Page 112 of Lucky Boys
“Got it.” The driver pulled the car to the front and immediately a valet came and opened the door for us.
“Ready?” I asked Brooks. I watched him physically steel himself.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, then let’s do this.” I slid out of the car and then took his arm once he followed me.
One we made it past security, who patted us both down and verified our invitation, we were smacked right in the face with the type of lavish party I used to hate as a kid. I had suffered through a few of these, and they never got easier. Brooks faltered a step once he took in the chandeliers and the over the top gaudiness.
“Holy fuck.” He whispered under his breath, quietly enough that no one but me could hear.
With an arm wrapped possessively around him, I nuzzled his neck. For all the guests watching us, it would look like I was claiming him. “You got this trouble. Act like you belong.”
His shoulders straightened, even as he tilted to give me more access. “Right. I go to shit like this every weekend. In fact, this one looks a little rough. They gotta step up their game.”
I laughed and reluctantly pulled back. I wanted to find a quiet corner and take my boy apart, but I managed to show some restraint. I scanned the guests and found someone I knew standing by the bar.
“Come on, darling, let’s get a drink.”
I led Brooks in the direction of Tanner Belding. We grew up together; same boarding schools, parents were part of the same country clubs. I think our father’s wanted us to be friends, but he was always a fucking prick and it never happened. I did knock out his two front teeth once and ended up expelled from that particular boarding school. That was a good memory.
But for as much as I hated the asshole, he knew everything about everyone, and loved to spill secrets, especially if he thought he was bragging or had something over me.
He was talking to someone I vaguely recognized as a congressman, his hand on the ass of a woman who was half his age—which I guess I shouldn’t be talking, but at least Brooks was and looked legal. This girl, I wasn’t so sure. Also, by the way she swayed and leaned heavily into Tanner’s side, it was clear she was under some kind of influence. I was going to be fucking sick.
Brooks stiffened at my side, no doubt seeing her condition, but I squeezed his hand, a reminder to play his part. He tilted his head and smiled up at me, sultry and sexy, and I relaxed.
Tanner stopped speaking the minute he saw me. He excused himself from his conversation and dragged the poor girl toward us. “Luca Castellano, as I live and breathe. I never expected you to grace us with your presence after your father’s passing. You always acted like you were too good for it.”
I just laughed haughtily, “Yes, well times changed.”
His eyes roamed Brooks in an overly possessive way that had me wanting to bang my chest and claim him as mine. How Brooks managed to give him a flirty smile while being looked at like that was beyond me.
“I can see that. Who is this pretty thing?”
“See, this was why Sunshine was a better choice than me,” Skye said in our ears, “I would’ve knocked his fucking teeth out.”
Brooks almost laughed, but managed to keep it in.
“Isn’t he lovely?” I gritted out, “I found him a few years ago, but it took a while to make him mine.” I squeezed Brooks, hoping to remind him how I truly felt about him, even though we went over all this and he knew some of the things that may have to happen tonight. Acting like he was my possession was honestly very low on the list of undesirable possibilities, considering during play time I wouldn’t think twice about it.
“I do love the ones who put up a fight.”
Skye made gagging noises through the earpiece, and I could even hear Diego grumbling. They were not helping, and Skye knew better.
Ignoring all of them, I focused on Tanner. “I know it’s a shock to see me here, but recently my business interests have changed. When the opportunity arose, I couldn’t turn it down.”
He eyed Brooks again, “Last I heard you were with those two brutish men. It was the talk of all society.”
I resisted the eyeroll. I could only imagine. “Yes, well, what my partners don’t know, won’t hurt them. They enjoy the lifestyle well enough.”
A snort this one from Maverick. Tanner squeezed the girl, she barely reacted. “Oh I know all about that.” Tanner leaned in closer, “Does your new business interests have anything to do with the reason our gracious host invited us all here tonight?”
I scanned the party meaningfully, “I’ll admit I was intrigued. Where is our host and this guest of honor?”
Tanner’s eyes widened like he was giving me the juiciest scoop, “I heard the boy was giving him some trouble. He did this too soon, if you ask me. The boy isn’t trained yet. Personally, drugs are the easiest, but apparently Vladimir does things the hard way. They should both be here soon.”
Fuck. I discreetly glanced at the girl. He all but admitted he had her drugged. I had my doubts about her being here willingly, but now I was nearly positive. I needed to get her out of here. “I’m finding it…difficult…to find the right business partners. I suppose my previous reputation preceded me,” I shrugged, like it was a nuisance that I worked fucking hard to separate myself from this. Though as far as I was aware my father never was involved in trafficking. Still, he was far from an angel.
