My frown deepens. “Why would it be?”
She rolls her eyes, making it seem like Zeke and I are missing something important. It pisses me off more than I care to admit that she might know something about our girl that we don’t.
“Lily is writing an article, yes? One that’s she’s finally able to get published after two years of trying?”
“So?”
“It’s no coincidence that she’s writing it for the magazine that Jensen Michaels still owns, and that she just happened to meet you all at the same time she came up with this new exclusive article that’s going to be her big break?”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “You’re saying she’s writing this article about us?”
She lifts one shoulder and glances back down at her manicured nails. “An exposé, to take the three of you down from the inside. What better way to do that than from your bed, West?”
“You’re fucking lying,” Zeke growls.
“Am I? My company does some of their PR. I hear things. And you know I was out with her a couple of weeks ago, don’t you?” She directs her attention back to me. “She was waving your credit card in people’s faces, offering to buy anyone who would listen a bottle of Dom at your expense. She was bragging about how she had you three wrapped around her little finger.”
“No.” I shake my head. That sounds nothing like Lily.
“Why are you all so blind when it comes to her? She got so wasted that Jen and I had to pour her into your car.”
Bile burns my esophagus.
“You’re lying.” Zeke shouts the words this time.
“Are you really willing to bet your reputation on that, Ezekiel?”
I suck in a breath. This can’t be true. Lily would never do that to us. Whatever her article’s about, it can’t possibly have anything to do with us.
I glare at Bree, who smiles like she didn’t just try to tear our world apart. “Get the fuck out of my office.”
Smirking, she stands and slings her overpriced bag back over her shoulder. “You should look into her is all I’m saying. I’m sure you’ll find that there’s more to Lily Sloane than meets the eye.”
With that, she stomps out, leaving Zeke and I to stare at each other for several seconds.
“You remember how she jumped when we came home early the other night and she was working on her article? She snapped her laptop shut like she was terrified we’d see it.”
Zeke scowls. “We gave her a fright. Fitch jumped on her.”
Gritting my teeth, I stretch my neck. I’m so fucking tense. “Michaels warned us he had spies on the inside. He specifically told us to watch our backs.”
Zeke chews on his bottom lip for a second, then shakes his head. “He’s a snake backed into a corner.”
“Yeah.” That doesn’t stop an uneasy feeling from settling into the pit of my stomach. Lily is just a little too perfect, and experience has taught me that if something seems too good to be true, it almost always is.
“Who do you think this mysterious benefactor is then?” Zeke’s face is lined with worry now too.
“You mean the young good-looking guy she couldn’t keep her hands off of?”
“Yeah. That one.”
I bare my teeth. “Find out.”
Chapter
Thirty-Six
LILY
I glance up and down the crowded sidewalk one last time before I step out of the hotel. I’ve had that creepy feeling of being watched all morning, but it must be in my head. Nobody knows about Nico. Hell, nobody knows who I really am, and the fact that I’m still breathing is proof enough of that.
This is the second time I’ve met with Nico in as many months, and as much as I adore seeing my brother, I feel so guilty lying to the guys about him. I’m just not sure if I can tell them yet. Our three months are almost up. I have no idea what happens next, and I’m too scared to ask about it. Although what we share feels like it’s gone far beyond our original agreement, what if it isn’t?’ What if they fall in love with every single woman they do this with?
“Marshmallow?” The voice stops me in my tracks.
I spin around and my heart almost stops beating at the sight of his familiar face. It’s dangerous and reckless, but instinct makes me run to him. I throw my arms around his neck. “Doc?”
He wraps his arms around me, and I bury my face against his shoulder, stifling a sob at the memories that are invoked by seeing him after all these years. He guides me to a nearby doorway, out of view from the street.
A sudden wave of panic makes my knees buckle. “What are you doing here? Is he here?”
“Relax, Marshmallow. He’s back in Vegas. I’m here with Nico. Just making sure things go smoothly. It’s so good to see you. You look great.” He tousles my curls. “I like your hair like this. It’s just like your mom’s.”
My cheeks heat. “It’s good to see you too.”
He steps out and glances at the street, then back at me. “I should really get moving. This is too dangerous. I’m sorry, but I saw you and …” His eyes turn glossy with unshed tears.
“I’m glad I saw you.” I pull him in for one last hug. “Take good care of Nico, won’t you?”
“Always, Marshmallow. You take good care of yourself. Remember that right hook I taught you?”
“Sure do.”
He swallows like he wants to say more but can’t. “Bye, kid.”
“Bye.” I watch him walk out of the shadows and back onto the street, taking a piece of my heart with him. But staying apart is the only way we all get to stay alive.
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
XANDER
Lily’s in the den putting the finishing touches on her article, and I sneak up behind her, trying to catch a glimpse of what she’s writing. When she’s not with one of us or at work, she has her head bent over her laptop, but she refuses to give us a single clue as to what it’s about.
When I get close enough to see her screen, all I see are pictures of puppies. I jump over the back of the sofa and land next to her with a thud. Shrieking, she slams her laptop shut and hugs it to her chest.
“Xander! Please stop doing that to me,” she gasps, but her eyes are full of amusement.
I laugh and give her a kiss on the cheek. “I thought you were working, not looking at pictures of cute puppies. Or is that what your article is about? Cutest puppies of New York?”
Rolling her eyes, she reopens her laptop and unlocks it with her fingerprint. “Not exactly.” She shows me a picture of Rottweiler puppies snuggled up in a pile.
I tilt my head. “Aw. They are cute.”
She nods, a huge smile on her face. “You like dogs.”
“Who doesn’t?” I wrap my arm around her shoulder as she scrolls through more images.
“Some people don’t,” she says in a sad tone, but before I can pick that apart, she goes on. “I always wanted a Rottweiler puppy.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, I’d call him Snowflake.”
I bark out a laugh. “Snowflake? A huge black Rottweiler named Snowflake?”