Page 90 of Blackmail

“Sebastian said your apartment was a piece of you know what and it wasn’t safe for anyone to live there. He’s sending movers to pack up the rest of your things.”

“Still can’t swear, can you?”

Gabe’s face turns tomato red. “It feels wrong.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get there.” Ask me how I fucking know. “But, Gabe. We can’t stay. I’m supposed to be moving soon.”

Except that doesn’t sound right anymore. The euphoric excitement I used to feel when I thought of sailing off into a new adventure has been replaced by a heavy pit in my stomach.

My brother gives me an unbelievably put-upon sigh. “Sebastian said you’d be stubborn. He also said the two of you had some things to work out, but it would be easier to do if you were both in the same place. And aside from him being crazy in love with you, this place is so much nicer than yours. Did you know there’s a pool on the roof?”

My phone buzzes in my hand.

PJ: Brennan said someone tied you up and tossed you in a van. You okay?

Dean: I had a client ask me to do that once.

PJ: Did this have to do with the people who’ve gone missing lately?

Brennan: Fuck you, Simon. You can’t quit. You’re fired. BTW your debt’s been paid.

Oh.

I’ll have to respond to all of that later.

I look at Gabe. “Do you think it’s messed up that Sebastian was just married, like, fifteen minutes ago?”

“To a guy who did him worse than creamed spinach. When Sebastian had a choice, he chose you. Doesn’t seem like he’s exactly pining, you know?”

“What the fuck does all that have to do with creamed spinach?”

“Creamed spinach is disgusting.” After a particularly threatening yowl, he sets Penelope’s carrier down and lets her out. She stretches her legs dramatically and then hops out of the bedroom.

“Besides, when things got real, Sebastian ran toward you. He grabbed a gun and charged on in, which was actually weirdly attractive, by the way. I mean, I knew I liked guys because I had to hold the drool in when Hen Whittaker at the feed shop stripped down to his undershirt in the summer weather, but that was something else.”

“Say that again and I’ll tape your mouth shut.”

Gabe laughs. “See, you want him all for yourself. Which means we shouldn’t leave. And you like Belle Argo, even though you keep saying you don’t. You like that place you and your fellow sex workers?—”

“Whores.”

“—go to brunch where they know your order on sight, and you like that assisted living place where you work, and the animal shelter you volunteer at. Even I can see you’ve got a whole life here already. Plus, this place is so close to the beach.”

All good points. There’s one thing still bothering me. “He’s crazy rich. It wouldn’t feel equal.”

“Simon, if he thought you were greedy, we wouldn’t be here. By the way, you know when we were growing up and they taught us how money and possessions were corrupting and evil? I finally realized they only said that so we wouldn’t complain about not having enough food. There’s no actual prize for suffering. If there is, I don’t want it. Do you?”

Awfully wise for his age, my little brother. “Probably not.”

“Good. So then can’t we just stay here and be happy?”

Chapter

Thirty-Two

SEBASTIAN

I’m in my home office when there’s a knock on the front door of my condo. Just as well. I’m having a hell of a time focusing.