“I thought you guys don’t talk about deployment.”
He bobs his head. “Most soldiers, especially those affected by PTSD, don’t. It’s unconventional to share the number, but I was born to serve and grew up in a military family. I’m proud I served my country, and I don’t hide it.”
I’m unsure if I’m more intrigued or surprised by his boldness. My father served back in the day, and he never spoke about his time in the military.
Theo’s still busy with the blonde, and disappointment pushes me to accept a drink offer from Dean. Not the smartest idea, considering I had the urge to break his nose last time.
Apparently, I’m not too smart.
EIGHTEEN
Theo
THE UPTIGHT, SOPHISTICATED PARTY morphs into a wild banger. People dance on every flat surface, and most girls are no longer in their dresses. Half of the guys are shirtless, flexing their pecs like peacocks rattling their tails, and letting women scribble random lines across their chests.
I scan the crowd of faces, spotting a few cocky assholes who will be kept a safe distance from Thalia by her bodyguard, namely me. I look around again, hoping Jasmine will take a hint and leave me alone if I ignore her chatter long enough.
She’s not that perceptive, though, which is odd since she’s Nico’s assistant. Attention to detail and spotting deviations in a pattern is in her job description. She’s the administrator for all moves my brother makes with my money, and she has too much to say about said moves as if she knows better and should be the one to manage my portfolio.
It takes a while, but her girlfriend saves the day ten minutes later, hauling Jasmine to the bar.
A tall brunette in a skimpy bikini grabs my arm next. “Hey, handsome,” she chirps, her eyes hooded, pupils blown as she presses herself to my side. “I think you need to relax.”
“And I think you need a cup of coffee.”
She giggles, running her fingers up and down my chest. “I’d rather have a mouthful of your dick.”
A month ago, after hearing that line, I would’ve dragged her inside to give her exactly what she wanted and then some. Tonight, the idea of driving my cock inside a random chick turns my stomach.
I take her wrist and push her back to stop her boobs from rubbing against my arm. “Wrong guy, sweetheart. Find one who’s interested.”
A child-like pout turns her lips, and she flaunts the boobs in my face again as if to taunt me. “What? Am I not pretty enough for you, Mr. Hayes?”
Of course, she knows who I am. Being the mayor’s son with six brothers, three of which are identical triplets, means everyone in this city knows who the Hayes are, what we do, and what we look like.
“You’re not sober enough for me,” I shoot back, scanning the crowd again, searching for Thalia.
My hands clench into fists when I spot her chatting to Dean. She glares straight at me, then moves her eyes to the brunette beside me, her features pinched.
Angry, are you? You and me both, omorfiá.
“Did you hear me?” The girl clinging to my arm reaches for my beer, purposely brushing her fingers along my chest. “I’ll suck you off real good, and I won’t try to call you.”
“Beat it,” I hiss and walk away, heading to the seating area under the terrace.
Dean looks at me, eyes focused. A smug smile slips for a moment when we exchange glances as if it’s a game, and the first one who talks, loses. He sits with Thalia on the eight-seater halfmoon couch, one arm sprawled over the back, legs far apart, a king-of-the-world attitude in full view. It hardly changes when I approach.
“There you are.” I lean over the back, pressing my lips to the crown of Thalia’s head. She tenses, her head whipping around so fast I swear I heard acrack.I play it down, even though the slight rise of her eyebrow puts a self-indulgent smirk on my face. “It’s our turn to play pong.”
Dean shifts in his seat, drumming his fingers on his knee for a second before raking them through his hair, ruffling it up as if he’s unsure what to do with himself.
I pin him down with a pointed look that loosely translates to:back off, dude or I’ll do good on the threat I never voiced, and remove your hands from your body.
“Oh, okay.” Thalia plasters an apologetic smile onto her lips, glancing at Dean. “Sorry, I won’t be long.”
Yeah, right. She’s not coming back to this asshole.
I lead her away, silently stewing. “What are you doing with him?” I ask when we’re out of his earshot.