I’d never say I’ve had girlfriends before, but if I had anything close it would be Hazel. Our little tech queen has always been a big supporter of me taking over after my father steps down. Which I find ironic since she’s fucking the man taking the position from me.
It is what it is, and I can’t bother myself to care. I did fuck my brother’s best friend and let him follow me around like a lost puppy for years. Donovan wasn’t exactly thrilled with Breckin and me throughout that shitshow.
“Mal, this isn’t what it looks like,” Hazel says, rushing in front of Donovan. He scrunches his face in confusion behind her.
And I’m a little offended that she thinks that I’m that dense. I do find hilarity in that same line people tend to use when they’re covering up their bullshit. Caine said the same thing, so it’s exactly what it looks like.
I giggle. “Please, I’ve known you two have been bumping uglies for years.” I walk toward them shaking my head. “Something about Donovan nearly shitting his pants and will have a killer case of blue balls later sits well in my soul. Plus, I want a drink without having to worry about if my brother’s cum has been smeared along the bar top. It’s honestly gross, Donovan, get it together.”
Hazel and Donovan gape at me and I twist up my face at the thought of my brother’s dick germs riddled along hard surfaces. This time, I gag loudly.
Donovan scoffs. “Do you know I have to disinfect every surface in this house before I touch, sit, or eat because of your nymphomaniac crazy ass.”
That’s a good point.
I shrug. “Semantics.”
“We were going to tell you,” Donovan continues, and Hazel stands stiff and awkward while she watches me. “I just don’t want to rub in your face—”
“That the precious heir can marry whoever the fuck he wants?” I smile. “Ride into the sunset and live happily-ever-after. Sounds fucking dreadful, little brother.” I sigh and shrug. “Doesn’t matter, that’s never been in my future, and you know as well as I do Dad would do whatever he could to keep me from having to marry someone I didn’t want to.”
Donovan steps into Hazel and whispers in her ear, she nods and leaves the room, leaving me and my brother.
“You don’t sound so confident in that statement.”
I cross my arms, leaning against the back of the lounge’s sofa hoping it’s safe.
“He hasn’t exactly been the most convincing lately,” I mumble.
Donovan walks toward me, shaking the drywall dust out of his black hair. I giggle when he comes to a stop in front me. The white powder making him look dingy and graying. He rolls his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
I shrug. “Just festering, little brother. Nothing new.”
Which isn’t a lie. During my shower as my body began to warm and after the after-sex euphoria wore off—I began to stew. Fucked off at myself for letting that man get to me once again. Liam Brenner has become a weakness of mine and he’s taking advantage of it.
I’m tired and ready to flip the switch on him.
I shoulder past my brother and go behind the bar, grabbing a crystal tumbler and something brown that looks like it’ll burn deliciously going down. Exactly what I need.
I throw back one drink and it’s scotch.
Pour another.
Throw back the second.
Pour. Slam. Repeat.
After about four glasses, I meet my brother's gaze and I want to slap the smirk off his face. I sneer at him, and he chuckles.
“Never seen you so bent out of shape, sis,” Donovan says with amusement.
The fucker.
“Take it back,” he adds, crossing his arms against his chest. I raise an eyebrow wondering what the fuck he’s talking about. “His power over you, Malia. Take it back.”
He gives me a devious smile that I return. I pour myself one more drink and stalk out of the lounge, the sound of my heels reverberating off the walls from the determination in my steps.