Page 124 of Convict's Game

“I’m not certain. The will reading has to happen first. That’s the clincher.”

“It’s bullshit that this is left to an unknown fate.”

“Don’t you think I know that? I’m doing my best,” I snapped.

He stood to his full height, easily a foot taller than me. “As am I.”

“Really? Want to come help with the family research? Want to go digging around in dark corners of the people you share DNA with? Didn’t think so.”

Kane’s file listed his only relative as his mother. He had to be helping her, but if so, why not talk about it? Why not trust me when I’d gone all out to build a connection with him?

Tyler ended his call. “Lovelyn, do you have a second?”

My friend, who’d been doing a very good job of faking interest in her phone, scuttled away. They went to the end of the kitchen area, but the distance didn’t disguise the conversation.

Or Tyler’s cautiously neutral tone. “I haven’t seen Dixie around.”

Lovelyn exhaled, and her eyes crinkled at the edges with concern. “She hasn’t been back since when you saw us in the corridor. I’ve texted her a few times and no reply. I was considering paying her a visit.” She paused. “If you want, you can come.”

I glanced back at my brother to see something interesting. Kane’s attention had followed Lovelyn. The oversized oaf soaked in the sight of the woman, lingering on her curves and the tiny flash of exposed flesh still visible at her waist. Just as quickly, he shut down his reaction.

I tilted my head, curious. Never once had he mentioned a love interest.

“Are you seeing anyone?” I asked.

His focus slammed back to me, his annoyance obvious that I’d caught him checking her out. “Aren’t we a little old for girlfriend and boyfriend talks?”

“I’m only asking.”

“Don’t. I don’t date.”

I heaved a sigh. “Probably better for the majority of womankind.”

He was so closed off, any girlfriend would need the patience of a saint.

Kane muttered something about me being a brat, which was probably fair as I was sinking into the worst mood ever.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call from Convict. I answered it, scooting away to an arched window overlooking the city.

“Are you busy?”

Damn, his voice made me melt. “We’ve heard nothing from Cassie yet, and Lovelyn and I have read every one of these files a hundred times and got nothing to show for it, so not really.”

“Want to play a game?”

My insides liquified. I stared out of the glass into the night, unseeing, and with heat rising through me. “Always.”

“In twenty minutes, head down to the wardrobe and borrow an outfit.”

“You want me to change?”

“Put on something you don’t mind being torn off you.”

The heat inside me turned into an inferno. “Why do I get the feeling you’re up to no good?”

“Always, little gangster. Don’t keep me waiting.”

Chapter 41