Page 26 of Targeted By Fate
Lake and Riggs helped bring the food out; my little brother probably figured being in the kitchen, he could sneak a taste or two.
During the meal, my mate continually checked his watch.
“You have somewhere to be, Keane?” Thiago asked as he stabbed a piece of carrot with his fork.
“Work. My new job starts today!” He was bouncing, he was so excited.
“What?” My mate had insisted he had to get a job, and he’d told me he had found one in the service industry. But to me, that was serving behind a counter in a department store or waiting tables. What was he doing at night?
“I told you, love.” He placed a hand on my thigh and squeezed. He was either signaling he wanted sex or for me to shut up. I guessed it was the latter.
I’d been so absorbed with work, a possible war, and the influx of drugs, that I hadn’t been paying attention to Keane’s job search. But now I perked up, wondering what he was doing in the late evening. Was he a valet at a high-end restaurant?
“Yes, I know.” That much was true. He had, and I’d responded that he didn’t have to work. “But tell me again exactly what you’re doing. It slipped my mind.”
“Psst, Keane.” Ezra beckoned Keane across the table. “That’s Boaz code for I have no clue because I was concentrating on something else.”
“Not true,” I protested. It was, but I didn’t want my mate thinking I didn’t listen.
“It’s the Moonbound.”
There was hushed silence at the table, with pairs of eyes on my mate and the rest on me. Anger, confusion, doubt, and anxiety flooded my mind. What was he doing there? It was a well-known haunt of gangsters, and not our kind of criminals. Bad dudes, who’d stick a knife between your ribs if you blinked wrongly. It used to be owned by a drug lord, but a consortium of high-flying businessmen took it over after he was assassinated.
Maynard handed me a glass of water. Smart guy. He understood I’d blurt out something I’d later regret. I guzzled the cool liquid and some dribbled over my chin. Thiago shoved a napkin at me. My brothers knew me so well and were trying to save me from being a total asshat.
No one said anything as they waited for me to respond. My brothers were never quiet, even when we were watching a movie, so this was an indication of how they were weighing the situation and waiting to see what I’d do.
I formatted a sentence in my head, dismissed it, and came up with another one as the seconds ticked by. Keane’s pinched expression was a sign he was worried about my reaction.
“Interesting. What do you do at the club?” Maybe he was a bartender or a bouncer. Nah, not the latter. While he was tall, he was small-boned and slim.
“I serve drinks. Is that a problem?”
“Nope!” I popped that P hard.
“Great. I have to go.” He got up and thanked Maynard and Rhodes for the meal.
I offered to drive him, but he’d already arranged a car, and it pulled up as he was saying his goodbyes. He had refused bodyguards after the incident at the dock, saying it wasn’t necessary.
“Call me when you’re done with your shift, Kitten, and I’ll pick you up.”
“Will do.” He kissed me on the cheek and jumped in the car.
I waited until the tail lights vanished down the drive and out the huge gates, and I closed the door. I should have insisted he take security with him.
“Guessing we have plans this evening.” Lake was helping clear away the dishes while Maynard brought out dessert.
“You did. You all came here,” Rhodes called from the kitchen.
“Not that, my darling.” Maynard pulled out a chair for his mate. “They’re going clubbing.”
“We definitely are, but aren’t you coming?” Riggs asked our oldest brother.
“Can I beg off? Luna isn’t sleeping well.” Maynard yawned
“No, you have to come, big bro.” Lake clapped a hand on Maynard’s shoulder. “All five of us have to be there for Boaz and Keane.”
“Are you checking up on your mate?” Rhodes gave me a piece of pie.
