“I told you I was going to increase your role in the family business. I didn’t promise you’d be involved in this mission.”
“But this is the most important thing we’ve done in months, and I don’t get to be a part of it. You already have guards on your house. What do I have to do to prove myself to you?”
“What I just asked you to do. I trust you more than those guards, and keeping Henri safe is as important to me as taking part in the takedown of the gunrunners.”
He glared at me, looking like he might explode, then slowly, his features softened. “Wait a minute. Are you saying—”
“I’m not—”
“You like this guy. I mean, I get it. He’s cute, but since when are you ready to settle down?”
“There’s no settling down. Henri and I are enjoying each other, and I have promised him my protection.”
“So you’re blowing smoke up my ass about this being important?”
“No. Shit. Corbin, do this for me, and take it seriously, and next time, I promise I’ll give you a bigger role. Oh, and if I can wrest him away from Lance, I’m also going to send Tony with you.”
“Jesus, when is he going to learn he can’t bring that damn monkey to a fight?”
“Apparently any progress we made on that was ruined on X’s island. Tony was exactly the diversion they needed to take down the last of the attackers.”
“Fine,” Corbin said. “I’ll watch over one adorable twink and one ill-behaved monkey, and if I’m a good little boy, next time I get to play with the big boys.”
Why had my parents spoiled him so badly? I believed he was sincere in wanting to be part of what we did, but I needed to believe he could take orders and keep himself in check. “I need to know you’re taking this seriously.”
“The guy means a lot to you, but you aren’t ready to admit it. I get it, and I’ll make sure he’s safe. God knows that monkey is like Lance’s baby, so I wouldn’t dare let anything happen to him.”
“There will be guards posted outside the house as usual. I want you inside.”
“So I’m supposed to entertain him too? Should I dance and sing for him?”
“Corbin.”
“Sorry. I just…”
He looked so defeated. I wanted to tell him my hands were tied because Pop had given the order, but I didn’t. I had to own my new role as the head of the family. “I know what you want. You just have to demonstrate that you’re ready.”
“I’ll take good care of Henri. I’ll chat with him and tell him all the obnoxious shit you do. I’ll be sure to give him plenty of ammunition against you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get Lance to part with Tony.”
“Remington?”
I turned back and looked at Corbin.
“Be careful.”
“Always.”
After multiple attempts to get Lance to part with Tony, I gave up and focused on all the players we’d gathered. “Does everyone understand their role?”
“I went over everything just like you told me to,” Lance said.
“I need to hear it from each of them.” I was all right with delegating the briefing, but I needed confirmation from every person there that they understood their orders.
“Yes, boss” and “Yes, sir” echoed around the room.
I made eye contact with each man, letting him know I expected him to follow orders precisely. If any of them fucked up, there would be hell to pay. “All right. I want everyone to move into position.” This is the point where all I could do was pray.
I grabbed Lance’s arm and held him back as everyone filed from the room. “You okay?”
“Yeah. You?”
I huffed. “I don’t have a choice.”
“You don’t have a choice in what you show everyone, but what’s in here”—he tapped my chest—“is different. If you weren’t a little concerned, I’d be damn sure you were a fucking robot.”
“Lance, I…”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “It’s a solid plan. We’re good to go.”
“Be safe. Don’t put yourself in more danger than you have to.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’ve been telling me that for years.”
“And you haven’t listened once.”
34
Henri
I hadn’t been back at Remington’s house long when I heard the front door open. No way could Remington already be done with his business. Had he changed his mind and come to see me before things heated up?
“Henri? It’s Corbin.”
I tensed. Remington had said Corbin could be irresponsible, but he hadn’t said anything to indicate he didn’t trust him, so I supposed I should trust him too. I stepped out from the kitchen where I’d been stress eating right from the carton of dark chocolate brownie ice cream.
Corbin locked the door behind him and headed my way. When he saw the ice cream, his eyes lit up. “I don’t suppose you’re willing to share?”