurt anyone, and it protects the people I love most in the world. Nobody can ever know what Nico did for me, and nobody can find out that Liliana Constantine is still alive. West, Xander, and Zeke can never know why I left, because if they were to ever start a war with my family, I fear there would only be one winner. My father.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
XANDER
“Hey, you got that PR guy’s email address?” I ask West as I walk into his office.
He looks up from his laptop. “Which PR guy?”
“The one from Grayson News Corp. What was his name? Andy or something? We met him at that meeting a few weeks back. I’m sure I took his card, but I can’t find it.”
He glances back at the screen and rubs a hand over his stubble. “Check the meeting minutes. I asked them to include everyone’s contact details.”
I take a seat in front of his desk. “You got an important meeting today?”
His gaze drifts back to me. “Grayson board meeting. They’re being given a draft of our proposals for expansion today, so …” He stretches his neck and sighs.
“Ah, is that why you’re wearing your lucky suit?”
A faint grin flickers over his face. “It’s just a suit.”
It’s not just a suit at all. It’s a dark gray three-piece Tom Ford. Not only does it make him look even more handsome and powerful than usual, but it fits him perfectly, hugging his huge biceps and shoulders, not to mention his magnificent ass and thighs, like a second skin. I adjust my cock in my pants, trying to give myself a little more room and some much-needed relief, but it doesn’t help.
“Hey. Can I borrow your laptop charger? Mine has given up even trying to work,” Lily says as she breezes into his office wearing nothing but a smile and, from the looks of the way it dwarfs her petite frame, Zeke’s shirt.
“Sure, it’s in the bottom drawer.” Without looking up, West nods at the cabinet next to his desk.
My semihard cock grows as I stare at Lily’s fine ass while she’s bent over rummaging in the drawer. I glance at West, but his attention is fixated on his screen. How the fuck has he not noticed her? Ass in the air, cute pink panties on display?
A few seconds later, she gives a triumphant cry and stands, charger in hand.
“Hey, shorty.” She turns and offers me one of her beautiful smiles. I hold out my hand. “Come here.”
Her eyes bounce between West and me as she approaches. She giggles when I grab her arm and yank her into my lap.
West finally looks up and glares at the two of us. “My meeting starts in five minutes.”
I bite back a grin. He knows that his bark won’t stop me, and I’m always down for his bite. And now I have an incredibly hot and soon to be incredibly frustrated West on one side of the desk, and the super sexy, always horny and ready for action Lily on my lap. I’m gonna have so much fucking fun.
Lily twirls a lock of hair between her finger and her thumb. “What meeting? Anything exciting?”
“A board meeting with Grayson News Corp,” I answer when he doesn’t.
“Oh.” She sits up straighter. “Is the takeover almost complete?”
“Merger,” West replies coolly. “Despite what Jensen Michaels would have you all at Grayson believe.”
She flushes. “I know. I’m sorry. I just … I’ve been hearing takeover for so long now.” She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin. He doesn’t intimidate her even a little, and I love that about her. “So, is the merger almost complete?”
“Soon.” He types something on his keyboard. “Just a few more wrinkles to iron out.”
“And everyone will keep their jobs, right?”
A muscle twitches in his jaw. “Everyone who wants to.”
She frowns. “What does that mean?”
He really looks at her for the first time since she walked in. The scowl on his face softens. “It means exactly what I said. If people want to remain employed by us, they will. If they want to leave, they’re free to do so.”
“And Jensen Michaels?” West bristles at the name. “What will happen to him?”
“Why do you care?” he asks, his jaw tight.
She holds his gaze. “I’m just curious.”
“He doesn’t want to stay on, but he’ll receive a considerable severance package,” I tell her.
She leans against me, seemingly satisfied with that response. I brush back her hair and trail my lips over her neck. “Tell me how your article is coming along.”
She wiggles in my lap. “Really well. Julian said he’s going to publish it in next month’s issue.”