Page 1 of One Little Mistake
The Westbrooks
Chapter 1
Easton
Eight months ago
“What?” I bark into the phone.
Caller ID tells me it’s my older brother, Preston, but in truth, I would have answered the same way regardless of who it was. I’m a prick by choice; it keeps me safe. However, I acknowledge I may have taken it too far with my last assistant. It’s why I arranged a hefty severance for her, even though she quit.
“Hey, sunshine. Do you always answer your phone like a Neanderthal, or is that a special greeting just for me?”
Preston is my oldest brother and has a circus happening around him right now. The fact that he’s calling tells me he needs a favor.
“What do you want, Preston?” These are the times I miss having an assistant. Their job is to be my gatekeeper, even if it is my family. The only exception is my mother. No one fucks with Sylvie Westbrook.
“It’s not what I want, asshole. It’s what I have.”
“I’m not in the mood for riddles. I’m swamped over here.” My voice is flat with an edge of annoyance.
“That’s what I’m calling for.” Preston lets out a loud whoosh of air. “What happened to us, East? We used to be so close.”
He’s not wrong. Pres was my best friend growing up. Even though his three friends basically lived at our house, he never made me feel like the bothersome little brother. The five of us were a team. Then my friend betrayed me, my dad died, and it all changed. I changed. I don’t know how to let them in, so I keep them all at arm’s length. If my family knew the truth, they would never look at me the same. I don’t want their pity, so I can’t bring myself to take that step.
“It’s my fault, Pres.” In so many ways, he’ll never understand. Feeling my neck tense, I knead it with my fingers. “I’m just trying to figure shit out.”
“East? That’s what I’m here for, man. Let me in so I can help.”
His offer is tempting. So many times, I’ve wanted to come clean about what happened the day everything changed, but I’m too ashamed.
“It’s just something I have to do on my own, Pres, but thanks. What is it you called for?” I ask, more gently this time.
He’s silent, and I have to check the phone to make sure we didn’t get disconnected. Then, finally, he sighs.
“Okay, but I’m here, brother. Whatever you need, I’m here. Don’t wait so long … so long that I can’t help you.”
Something in his tone has me sitting up straighter. “Is everything all right, Pres?”
“Huh? Oh.” He clears his throat. “Yeah, sorry. Anyway, I was calling because I have an assistant for you.”
Oh fuck.
“Wh-What do you mean you have an assistant for me? If this is some ex-plaything you’re trying to pawn off on me because you suddenly have a girlfriend, I don’t want any part of it. My life is already a mess.”
Preston surprised us last week with the news of not only a girlfriend but a live-in girlfriend. After spending his entire adult life living a bachelor, playboy lifestyle, we were all more than a little skeptical, but thankfully, Emory seems like a great girl.
“No, dickhead. It’s Lexi.”
It takes me a minute to place the name. Since I avoid family gatherings at all costs, it takes longer than it should. My mother sort of adopted Preston’s childhood friends—Dexter, Trevor, and Loki. She hangs a stocking for them every Christmas since their childhoods were pretty fucked up. Lexi is the cousin of Dexter’s new wife, Lanie. This is going to be a disaster.
“I don’t know, Pres. That seems … messy.”
“No doubt. But here’s the thing. Loki dropped her off here after rescuing her from her ex, Miles Black.”
I let out a long, pained breath. Miles is bad news. He’s part of a crime family Loki has worked for years to take down.
“How is it possible our lives are so entwined with Lexi’s family? First Lanie, now Lexi?” I ask, but really it’s a rhetorical question. We both know that road can only lead to Loki. And that means I can’t turn this girl away.
