Fraud

Gabriel

When we leave the den, Ivy walks out ahead of me, her long hair a mess falling down her back and her eyes sca

Ta

Even though Ivy got cleaned up and was ready to walk out, I’d trapped her against the door for round two.

We weren’t quiet about it either.

Leaning a shoulder against a wall, I watch Ivy resume her place by Luca and Ava.

“We all good now?” Ta

A smile stretches my lips. “Yeah. We just had some issues to discuss.”

The other guys smirk and laugh softly, a few elbowing each other as Ta

“It sounded like one hell of a discussion. You sure you’re ready to get back to why we’re all here?”

“I can go one more time if you all want to give me another half hour.” I shrug and run a hand through my hair. “I’ll make it quick, just so you don’t feel bad about yourself.”

Ta

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Another shrug. “Nothing. It was just the type of discussion that takes time. But if you think it can be accomplished in less than five minutes-“

I leave the implication to hang between us as his eyes widen.

“Whatever, asshole. I’m not going to stand here and argue about my stamina.”

I know Ta

“I’ll let Luca tell you instead.” He turns to her. “Babe, tell him.”

“Are you insane?” Her face turns a bright red as her head spins to glare at Ta

The rest of the guys bust out laughing, and my eyes slide Ivy’s direction to see her cheeks stain pink.

It feels weird seeing her as part of the group. But maybe that’s what fate had always intended. I can’t say I’m surprised about it, though. In so many ways, our paths have always led the same direction.

Thinking back to what my father said, I wonder again about the agreement he had with Ivy’s father.

Why would they want us to get married? It seems like every time we get closer to one answer, a million more questions pop up to replace it.

“I can’t finish the meeting because I’m too busy wondering why this asshole thinks he gets to have discussions while we’re all standing around waiting for him.”

“Gabriel,” Luca says, “come here.”

Flashing Ta

“Is Ta

“Yes. I think you should refuse all discussions with him for the next thirty days until he learns to be nice.”

She laughs just as a hand wraps around my wrist to jerk me up from the floor and shove me down again between Ivy’s legs.

“Shut the fuck up, asshole. Leave my girl alone and worry about yours.”

No worries on that.

I run my hands up her legs and laugh when she grabs them before they can climb too high.

“Fucking hell,” Ta

He eyes both Ivy and me. “Back to the actual discussion and not whatever the hell it was you two were doing.”

I grin. “If you’re not sure, then there are plenty of videos online that provide adequate instruction.”

“Oh! I have suggestions for some good ones,” Sawyer calls out.

Damon speaks up next. “Speaking of, have you seen the newest video uploaded by-“

“All of you, shut up!” Ta

The room goes silent except for a few snorting laughs, everybody but Ta

He glares at all of us slowly, one after the other, and it only makes Shane and Mason laugh harder.

“Back to what we were talking about.” His dark stare shoots to me. “Is that better, or do you have something else you want to say?”

My smile fades, and I squeeze Ivy’s hands. “I’ve got nothing. You didn’t leave yourself open with that one.”

“Good to know.” He stares at me a moment longer. “I think I liked you better when you were in a bad mood.”

Ta

I elbow Luca’s leg and glance up at her. “I’m more sorry for you, though.”

She laughs so hard her face turns red, the rest of the room cracking up again.

Ta

Releasing a breath, I remind him, “Ivy and I are dealing with her dad tomorrow. Taylor is looking into Everly. Shane is trying to cozy up to Brinley, and -“

Brinley’s name reminds me of something. I turn to glance up at Ivy.

“You really did look like you had something to say about that earlier. What was it?”

Her eyes round, “Oh. Nothing, except I think I know Brinley.”

“Wait, what?” Ta

“Sorry, I was behaving.” She gives him the same saccharine grin that makes me want to bend her over a damn table every time I see it.

Squeezing her hand, I drag her attention to me and tease, “Behave.”

Ivy winks at me and looks up at Ta

“I didn’t put two and two together with her and Jerry, but she has an uncommon first name so it reminded me. Brinley used to come over to my dad’s house when she was younger with her family. It’s been years since I’ve talked to her, but if someone has a picture of her, I can probably recognize her.”

“How much younger?” Ta

“Before I left for college.”

His stare drops down to mine, and he doesn’t need to point out the obvious. Something has been going on for a long time. Apparently, since before we were out of high school.

Once again, another question is answered which breeds a hundred more.

After a few seconds, Ta

Taylor stands up from his seat and walks across the room to show Ivy his phone.

Her fingers tangle through mine at the same time she says, “Yeah, that’s Brinley. I would recognize that face anywhere. Although-“

She leans forward to take a closer look at whatever Taylor is showing her. Tapping the screen with her finger, voices filter through the speaker, a mix of laughter and music. “Is she at Myth?”

My brow shoots up at that.

Myth is an underground club that very few people know about. Only those in the right social circles know how to find it. It got its name for that exact reason. If you’re not part of the right crowds, it doesn’t actually exist.

“Yeah,” Ta

Casting a quick glance at Shane, I see the corner of his lip quirk. “You could have mentioned that before.”

“Glad to hear you’re happier to help us out now.”

Shane flips Ta