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Unable to look at her for another second, I spin around and quickly disappear into the crowd. Everything’s too loud, too crowded. A bead of sweat rolls down my back, and I despise every second of it.
I don’t make it far when a hand grabs my bicep and I freeze.
Bad move.
People should know better than to just touch others, especially a man like me.
I spin around—too quickly—and smack Alex’s hand away.
He raises it in front of him. “Sorry, man. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No worries.” I stare at him, waiting for him to make the first move and say what he came here to say.
“Listen. My father thought it would be best if I didn’t visit. I’m sure you understand. You know how our parents are about appearances and all.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “So are we . . . are we good?”
Alex could have found other ways to get in contact with me, but he didn’t. And I got over it. Eventually. The question is, does he know about his sister’s involvement in my downfall? Like he said, public image is a top priority for most people in our circle, and most would go to great lengths to keep their family’s reputation in a positive light, no matter the cost.
My old friend is still waiting for an answer, and I appreciate he hasn’t run off with his tail tucked between his legs.
I hold out my fist to him. “Yeah, we’re good.”
With a sigh of what is undoubtedly relief, he bumps his curled-up hand against mine. “Thanks, bro. Glad you’re back.”
None of this means shit to me, but even if he truly has no clue about the little snitch in his family, I doubt he’ll want to be friends once he realizes what I have in mind for his sister.
You gain some, you lose some.
Holden—my partner in crime, so to speak, and bestfriend—steps up beside Alex and claps him on the back. “What anicewelcome.” He stressesnicelike the troublemaker he is. “Great party, man. Your family knows how to be hospitable.”
Alex sways forward from the impact of Holden’s paw and stares at the newcomer.
I wave my hand between the two. “Alex, meet Holden Donahue. Holden, this is Alex Caldwell.”
The two size each other up for a moment, with Holden not once dropping his shit-eating grin. I’m not sure if it’s because he knows he could easily take Alex if it came to that, seeing as he’s built like a tank, or if he just wants to get a rise out of him. Nothing is ever certain with Holden. But he’s one of the best guys I’ve ever met and has been my steady companion in the last few years until he was released two months ago. He’s proven his loyalty over and over when people wanted to take a chunk out of the billionaire inmate and earned his spot by my side.
I might not have survived my time in prison unscathed if it wasn’t for him. Well, mostly unscathed. There were times when I wanted to shed blood, both mine and others. Mostly at the beginning of my sentence when I was still grappling with what had transpired outside my new home.
Not just Evangeline’s utter betrayal, but also her sister’s death.
My fiancée’s death.
Alex takes a step back from Holden and dips his head in my direction. “Let’s catch up soon, yeah?”
I nod. “Sure thing.”
We watch Alex’s retreating figure until he disappearsfrom sight.
Holden chuckles. “Look at him scuttle with his tail between his legs. I thought the Caldwells were all such badasses.”
I raise a brow. “Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? It’s called self-preservation.”
He puts a hand on his chest. “Aww, thank you.”
I shake my head at his antics.
Holden rubs his hands together. “So, what’s the deal? Are we leaving, or are we mingling? I saw some ladies checking me out.” He flexes his biceps as if there’s a single person in this room who hasn’t witnessed the way his suit jacket strains at the seams.
I roll my lips. “Not sure.”