Page 5 of Just Like That
I just wanted it behind us, once and for all.
“The Sullivans and Kings working together.” I shook my head. “It’s weird, though, right?”
Royal laughed. “So fucking weird.”
I crossed my arms to cover the tugging sensation at the center of my chest. Part of me was restless, wanting to get back to work and get shit done. The other part—the part that was acutely aware of the gaping hole in my chest that should contain a heart—warned me to at leasttryto connect with my older brother.
I simply wasn’t that guy.
“I don’t know. Maybe a little change around here is a good thing. Speaking of change ...” I checked my watch, annoyed that our conversation was taking far too long already. “You planning to keep Veda around for a while?”
Royal unsuccessfully tried to suppress a grin. That man was down bad for his woman. Veda and I had been cordial business contacts in Chicago, and I had brought her into town to help me dig through my father’s business dealings.
It hadn’t taken long for Royal to charm his way into her heart.
Typical.
“Thinking about it. Why?” he asked.
I laid out the facts. “She’s fucking smart. And a hard worker too. I want to bring her onto the team full-time, but I don’t need you breaking my new employee’s heart and fucking with my plans.”
Royal’s face split into a wide grin. “If I get my way, she’ll be my wife, and then you’ll be stuck with her for the foreseeable future.”
I smiled back, satisfied. Having Veda on the team would double our efforts, and I needed someone as cutthroat and efficient as me. “Fantastic.” I shook his hand again. “Think she’ll want to officially sign on with a company that’s completely going to shit?”
Royal laughed. “I’m sure she’ll consider it a welcome challenge.”
I sighed. Though early, exhaustion was already settling in. I shook my head at Royal. “How you ended up with a woman like her is beyond me, brother.”
Before he could come back with a quippy response, my phone rang, flashing my brother Whip’s name across the screen.
I held up my hand, cutting off Royal’s response.
“JP,” Whip said over the line before I could even say hello. “You won’t believe this. I’ve got a kid here who says you’re his dad. You know anything about that? I swear, man, he’s?—”
“Wait, wait. Slow down. What the fuck are you talking about? Where are you?” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“I’m at the fire station. Are you busy?” he asked.
“Yes.” It was ridiculous of him to even ask.
Whip scoffed and kept rattling on, despite my best efforts to brush him off. “You sure you didn’t steal from Dad’s playbook and have a secret family no one knows about?”
Irritation rolled off me. The constant comparisons between my father and me were plentiful. As if I needed another reminder.
“No,” I ground out.
“Cute kid. If he’s yours, you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone. Just Emily ... and Sylvie ... plus Abel. Probably Royal and MJ too.” Humor danced across the line, and the ever-present knot between my shoulders tightened.
Of course he’d run his mouth to his fiancée and our siblings just to goad me. I wouldn’t expect any less of my ridiculous older brother.
I huffed. “Of course it’s not mine.”
Whip clicked his tongue in disbelief. “Well, he’s pretty convinced—knew your name and everything.” His chuckle grated on my already fried nerves. “The kid looks just like you, man. Are youabsolutelysure?”
I sighed again, my mind spinning. I had a sinking feeling that this wasn’t going away until I dealt with it. “I don’t know—Jesus, I will be right there.”
I quickly ended the call and shoved the phone into the pocket of my slacks.