Deception, p.19
Deception, page 19
Seriously?
Scout let him in?
Why the hell is he even here?
“What’s going on?” Bryant demands.
Sparrow shoves away from me and stands. He doesn’t offer me a hand, not that I expect him to. I rub at my sore neck and shoot daggers at him with my eyes.
“Sit, boys,” Bryant instructs. “Now.”
I drop onto one end of the sofa while Sparrow takes a seat in one of the recliners. Scout darts his eyes back and forth between the two of us, clearly fucking amused based on the way his dark eyes flash.
Bryant, immaculately dressed in a black suit, straightens his black tie and then sits on the arm of the sofa farthest from me. He may be getting up there in years, but right now, he’s every bit the powerful patriarch of this family. I imagine had we known our biological father growing up—his brother—we’d have been raised to respect the suit and the whole boss-man vibe. But we weren’t raised by a Morelli. Mom raised us to be self-confident, to take what we want, and to never take no for an answer.
“What were you two fighting about?” Bryant asks, his eyes darting between us.
“A girl,” Scout tattles. “Every year we grow wiser and older, but some things stay the same.”
For fuck’s sake.
I discreetly flip Scout the bird. He shrugs, cuddling Heathen against his chest. Sparrow won’t look at me, obviously still super pissed. Well, fuck him. At least he got laid.
“Which girl?” Bryant asks, his tone clipped. “It wouldn’t be the Croft girl would it?”
My turn to tattle. “He fucked her. Ruined everything.”
“You’re an asshole,” Sparrow growls. “No wonder she wouldn’t fuck you, Sour Patch Kid. At least I can be sweet once in a fucking while.”
“It’s not about you fucking her,” I bite back, “it’s about you fucking up the job!”
“Enough,” Bryant snarls. “Scout, what happened?”
Scout chuckles, the sound dark and demonic. “Landry.”
Bryant’s nostrils flare. He’s losing patience with us. I don’t blame him. Not many people have gotten a front row seat to one of our fights. It’s three times more obnoxious than the normal fight because not one of us will ever back down and Mom’s no longer around to diffuse the situation.
“What’s the status on the jobs I’ve asked you all to do?” Bryant asks, his voice icy. “Or have you all forgotten Landry Croft is a job?”
“Sparrow got Landry in trouble with her dad,” Scout says, unhelpfully. “They’d been texting before, but she told him not to text her anymore.”
“I’m going to try and smooth shit over when I go there this afternoon,” I explain with a heavy sigh. “It’ll be fine.”
“And you?” Bryant asks Scout. “Your efforts with Ty Constantine?”
“He’s my bestie now,” Scout deadpans.
Bryant’s jaw clenches and he pinches the bridge of his nose. The silence stretches on. Finally, he looks at Sparrow, brows pinched and lips pursed.
“Did you three have anything to do with Alexander Croft getting jumped last week?” Bryant’s stare bores into Sparrow though he’s asking all three of us.
“He hit her,” Sparrow spits out. “That couldn’t go unpunished.”
Bryant rises to his feet and his face turns a grotesque shade of purple. Okay, so he’s pissed. Really pissed. “You’re done.”
Sparrow cracks his knuckles and shakes his head. “It’s a setback. We’re not done.”
“You. Are. Done.” He jabs a finger at each one of us in rapid succession. “All of you. I’m taking you off this job.”
“Why?” I demand, rising anger burning its way up my esophagus. “Aside from today, things have been going well. She trusts us and isn’t interested in Constantine.”
“Going well?” Bryant sneers. “You attacked a very prominent man in New York who just so happens to be in an alliance with our enemy.”
“He didn’t see our faces,” Sparrow offers.
“It doesn’t matter,” Bryant barks back at him. “It won’t be long until he figures out who did this to him. It’ll come back on me. My sons will…” He shakes his head. “This ends now. No more Ford Mann. Starting now, you’re back to biting when I tell you to like the good little dogs you are.”
Dogs?
Fuck. Him.
“I have another location,” Bryant says to Scout. “Torch this one too, and for fuck’s sake, don’t screw this up.”
“Arson?” Sparrow scoffs. “Really? That’s a little more involved than a simple ass whooping, Bryant.”
Bryant steps closer to Sparrow. “In case you forgot, it’s my money that puts a roof over your head and food in your mouth. This apartment is mine. The cars you all drive are mine. I have the ability to take it all away. I’m not your fucking mommy.”
Sparrow glowers at him, his jaw muscle flexing as he attempts to hold in his wrath. “Remind me again why we don’t just up and leave this goddamn family? Start over fresh?”
Bryant pats him on the head. “Because I have something you want.”
“We don’t give a shit about Ash anymore,” Scout barks out, shocking the hell out of me and Sparrow both. “Try again.”
“Ahhh.” Bryant bounces his gaze to Scout, to me, and then lands on Sparrow. “But you do care about your mother, don’t you?”
“What the hell does that even mean?” Sparrow demands.
“One phone call,” Bryant states, a smug expression on his severe face. “I can make it all go away with one phone call.”
“Make what go away?” I start popping my knuckles as my nerves get the best of me. “What is it you think you have that we want so much? And what does this have to do with Mom?”
“I know you three haven’t forgotten that your precious mother is in prison.” Bryant smiles, cold and calculating. “I can make it all go away. You’d have your mother back.”
What the actual fuck?
“You’ve had the ability to get her out of that hellhole and you haven’t yet?” I growl, jumping to my feet. “You’ve been waiting for what? The perfect opportunity to make us do something for you? This is some sick shit, man. Really sick.”
“I’ll text Scout the location. He’ll know what to do.” He ignores me entirely, his attention on Sparrow. “Losing this building, in addition to the last one, will cripple our adversary’s hold on the district he’s trying to reform and revamp. They’ll understand that they can’t encroach on Morelli territory in the end. I’m simply giving them a reminder.”
“A reminder that you’re a piece of shit?” I spit out, unable to bite my tongue.
Bryant sneers. “A reminder that my family is in charge. Morellis don’t play by the rules…we make them.”
Me and my brothers watch him leave our apartment in silence. I’ve always hated Bryant, but now I really want to beat the living shit out of him. How dare he have a way to get our mother out of prison and keep it from us. He waited for the perfect opportunity when he needed to use that card and flung it in our faces with no remorse.
“I’m going to check on Landry,” I tell my brothers. “Don’t try to stop me, either.”
Sparrow glares at me, but doesn’t say shit. Scout sits up straight and nods.
“Me and Sparrow will deal with the property,” Scout says. “See what the fallout is from this morning.”
“We’re going to keep seeing her?” Sparrow asks, frowning. “That’ll jeopardize us getting Mom out of prison.”
“What Bryant doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Scout replies with a shrug. “Besides, if he can get our mother out of prison with a phone call, who’s to say someone else can’t do the same? There are two other families more powerful than his. The Constantines and the Crofts. Lucky for us, we have a connection with both.”
“Ty?” I lift a brow at Scout. “You think he’d actually help us get Mom out of there?”
“I think rolling over and letting Bryant dictate our every move gives him all the power,” Scout grinds out. “I’m done with him pulling our strings.”
* * *
Sandra answers the door, her lips puckered in distaste. I know she doesn’t like me but I don’t give a damn. I’m not leaving until I make sure Landry is okay. I have to talk to her.
“’Sup.”
Her lip curls up. “Perhaps we should cancel this afternoon’s lesson. Della is being quite precocious.”
“I can deal with her,” I assure the old hag. “Plus, you know how much she loves this cat.”
Sandra glances down at the carrier and briefly closes her eyes. “Fine. As soon as the two of you get settled, I’ll take a break. I could use one today.”
She’s always kind of cold and witchy, but today she appears to be on edge. Like she’s waiting for something bad to happen. I don’t like it. Especially after everything Sparrow told me this morning.
Sandra leads me through the quiet condo to the classroom. Della is waiting inside, coloring all over the desk. Sandra gives me a nod and smirk that says, “Told you so.” I wave her off before setting down the carrier.
Della notices me first, scowls, and then sees Heathen, and grins. Brat. I kneel to let Heathen out. The devil cat hisses at me and then bolts. Della abandons her art and chases after her. Good. This’ll buy me some time. While Della attempts to coax the cat out of hiding, I slip out of the classroom and tiptoe through the house. I pass a few open doors, but there’s one near the end that remains closed. My guess is Landry is in there. Quickly, I turn the knob and peek inside.
I don’t know what I’m expecting from her room, but it’s not this. Landry is so interesting. There are layers and layers when it comes to this girl. I’d half expected her room to be filled with pictures or décor that reflects her personality. But it doesn’t. It’s sleek and fancy as fuck to go along with the aesthetic of the rest of the penthouse, but it’s missing her…charm. It makes me sad because she doesn’t belong here.
Lying curled up on the bed, wrapped up in a soft chenille blanket with only her blonde head poking out, is Landry. She seems so small and shattered. Her cheeks are tearstained, and her lips are puffy. I wonder if she cried herself to sleep. As quietly as possible, I close the door behind me and then approach the bed.
“Hey, honey.”
Her eyes flutter open. They’re bloodshot from crying and unfocused from sleep. I take her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips for a kiss.
“Ford,” she whispers, her bottom lip wobbling. “You can’t be in here.”
“Come here,” I instruct as I tug on her and pull her closer. “We’re not going to worry about that right now. I want to know how you’re doing.”
She allows me to drag her into my lap. Her face nuzzles against my neck. Hot breath tickles my flesh. For a moment, neither of us say anything. I hold her close and stroke her back.
“Talk to me,” I murmur. “Tell me what he said.”
Her body trembles. “I’m done with school. He, uh, took away my phone, too.”
Bastard.
“He knows something’s up with me,” she continues. “He won’t stop until he finds out what it is.” She tilts her head up, frowning at me. “You’re not safe. Us doing this isn’t safe. He’ll find out I’m seeing you and…” Tears well in her eyes. “He’s going to ruin you because of me.”
“He can try,” I growl. “Don’t worry about me.”
“That’s the thing, though,” she whispers. “I do worry about you. I like you, Ford. And after this morning…” She chews on her bottom lip. “It felt so good being with you.”
A spike of jealousy stabs me in the gut.
“Next time will be better,” I vow. “You didn’t even get to come.”
Her brows pinch. “You got me off with your fingers first. I came, lover boy.”
Imagining Sparrow fingerfucking her on top of everything else he’s done with her is like icing on a shit cake. It pisses me off. I don’t want to think about it.
“Come here,” I growl, cupping the back of her head and drawing her closer. “I need to kiss you.”
She moans, soft and sweet, as my lips press against hers. I kiss her deeply and with each stroke, I make promises to her. Promises that I’ve never made to anyone.
I’ll make you happy.
You’ll see.
“You have to go before he discovers you here,” she murmurs breathily against my lips. “Please go. I’ll see you again Wednesday.”
I kiss her once more before resting my forehead to hers. “Wednesday. I can’t wait.”
Though I’m annoyed Sparrow got her in this situation, I’m not at all bothered by the fact I’ll be the only one with access to her now. He can go back to finding Tinder pussy and Scout can continue stalking Ash for all I care.
As for me, I’ll be the only one to see Landry.
Finally, I can have her all to myself.
“Ford?”
“Hmm?”
“What are you hiding?”
I go still at her question. “Nothing. Why?”
“You wouldn’t let me use your phone this morning. It was shady. I don’t care what it is, just tell me.”
She doesn’t care?
I don’t believe that for a second.
If she ever learns me and my brothers played her, I feel like she’s going to care a whole helluva lot.
“I’m not hiding anything, honey. I just…” I trail off before sticking with my original statement. “I’m not hiding anything.”
“You are hiding something,” she says, studying me. “I feel like I have it figured out, but it’s just beyond reach. Whatever it is, it’s fine. I’m not going anywhere.”
Liar. Liar. Liar.
“But,” she murmurs.
“But.”
“But, if it’s bad, he’s going to find out. At least give me some sort of warning.”
I look away, wondering if I could even tell her the truth ever. No, I can’t. Because once she finds out I’m a triplet—one of three who she’s been intimate with—she’s going to lose her shit. This thing between us will end as abruptly as it began. I’m far too greedy to let that happen.
“Ford…”
Sully. My name is Sully. Just once I’d like to hear it on your lips, honey.
“What?”
“Do you have multiple personalities?”
She’s dead fucking serious. I almost laugh. Almost.
“What? No.”
“Then why are you so different every time I see you?” She tries to scoot out of my lap, but my hold tightens around her, trapping her in my arms. “Ford, tell me. What’s going on with you? I need to be prepared for whatever it is. It’s only a matter of time before my dad realizes you’re my secret. Don’t leave me blindsided.”
I could tell her everything.
Right here. Right now.
But that sure as hell means I won’t get to see her again. She’ll feel betrayed. Might even tell her dad about how we imbedded ourselves into their lives. Right now, she’s concerned he’ll find out.
Which he hasn’t.
But if I tell her the truth, he’ll most certainly find out. The repercussions of that truth are much worse than continuing this charade with her.
We kicked a rich dude’s ass. Defiled his daughter. Committed fraud by lying about our identity. And the list goes on. He’s connected to the Constantines, our mortal enemy. All it takes is for Alexander to find out our real names and who we are to the Constantines. Hell will absolutely break loose.
Scout blew up our lives last time. I’ll be damned if I’m responsible for it this time.
“I told you,” I hedge. “I have layers.”
My answer earns me a glare and her tone is filled with warning. “Ford…”
“Know that I’ll do everything I can to help you,” I rush out, hoping my earnest words reassure her. “Just let me.”
“I can’t even trust you.” She recoils, disgust written all over her face. “I think you should go.”
“Honey—”
“Go!” she hisses, pointing at the door.
Grabbing her jaw, I pull her to me for one more kiss that leaves us both panting after. “You can trust me.”
“I really want to,” she whispers, defeated, “but until you stop hiding parts of yourself from me, we’ll never get there.”
I want to promise her we’ll get there eventually. However, if she ever got the real truth about who I am—who we are—she’d lose all trust in me, even what little bit I’ve earned.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Landry
Can I come with you?
Della’s signed question physically hurts me, especially coupled with the pleading expression she gives me.
“No,” Dad answers for me. “She’s doing her part for this family. You, child, will behave and do your part.”
Della isn’t even looking at him, so she doesn’t catch a word. Anxiety knots my stomach. Ever since yesterday, when Dad picked me up from school and grounded me from every aspect of my life, he’s been distant and cold. Not that I mind the distance, but it just means he’s up to something.
It makes me sick and uneasy.
Leaving Della with him for a few hours worries me, but luckily Sandra is staying late tonight, having decided to inventory the silver and polish it. She’ll spend the entire time sucking up to him and praising his exquisite taste in cutlery. I may not like the witch, but Dad is less likely to do anything horrible, like smack her around, if Sandra is nearby feeding his narcissism with her endless compliments.
I’ll bring you back some candy, I sign and smile at her. Promise.
The doorbell rings causing my nerves to rattle in response. This “date” with Ty is a means to an end. He’s my key to this door I’m locked behind. Where Ford distracts me and complicates every situation we’re in, Ty doesn’t have that hold over me. He was nice and his texts, before Dad took my phone, were funny. He will help me. He has to.
“Della. Room,” Dad barks. “Sandra, answer the door.”
Della doesn’t see Dad’s mouth, so I quickly sign for her to go to her room. She’s not happy but obeys. Dad is too volatile lately. Neither she, nor I, are going to do anything to set him off.
