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I groaned but couldn't find the desire to be as angry with him as I was with his more arrogant friends. I debated answering because I also didn't want to talk to them.

"I'll just leave it out here for you. You still gotta eat. Might as well eat something good."

I listened as his footsteps retreated. Once I was sure he was gone, I retrieved the dish from outside my door and had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Two beautifully done eggs florentine sat on the plate, covered with a decadent smokey mornay sauce. I didn't make it back to the sitting area before I had to try it. It had no right to be as good as it was.

Thirty minutes later, the front doorbell rang. I abandoned my dirty dish on the dresser and raced through the house, hoping to beat the guys to the front door. Instead, I foundthe one who'd been wearing a hoodie the night before staring Tiffany down as she scowled at him over the threshold.

"Thank god, there you are Tory. This one's got, like, crazy eyes and he's refusing to let me in. I am so not in the mood for this shit."

"Can you let her in, please?" I asked.

He turned his face toward me, a strange grin pulling at his lips. It looked like I was getting a good look at all of my captors today. His bright blue eyes glinted mischievously as he scanned me up and down.

"No dice,ma petit démone. Rich said no visitors." His voice was laced with humor. Heavily tattooed like the rest, his ink was on full display this morning. The details were amazing, from the moth on his neck to the all-seeing eye and others. Real skill went into every piece. The large gauges in his ears added to his rebellious look.

"Fuck that," Tiffany snorted, pushing her way past him. Or rather, he moved aside for her because she wouldn't have been able to move him if she tried. He wasn't as large as bossy pants but muscular and lithe. His whole being seemed to reek of mischief and something very close to dangerous.

"This is Tory's house. Her house, her rules, and she said I can come in."

He closed the door behind her before shrugging and extending a hand for her to shake. "Leighton, AKA crazy eyes."

Tiffany's lips curled into a sneer as she looked down her nose at his proffered hand. "At least you seem to know when to back off."

The youngest of the five men turned the corner just as Tiffany turned to face me. His eyes flicked over her before focusing on Leighton. "Rich isn't gonna like this, L."

"What's he gonna do, Joey? Fight me?" Leighton replied, clutching his abdomen as he doubled over in laughter. "Yourbig brother hasn't been able to take me since we were kids." He continued to wheeze, whipping tears of laughter from his eyes.

I scanned my gaze across the younger man. He looked a bit like Rich but was definitely not his elder brother. His short brown hair looked soft, and his brown eyes were warm and kind. As I noted the night before, he was the second most heavily tattooed, but he wasn't intimidating. Even his elegantly scripted 'Inspire' above his right eye lent an air of compassion. His form was agile and spoke of speed rather than raw strength. He might not have been a bruiser, but he moved with a sort of effortless grace.

Ignoring the guys, Tiffany slipped her arm through mine. "Please tell me daddy had the pool prepared. I, like, desperately need some sun today." I didn't have a chance to respond before a familiar dark chuckle came from behind me, much closer than it should have been.

"I did, but I'm pretty sure I said no company." Rich said, stepping into view around me.

"Yeah, I heard you, bossy pants. But I don't care. Come on, Tiff. I could use a break from swimming in the testosterone ocean myself." I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the trio of men crowding our space and making my skin tingle. I looked back over my shoulder and stuck my tongue out at them.

"Rich?" Joey asked as we walked away.

"Let the Princess have her fun. Az will keep an eye on them."

There was an edge to his voice as I shut the door behind me that held a promise I didn't want to name.

CHAPTER SIX

Leighton

Rich was mad, and when I spotted Az on the stairs looking like he wanted to punch him square in the jaw, I couldn't help the laughter that shook my shoulders.

"You guys are too tense." I started to say something else when the girls emerged from Victoria's rooms in their swimsuits. After that, whatever I was about to say was lost to the static that kicked off in my head. Victoria shot us all a murderous look. The effect didn't do what I'm sure she had hoped to achieve. "I say you all need to relax and learn to just… take in the view."

Rich rolled his eyes at me, and I dodged the slap aimed at the side of my head. "Some of us have work to do. Az, keep an eye on the ladies and make sure they don't get into any trouble. Craig, you need to run me through the security system here. Joey, you have work to get done today."

"I think I'm gonna enjoy the sights." I grinned, waggling my eyebrows at Victoria and her friend.

"If Leighton is planning to follow her like a puppy dog, I'm going to the office." Az interjected.

"No. Someone with a level head needs to keep an eye on things." Rich frowned, his eyes flicking to me. "Leighton's already broken the rules once. Someone needs to stay here and keep him in check."

"Fine." Az grumbled. "But hurry up and finish checking on the security system. I don't feel like spending the day babysitting."