“No.”

  He cocked his head back. “Hmm?”

  “No.” I was firm. “Not around my friends.”

  His mouth twitched. He did not like hearing that. “They’re my friends, too.”

  “No.”

  Kash returned to my side. “What’s going on?”

  Eyes still on Matt, I answered him. “Matt wants to invite Tony and Chester to his party at the Francois, where my friends will be.”

  “No.” That was from Kash.

  Matt’s nostrils flared. “I’m not remembering the moment when you two birthed me, made you my parents.”

  Kash laughed. “That a joke?”

  Matt’s eyes turned frosty, but he didn’t repeat it. “I’ll invite Guy, too.”

  “He’s not much better around them.”

  Matt gave me a dark look. “He’s way better and you know it.”

  I had it. “Invite Torie and Tamara. Only then will I allow it.”

  “Allow it? You her mom, too?” His eyes slid sideways to where Melissa was actively listening to everything. Liam was too, and he was looking pissed off.

  Kash had had enough. He broke from my side, his hand going to Matt’s shoulder, and he forcibly turned Matt around. They started forward. Everyone started forward; it seemed we were all waiting for Kash’s move. We were shown to a private box a floor above. It wasn’t at the top, but we had our own terrace.

  We walked in.

  Kash led Matt to the corner. Kash was saying something. Matt wasn’t looking like he was enjoying it, and Kash wasn’t looking like he gave a shit. He broke away, coming back. “He’ll be fine. Your friends will be fine.”

  Matt glowered at me before moving close to pass me. He hissed under his breath as he did, “I would’ve made sure she was safe.”

  I said after him, “With Torie and Tamara there, I trust she will be.”

  He was going to the box’s restroom. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at me. “You could’ve come, too.” His jaw clenched, and it hit me then.

  This wasn’t about Melissa. This was about me, because he assumed I wouldn’t come.

  My head shot up. “Maybe I was always coming.”

  He frowned, but his jaw unclenched. “Really?”

  “Why not?”

  His eyes moved to Kash, his meaning evident.

  Kash sighed. “I said the whole day, Matt. I meant it.”

  The frown vanished from Matt’s face, and he shot up. “Well, fuck that. I’m getting my drink on now.” He changed paths, heading for the bar instead.

  Melissa came up to me later, once everyone settled. “What was all of that earlier? Does your brother not have good friends?”

  I paused for a beat.

  Melissa was impervious to so much, but it was in a good way. I wanted her to stay that way, but she needed to know. Pulling her farther away from everyone, I told her the truth.

  “Fitz is not interested in you.”

  Her face fell.

  I kept on, “But Scott is.”

  Her face brightened. “Really?”

  “And Liam is interested in dating you, too, while my brother wants to sleep with you.” I didn’t miss a beat. “Do not sleep with my brother. Just trust me. He’s not head over heels for you.” Hurt flashed, but I made sure she heard me. “It’s not because of you. It’s not even because of the last woman he had feelings for. He’s got things in him that are blocking him from falling for anyone, so don’t sleep with him. As for Liam and Scott, it’s up to you. I think Liam could love you.” I hesitated, looking at Scott over her head. He was frowning slightly in our direction. I added, “I don’t know what to say about Scott, so that’s on you.”

  With all that said, I stepped back to give her space.

  She was floored—floored. Her mouth was hanging open. “All of them?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Are interested?”

  Another nod. Another “Yes.”

  “In me?” she squeaked, pointing at herself.

  See. Obliviously cute. I hated taking that away from her.

  I said, “I’m sure one or two of Liam’s friends would like to sleep with you too, but don’t fall for it. They’re just doing it to be dicks to Liam.”

  Another squeak from her. “Oh my God!”

  “Bailey.” Kash was standing by the seats.

  I said to her, “Now you know. Be smart about who you choose.”

  Melissa was quiet the rest of the game. Afterward, we were led to a private exit and left for the Francois Nova, since Matt said the after-game party was supposed to start immediately.

  We got there, and it was fun at first.

  And then … it wasn’t.

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Kash

  I was leaning against a wall, watching Bailey with her friends. Torie. Tamara. All three of them were focused on Melissa, who looked like a minnow swimming among sharks and knowing it. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Bailey and the other two were protecting her, but whatever was going on seemed important.

  Word had gotten out.

  It seemed the entire section we’d been sitting with decided they wanted to party with Matthew Francis. When we showed, they were already in the hotel lobby. The front desk attendants were in a fit, not knowing what to do, but Matt had been in his party mood. He said, “The more, the merrier,” so everyone was allowed up.

  A few more groups arrived, but Matt made the decision to shut down the open invites. No one else had been let up, instead Scott reported that the lobby was filled with Hawking University students.

  “You pissed I invited my guys?”

  Matt came over, a drink in hand, his eyes glazed. He was starting to sway on his feet, too. I was hoping this wouldn’t be one of those nights.

  I responded, “Yeah.”

  He flinched.

  I glanced back to the girls. “You asked.”

  “I forget how honest you can be sometimes.”

  “Do you know yourself?”

  He snorted, leaning beside me and watching the girls, too. “True, but I know you hold back with B. and others.”

  He was right.

  “Tough love, brother. You earned it too many times for me to go back and tread water with you.”

  He got quiet. My point was made.

  He echoed it with a quiet, “I deserved that.”

  I straightened from the wall and faced him. Taking his drink, I ignored his “Hey,” and sniffed it. “Fuck, Matt. What’s in here?”

  “Vodka.”

  “Mixed with rum?”

  He flashed a grin. “Mixed with whatever the fuck was behind the bar that would make it taste good. And what is this?” He motioned between us before he took the drink back, his head resting against the wall.

  He knew me. He knew what was coming.

  He tipped his chin up. “You know, it was fun hanging out with you today. You didn’t have a stick up your ass.”

  I shot back, “You know, it was fun hanging out with you today, too. You weren’t acting like a drug addict with a death wish.”

  He cringed. “Shit.”

  I didn’t blink. “Fuck.”

  His gaze grew resigned, but he sipped his drink. “Okay. Lay it on me. Tell me what a fuckup I’ve been.”

  I scowled now, because that wasn’t deserved. “When have I ever done that to you?”

  His eyes fell to his drink.

  He didn’t respond.

  “I’ll take care of you. Make you leave a bad situation. Clean up after you. But when have I ever sat and lectured you? A few pointed words here and there, but shit, Matt. You deserved those. I’m not Peter. Don’t put your father issues on me just because I’ve helped take care of you. And for the record, brother, I enjoyed today because you were part of the group. You were in there, helping. You had focus, a goal, and you were doing it because you love your sister.”

  A second flinch. A third. There was a fourth by the time I was done, and he stood there, his eyes unfocused as he grew quiet.

  His face fell. Whatever was there, whatever attitude he was trying to fire up, crumbled. His head lowered. His drink too, so I grabbed it before it spilled. I handed it off to Scott, who was standing behind me.

  Matt let loose a low and guttural “Fuuuck.”

  His head came up. His eyes closed, and a harder “Fuck!” came out.

  I frowned.

  “You’re right. You’re completely right and I’m an idiot.”

  Seeing eyes coming to us, I motioned to the side. “Let’s head to your TV room for privacy.”

  Scott moved first, heading off to make sure it was open for us. Matt sighed, trailing behind.

  Bailey tipped her head back as we passed by. “Everything okay?” Her hand moved behind her, palm up to me.

  I caught her fingers with mine, sliding our hands over each other and pausing to kiss her forehead. “Everything’s fine.”

  Melissa and Tamara let out audible sighs. Torie just grinned, her chest puffed up, and she gave me an approving look. I shot a pointed look from her to Bailey and back again. She got my message, clipping her head up and down.

  She handed her drink off to someone else.

  A few people were leaving the den, looking pissed off, but the expressions changed when they saw us coming. A few guys tried to say hello to Matt, and he replied, but halfheartedly. They looked to me, thinking about it. My eyes went flat. They didn’t give me the same greeting.

  Scott laughed behind me.

  Going inside, I told him, “Just keep one of you in the hallway. I want the rest out there with Bailey.”

  Scott nodded, taking position at the end of the hall. The other guard returned.

  “Connor came in, and a few others. They’re helping to man the lobby.”

  That was good. “Thanks.”

  The door shut behind us, and I hadn’t taken a second step inside before Matt was already going.

  “I’m messed up. I’m so fucking messed up, Kash.” He sank down on the couch, burying his head into his hands. His elbows rested on his knees.

  I started forward to him, but he jerked back up.

  He shot to his feet and started to pace. “I blame myself for what happened to Bailey.”

  My eyebrows went up. I hadn’t expected that. “What?”

  “Amanda and I started sleeping together, and because of her affair, her husband started stepping out. He was right there, ripe for Quinn to pick him up and start pimping him for her own fucked-up intents. But that was me. I set all that in motion. It’s been eating me up. I don’t know how to make it right, and I continue to keep fucking up.”

  He kept pacing.

  I settled back, leaning against the wall.

  “I wake up every morning, deal with my hangover, and swear that I’m not going to party again. I swear that I’m going to do something right, preferably for Bailey, but if not her, then for someone else. Ser. Cy. And I don’t know what happens. I lose track of time. Or I get bored. I have no clue. Then I’m always, always at a bar or at Naveah drinking with the guys. You used to party with us. I know the guys don’t want me to say anything, but they miss you.”

  That wasn’t what I wanted to hear either.

  It didn’t matter. Matt kept going and pacing back and forth. “I’m not a drunk. I’m not an addict. Yes, I like both. I really like both, but I can stop. I did tonight. Shit’s not too messed up. I mean, look at who’s out there!” He swept his hand out, gesturing toward the hallway. “I don’t want those people out there. I’m a lot of things, and I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a dick. I don’t know those people, but they’re Hawking students. My sister’s a Hawking graduate student, and my sister wants to have fun and be normal today, so hell. I’m throwing a fucking Hawking party for my sister. And she’s having fun. It’s the same reason you’re here, chilling, even though I know you’re itching to break some necks and kick everyone out. Bailey. We’re doing this for her.”

  Now he stopped. Now he swung his head my way. And now his eyes were telling me I needed to say something here.

  Fuck if I knew what.

  I grunted. “You’re right.”

  An emphatic nod, and he threw his arms in the air. He started pacing again. “I know! I know I’m right, and why am I right? Why aren’t you pissed at me?”

  “Why would I be?”

  “Because I’m a fuckup! You should be pissed at me.”

  I put my hands in my pockets, rolling my shoulders forward. “I gotta admit, I can usually follow your thoughts. This? No clue. You blame yourself for Bailey being kidnapped?”

  “Yes!” He cocked his head to the side. “No! I don’t know. It sounds stupid, now that I’m hearing it out loud.”

  “Quinn’s to blame for the kidnapping. Or if anyone else, blame me. I wasn’t there. I knew shit wasn’t right, but I still went off anyways. You boning Amanda Bonham didn’t set that in motion, and I’m pretty sure Amanda boned you because her husband was already boning Quinn. So you were being used, in an odd, extramarital affair way.”

  He froze in place, his eyes glued to me. “Holy fuck,” he whispered. “You’re right. You’re so right. I’m as much a victim as Bailey—”

  “No.”

  “I’m almost as much a victim as Bailey—”

  “Try again.”

  “Amanda used me.”

  I nodded. “Better.”

  “Still, man.” He raked a hand through his hair. “You don’t know how much guilt’s been racking me. I was going to try to get my life together.”

  “God forbid.” My tone was dry.

  “I know.” He shuddered, then smirked. “I know you’re being a smartass. I’m being serious—I mean about the victim stuff, not the other stuff. I really do need to get my act together.” He expelled a snort that was half a laugh, motioning for the hallway again. “Bailey’s younger than me and she’s going to cure computer cancer within the year. What am I doing?” He gestured around the room. “I’m still throwing ragers in my penthouse floor that Daddy pretends is mine, just like how I don’t really do crap at this hotel. The assistant manager is getting paid what a manager does for a reason, with extra to take the name demotion.” His snort was only a snort now. No laugh. “I know whose idea that was.”

  “It was mine.”

  His head whipped back to mine. “You messing with me?”

  I shook mine. “It was my idea.”

  He scowled. “Are you sure my daddy issues shouldn’t translate to you?”

  I grinned, leaning my head back. “Calm down. You weren’t ready to handle anything real before.” I leaned my head forward. “You are now.”

  He quieted.

  “I think you need to, because you’re slipping into old habits. One bender. Don’t make this night your second. You had fun at the game with us. I know you didn’t like a lot of those guys, but it didn’t matter. You never paused or stopped. You distracted them so your sister could enjoy one football game. And now,” I nodded to him, “you’re slipping again. Don’t slip.”

  His eyes were shining. He swallowed whatever he was feeling.

  “Kash,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I’m a mess.”

  “Matt—”

  A knock sounded on the door.

  Matt cursed.

  A head popped in.

  Scott found me, but I was already moving. I saw the alarm, and that was enough.

  I was crossing the room as he said, “We got a call. You need to go.”

  That was enough.

  I paused in the doorway, looking at Matt. “Will you—”

  He waved me off. “Go. I got her.”

  A clip of my head, up and down, but my feet didn’t move. I was rooted in place.

  “Matt,” I called.

  He looked up again, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Turn it off. Just think about Cy, about Ser, about Bailey. Think about them and you’ll do fine.”

  As pep talks went, it sucked. I knew it. I knew he knew it, but it was the best I had in me. I felt he was searching for something more, but then we were moving down the hallway.

  Scott was next to me. “We got a call from your guy. He said he’d brief you on the plane, but…” He hesitated.

  I growled, “I don’t have time for this—”

  “You’re going to have a guest on the plane.”

  Shit.

  “Who?”

  We’d gotten to the main room, and it seemed more people were in there. That meant people were crashing, but Scott wasn’t looking at them. His gaze was pinned on Bailey as he answered, “Victoria.”

  That wasn’t going to go over well.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Bailey

  More and more people were coming into Matt’s penthouse floor, all Hawking students.

  At first, I was loving it. The guards around me were blending and I was huddled up with Torie, Tamara, and Melissa, so it wasn’t a big deal. I wasn’t getting the attention.

  That lasted thirty minutes.

  Liam showed up, and he was lit. I thought he’d been here the whole time, but it was apparent he’d stepped out. The brown paper bag was my indicator. His eyes were dilated, his hair a mess, and his grin was sloppy. Those were my other indicators, as he came over to us. “Heyyy, my girls!” He threw his arm wide—not the one holding the booze. “These are my girls. Hey! Hey. Carl. Hey. Did you meet my friends?”

  Carl was the guy sitting next to Liam during the game.

  He was the guy who had conversed with Melissa almost the whole game. He was one of the two that seemed to be a good guy.

  Carl was also sober, unlike his very not-sober friend Liam.

  He grinned, though, seeming all chill. “Nice to meet you guys.” His grin curved higher. “Again.”

  “So guess what I did?”

  Liam had missed the “again.”

  Melissa and I shared a look, but I answered him for us, “What’d you do?”

  He swung the brown paper bag forward, indicating me, before bringing it back and taking a long swig of whatever was in there. “I invited Hoda and the guys here.”

  The music could’ve stopped with a screech. The same effect crashed over our huddle. Even Carl’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Uh.” He was the first to speak, scratching behind his ear. “Say what?”