Arranged love

GRAVE

I LOOK OUT the oval window in my brother’s private jet. All I see are clouds, but it’s better than the judging looks he’s been giving me since he picked me up and dragged my ass onto his plane this morning.

“Here you go, Grave,” his flight attendant, Nicki, announces as she comes over to my seat. “Sure you don’t want anything, Bones?” she asks him.

He shakes his head once without even bothering to look up at her.

“Thank you,” I tell Nicki and throw it back. Setting it on the table between my brother and me, I notice his eyes on mine. Then they drop to the now empty glass. “If you didn’t want me to drink, then you shouldn’t keep your bar stocked,” I say matter-of-factly.

He runs a hand through his hair and looks away from me. He’s clearly still very pissed.

“Why are you fucking your best friend’s fiancée?” I come out and ask.

“What me and Emilee do does not concern you,” he snaps.

“My other question is why would Titan allow that?” I go on when he doesn’t say anything. “I mean, if I was engaged, I wouldn’t let you go anywhere near my pussy …”

“Enough!” he shouts.

I cross my arms over my chest and smirk at him.

“Again, what we do is none of your business,” he says in an annoyed tone.

My phone vibrates, and I look down at it to see a message from Lucy.

Lucy: I’m lonely. Come over and fuck me.

I type back a response.

Me: Can’t. Out of town.

It vibrates immediately with a sad face. I lock the screen and place it back down on the table.

“I want you to go to rehab,” Bones states.

I snort. “Stay out of my life, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

“Grave.” He sighs and looks at me. His dark blue eyes look exhausted. My brother runs too much and rarely sleeps. “I made Mom a promise.”

I throw my head back and laugh, my chest shaking. “And you’re deciding now that you want to honor it? She’s been dead for eight years, Dillan.”

“Goddammit, Grave,” he growls softly, shaking his head. “I’m trying here.”

“No, Dad is dead, so now you’re going to try to take over that role.” The truth is, he has always been more of a dad to me than our father ever was. And I owe him everything for that, but I can’t change who I am. I don’t want to change who I am.

“I can’t do this again,” he whispers.

“Do what?” I look around for Nicki. Where the fuck did she go? I told her to keep them coming when I boarded his plane. “Act like you care?”

“Of course, I care.” He slams his fist down on the table. “We buried our mother, Kyle. Now Dad …” He sighs. “Is it so awful that I don’t want to bury you too?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and avert my eyes.

“I know what you think.” He fills the awkward silence. “That Mom’s death didn’t affect me, but it did.”

I lift my eyes to look at him, and he’s staring out his window.

“I did what I had to do for you. You needed me more than ever after she passed. And I’m sorry if I did a shitty job.”

Just then, Nicki comes up to our seats and hands me another drink. I take it from her hand and say the only thing I can think to say. “It’s too late to make up for lost time.” Standing from my seat, I make my way to the back of the plane. I open the bathroom door, and slam it shut, locking him out. I dig into my pocket and pull out the pill bottle that I got from Luca yesterday when Cross and I went up to Glass. I pop the lid and wash two pills down with my new drink.

I can’t handle this flight with my brother sober. Especially if he’s going to bring up our past.

APRIL

I stand in the middle of a grand foyer in a black cocktail dress with a glass of champagne in one hand and my clutch in the other. “How long are we going to be here?” I ask Alexa.

“I just wanted to make an appearance. I promised her we would come,” she whispers.

“Who?” I ask before taking another sip of my drink.

“Alexa,” a woman calls out, coming toward us. She wears a white one-shoulder dress that comes midthigh. It has to be designer and cost a small fortune. Her red hair is cut short and parted to the side, tucked behind her ear. She raises her arms, opening them to welcome Alexa in for a hug. “I’m so glad you made it.”

Alexa hugs her and then pulls away. “Of course.” She steps to the side and gestures to me. “April, this is Jasmine. Jasmine, this is my best friend, April.”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She surprises me by pulling me in for a hug.

“You too,” I say when we separate. “How do you two know each other?” I ask.

“Oh, Jasmine knows everyone,” a woman says, joining the conversation. She wears a turquoise minidress, showing off a set of long legs. It dips down low in the front, and she wears a black choker around her neck. Her dark hair is down in big waves. “Hi.” She reaches out her right hand, and I don’t miss the huge rock that covers her ring finger on her left hand that holds her champagne flute. “I’m Emilee.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m April.”

“It’s true.” Jasmine nods once. “I do know everyone. It’s because I’m so relatable.”

Emilee snorts, making Alexa laugh.

“So what’s the occasion?” I wonder.

“I just bought the place.” Jasmine smiles, holding her hands out wide. “Thought I’d have a party to break it in.”

I nod. “Well, it’s a gorgeous place.” It’s an understatement. The house is a fucking mansion with all the amenities that make places like this worth millions. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and expensive artifacts. Once you entered the gated property, they had valet out front to park the cars. Men in suits stood outside at the front doors, and two stood inside to greet the guests. Butlers walk around with trays of champagne and finger foods. The only thing the party is missing is puppies as party favors.

“Thanks.” She smiles at me. “But let’s be honest, it’s boring, right?”

“Oh, no,” I say.

“Not at all,” Alexa adds.

“It sucks balls,” Emilee tells her before taking a sip of her champagne.

Jasmine sighs. “I know, right? Let’s say fuck it and go out.”

Emilee smiles brightly. “Yes. I could use a girls night. It’s been too long.”

“What about your guests?” I ask, taking a quick look around. There aren’t really that many people present that I see. But then again, this house is massive, they could all be in a ballroom somewhere. We’ve only made it to the grand foyer.

Jasmine shrugs. “I don’t care if they stay. I have enough security here to make sure nothing gets stolen. And Lord knows a riot isn’t going to break out with this laid-back crowd. Most of them are my father’s friends anyway. Any chance he gets to show off to them, he takes advantage of.” She snaps her fingers. “Let me get my purse and cell really quick.”

Alexa turns to face me after they walk away. “We won’t stay out late.”

I shrug. “It’s no big deal. I won’t be drinking much tonight.”

The girls return, and we walk out the front double doors, down the steps, and to the right. I almost trip over my heels when I see the black Mercedes Maybach G650. I’ve always wanted one. When Alexa opens the back door for me, I slide in and sink into the leather, biting my lip so I don’t groan at the softness.

I wonder what this chick does for a living. The size of her house … the cars … it has to be Daddy’s money, right? I’m twenty-two, and she can’t be much older than me. She did say that he likes to show off.

The remix of “Roses” by SAINt JHN starts blaring through the speakers as she pulls out of the driveway.

“Where are we going?” Emilee asks from the passenger seat.

Jasmine shrugs. “Wherever.”

The music comes to a stop as she receives a text message. Her Bluetooth begins to speak to us. “You have an incoming message from Big Daddy Dick. Landing early tomorrow morning. You going to be home?”

Emilee starts laughing. “Who the fuck is Big Daddy Dick?”

Jasmine looks over at her and smiles. “No one you know.” She picks up her cell out of the cup holder and hands it to Emilee. “Text him back.”

“What do you want me to say?” She looks down at the phone.

“Say, I’ll snort two lines of birth control just for you, Daddy.”

Emilee frowns. “But you’re on the shot.”

“Dear Lord …” Jasmine jerks the phone from her hands and tosses it to the back, and it lands on my lap. “Text the man, please?” she asks, looking at me in her rearview mirror.

Nodding, I open the text and do as she asks. “Done,” I tell her.

“Thank you.” She says.

“Is this some guy you fuck for free?” Emilee asks.

My eyes widen at that question. What the hell does that mean?

Jasmine snorts. “Honey, I’d pay to fuck this one. He’s that good.”

I look over at Alexa and she just shrugs. I’ve never heard her speak of these girls before, so I know she’s not close with them.

Her Bluetooth picks up again. “You have an incoming message from Big Daddy Dick you better meet me at the front doors on your knees wearing nothing but your red heels.”