“Okay,” I say. Walking to the door, I turn around and stand next to him, watching him paint. I kiss him on the shoulder, right on top of a scar.
“I’ve never painted him before,” Jesse says. “It’s hard.”
“I know about hard things.” I close my eyes, staving away the memories that threaten me at any moment. “And you’re right, it’s better to face them alone.”
Leaning my hand on his shoulder, I kiss him once more. “Call me. I’ll answer.”
“Thanks,” he says, and I go to walk away when he clutches my hand tightly.
“I had a son,” Jesse says.
Had.I lose my breath. I suspected, but never envisioned him opening this far. He offers me paper promises. Riley is the one who gives me tangible promises made from steel. “He was beautiful,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.”
“The only good in me died the day he burned in the fire.”
My heart seems to stop. “I don’t believe that.”
Jesse turns his head to look at me. “You should.”
I pull my hand from his. “I am sorry, Jesse.”
He nods, looking back to his son’s face. “I’ve never painted him before. I don’t know why I’m doing it now. It’s obvious I’m not ready.”
“But maybe you are,” I counter.
“You should go,” Jesse says.
This time, I listen. The last thing I see before I leave is him sitting down on the floor to hang his head in his hands, a bottle of blue paint leaking on the floor. His son had his eyes.
Pirelle is twirling, a cocktail in hand, near a private, roped off table when I walk up. The rest of PACHA are sitting in the booth, sipping fancy drinks in fancy glasses at this fancy club. Which of course is owned by the Astors. It’s surreal to be inside a place like this, but I’m wearing my mask and I’ll never let them know I’m impressed or otherwise. I have a part to play now. Jesse andhis sontrickle in when I hug the women and compliment their dresses and outfits. Their perfection is almost robotic. Nothing is out of place. An army of beauty. A bevy of brains. They are the full package of perfection and I wonder why Riley isn’t married to one of them, or at the very least, carrying on with one or two of them. Isn’t that what men with power do? Jesse’s attraction to me is understandable at this point in comparison. He’s damaged goods. My phone chimes from my purse after the server brings me the cocktail I ordered—the same one as Pirelle. It’s a voice message from Callie. Inhaling deeply, I press the phone to my ear and listen. Callie doesn’t sound like Callie. Her accent is a little less, and she already seems like she’s assimilating to her new world. I send her a quick voice message back and confirm I’m doing well.
“Where is security?” I ask, leaning over to Hensley. There isn’t loud music here, just a low whisper of a familiar song casting across the room. It’s weird that security is out of view completely. Not only were three men in my car, but there was also another SUV trailing behind filled with suits.
“Oh, they’re here, there, and everywhere. We all have our details here. At places like this they stay out of the fray where they can make sure the building is secure and there’s always a quick exit if necessary.” She reads my face. “You’re safe here. Is that what you’re worried about?” Oh, she reads more than my face. Another power she has.
“I’m not worried,” I correct. Hensley raises a brow. “Can I ask you a question?” Sweat forms on my palms because what if I ask the wrong question and get an answer I’m not comfortable with?
“Anything in the world,” she says, beaming at me. She sips her drink. I take a few sips quickly and relish the flavor as it hits my tongue.
Humming, I say, “This is good.” A distraction from what I need to know. “What’s the deal with Jesse Astor?” I sip again, holding eye contact, hoping I seem like I want gossip.
Hensley frowns.Oh god, does she know? Will she call me out for playing her for a fool?“He’s Riley’s brother.” Ah, she’s playing it safe.
“But they aren’t actually brothers.”
She shakes her head. “Why do you ask?”
“He’s been around here and there, and I guess the dynamic confuses me.”
Her smile widens. “He is the black sheep, isn’t he? The artist henchman.” Laughing to herself, her gaze goes soft. The nerves in my stomach leap at the sight when they recognize what the look means. “I can’t tell you how true it is, but I can tell you what I’ve heard.”
I nod, with too much zest, her feelings toward Jesse forgotten when the prospect of learning something new arrives. “Yes, please.”
“As the story goes, Jesse came into the family because he helped Riley secure a fighting ring. Not like boxing or martial arts, like the underground kind that make a ton of money off the radar. It was a long time ago, before the Astors owned the entire city, but word on the street is that Jesse helped Riley and then kept helping him with the ah, black sheep kind of tasks.”
I’m glued to her every word. Finally, something, even if it’s not true, that makes sense. “That makes sense,” I say, nodding.
“It does. Jesse helped him secure The Ring, which let’s be honest, is all about controlling the betting and a lot of money, it’s been one project and takeover after the next. It’s what led to the corporation being formed and the string of successes that followed.” One woman after the next, too? “Not that I’m saying the Astors have weaknesses.” She laughs. “Because they don’t, but with Jesse by his side, Riley is untouchable.” Another pause. One song fades into another. “And vice versa, really. With the Astor last name, Jesse can’t be stopped in any regard.” She looks at me with big, beautiful eyes. “Obviously at the start of their business arrangement Riley’s father, cousin, and other family members were leery of having someone like Jesse join the org., but Riley didn’t care. He believed that adding him was the right decision. Boy, did that decision pay off. They wouldn’t have accomplished half of what they have without Jesse’s skill set.”