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“Leo will be here in a few minutes to take over. Get the hell out of here and sort yourself out.”

I can tell by the tone he uses, and the way he gestures to the door, that there’s no point arguing. Besides, he’s not in the wrong here. I crossed a line. I haven’t been behaving like my usual, rational self, and as a result, I’m not focusing on my job the way I should be.

If one of my men was acting the way I am, I’d tear him a new arsehole. I’d also kick him to the bottom of the hierarchy, to teach him about respect, and he’d have to work his way back up again.

Despite knowing all this, the anger boiling in my blood has become all-consuming, and now I have the addition of jealousy too, which is an emotion I’m not very familiar with.

In all honesty, I’ve got so much going through my head, it’s messing with me, and I need to sort it out before I do something even worse than today that I can’t come back from.

I leave Marcus’ office without a word, walking into the bar aimlessly, as I contemplate what I’m going to do for the day. Although Marcus gave me rather graphic instructions that I won’t be following, I need to do something that will help me clear my head.

Despite it being morning, I make my way behind the bar and grab myself a Whiskey and Coke. I’m not usually one to day drink, but I’m hoping it will help. As I slide onto one of the bar stools, nursing the drink I’ve yet to take a sip of, I contemplate all the places I can go to clear my head.

My first thought is the gym, but I know I won’t be welcome there, as Marcus will definitely see it as work. I should feel a bit embarrassed that I can’t think of any other place where I want to go on my day off.

I pull out my phone, hoping it will give me some divine inspiration. As soon as I see my lock-screen picture, I smile, knowing exactly what I’m going to do. I scroll through my contacts until I get to Courtney’s name, and send her a text.

MILES

Are you free to meet for lunch? I have an unexpected day off.

COURTNEY

Are you buying?

MILES

Of course.

COURTNEY

Then I’m in. Where?

MILES

Nachos? In about an hour?

COURTNEY

Sounds good. See you then.

With a plan for the day taking shape, I swallow a large gulp of my drink, savouring the burn as it travels down my throat. I barely let the alcohol settle before I take another, letting the warmth flood my system.

The restaurant where I’m meeting Courtney is only about half an hour away, so I have some time to kill before I leave. As I plan to drive, I decide not to have another drink, scrolling through social media on my phone instead. That numbs my brain more than any alcohol can.

Before I know it, I’m sliding into a booth in our favourite Mexican restaurant, waiting for my sister to join me. I order another Whiskey and Coke for myself while I wait.

My drink arrives just as Courtney slides into the booth opposite me, a smile on her face as she greets the server who just brought my drink. She orders a Diet Coke, and takes the menu she’s given, even though we always order the same thing every time we’re here.

As soon as the server has left, Courtney turns her piercing blue eyes on me, and I hate the way her smile quickly turns into a frown. “You look like shit. Are you okay?”

I roll my eyes at her eloquent assessment, and before I can think of the best way to respond, the server returns with Court’s drink, and we both place our order. As soon as the server’s gone, a heavy silence fills the air around us as Courtney waits for my response.

When I say nothing, she shakes her head and tuts at me. “What is going on, Miles? Why aren’t you at work?”

Her intense glare, and the way she’s not backing down, lets me know she won’t drop this. She will keep chipping away until I speak to her. Despite looking sweet and innocent, my little sister can be incredibly feisty, and has a take no shit attitude that, as her brother, I’m very proud of—unless she uses it on me.

I let out a sigh as I admit, “Dee’s back.”