I turned back to Rhys. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”
8
GRANT
Iwas still standing at the fence, staring across the pasture and wondering what the hell I’d just done, when I heard Rhys approaching. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. I could tell by the cadence of his footsteps and the way he brushed his hand back and forth across his thigh as he walked. I didn’t want to talk to him, but he would be relentless until I answered his questions.
“So when did you meet him? Or I suppose I should say when did you fuck him?”
I growled, taking a step toward my brother. “Are you looking for a fight?”
“You know that’s more Rogue’s style than mine. I’m just trying to shock you into talking.”
Of course he was. That was totally Rhys’s style. Rogue was the one who was often spoiling for a fight. I was already worried about whether he’d be able to keep himself in check without the thrill of the rodeo to relieve his need for an adrenaline rush.
“Seriously, Grant, how did you meet Jacob, and if he was mixed up with the Russos, are you sure you can trust him?”
Anger burned through me. I couldn’t remember a time I’d been so close to punching Rhys. “Of course I know I can trust him. He was Trey’s victim, not someone who was working for him.”
“If he had been working for Trey, would you expect him to tell you?”
“Jesus, you’ve always been the most suspicious one of us.”
“And it’s saved our lives plenty of times.”
That was true. I’d learned to trust Rhys’s instincts, and he’d never steered me wrong. I didn’t want to think Jacob could be anything other than the innocent young man he appeared to be, but I had to consider it. “Do you sense something from him? Something off?”
Rhys shook his head. “As far as I can tell, he is who he says he is, but we have to consider the possibility. This all seems so convenient, him knowing Rogue then meeting you.”
“He served me at a bar. It was a random encounter.” At least I hoped to hell it was.
“The bar where you met X?”
“Yes, but he’d been working there for months, and Rogue helped him get the job. X and I didn’t even decide where to meet until the day before.”
“Still.”
I sighed. “I’ll ask X to have his tech guy check Jacob out, okay? He might have done that already.”
“Why?”
“Because X was there when I asked Jacob to meet me later that night.”
Rhys laughed and shook his head.
“X told me Jacob was trouble. But he didn’t mean the kind of trouble you’re thinking. X just wanted me focused on his job offer.”
Rhys snorted. “You’ve been focused for way too long. You deserve to have some fun.”
“You don’t seem to want me to.”
He sighed. “I’m just looking out for you. It’s not like you to indulge yourself, especially with a boy like that.
“He’s not a boy. He’s an adult.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Rhys,” I growled.