Page 7

“She does and I think having her friend, Laney, around more is helping. She’s been a godsend, but her life is about to hit the shitter.”

I sit up straighter in my seat at Lucas’ words. “Oh, how so?”

I’d heard of Laney through Lucas and know she’s a volunteer at the hospital and has become close to both Lucas and Sam. From what I understand, she’s been a great source of comfort and is like a literal fairy godmother. She’s the kid sister Lucas never had, and he’s become like an adopted older brother to her over the last two years.

“Well, she doesn’t know I know this because Sam made me promise, but she caught that shithead boyfriend of hers cheating on her last week. She came home early and he was balls deep.” Lucas held up his hand. “Correction, her friend was ass deep with a strap-on dick in him in their bed.”

Anger makes every muscle in my body tense, the desire to punch that fucker in the face until he’s nothing but raw meat feeling good about now. It’s a visceral reaction for a woman I have never even met, but then I’ve always had a strong reaction to men who treat women with anything other than the respect and love they deserve. It was the one thing Encino Mancini instilled in us time and again. Women were to be worshipped and protected because without them we wouldn’t exist. I always remembered him saying that weak men called women the weaker sex because they knew in their hearts that they’d never be strong enough to handle what they did or with such dignity and love.

“He still breathing?” Nico asks, deadpan, and most people would have laughed it off, but we know damn well he means it, and on this we agree. Nobody treats a woman like that and gets away with it.

“Yeah, he is for now. I’ve been with Joey the whole time since it happened.”

“You need me to take care of him for you, Lucas, just say the word.”

Lucas chuckles. “Thanks, Nic, but I think she wants to handle this one herself, although I’ll be having a word, too. Make sure that fucker stays away from her for good, but I know it’s gonna put her in a bind. She lives with him and works at his parents' hotel, so she might need to come stay with me and Sam for a bit. Although she has stringently turned down all of Sam’s offers. I want to help her out, but I know she hates it when we get all over-protective on her.”

“Since when has that mattered? She needs someone to stand up for her and let this prick know we won’t tolerate anyone treating her that way.”

Nico smirks at me. “Brother, have you ever met Laney?”

I shrug. “No, why?”

Nico leans in close. “Well, let me tell you, brother, she’s not a kid. That girl has it all going on and she’s a spitfire. It’s quite the package.”

Lucas slams his beer on the table. “Fuck’s sake, Nic, that’s my baby sister. Can you not?”

Nico’s lips tip in a smirk. “Not really your sister though, is she? And I’m just saying. Laney is a grown woman. You know I’d never go there with her, neither of us would, right, brother?” Nic tips his head at me and I nod. Lucas had made it clear the first time Sam mentioned her to us that she was off-limits. I’ve always wondered if it is because he lost his baby sister when she was five, and she’d be the same age as this Laney, but I’d never asked him outright.

“Of course.” My voice is gruffer than usual and I cough to clear my throat.

Lucas smiles. “I know and I appreciate it. Laney, Sam, and Joey are my weak spots and right now I feel like I can’t protect any of them.”

“Come on, man, that’s not true. You’ve always had everyone’s backs. Maybe it’s time you let us have yours for a change.”

I lift my hand at a passing waitress and order us some food for the table and another round of beers. She slips me her number when she brings the beers and Lucas shakes his head laughing. “Fucking cowboy.”

“What can I say, woman love me.”

“Your dick is gonna drop off.”

I laugh at Lucas and play up my role as the easy-going playboy rockstar because it’s what he needs right now. Not tohear about my shit or the fact that my dick had been dead for the last six months. “You let me worry about my dick.”

“You gonna hit that?”

I glance at the waitress, who is eyeing us from the end of the bar. She’s hot, with red hair and big green eyes. Her tits are almost spilling out of her tight white tee and her short black skirt leaves nothing to the imagination. She’s someone I would’ve happily taken home to my bed six months ago but lately, I’ve felt bored, jaded with easy pussy with no meaning. I want more, I just don’t know what exactly. “Nah, not in the mood.”

“Jesus, Nic, did I just see a pig fly across the room?”

Nic shakes his head but I see his lips twitch.

Lucas had needed this and so had we. “So, I have a couple of thoughts about Joey.”

Lucas sobers and I hate that the tension seems to flood back into him at my words but I need to speak to him about this before I go ahead. We all love Joey but he isn’t our son and Lucas, as his father, needs to approve this kind of public action.

“Oh?”

“Have you ever heard of a kidney donor chain?”