Page 48 of These White Lies

“You good?”

“Brady.”

His brows lift.

“I’m fine.”

His body goes rigid, and he turns slightly away from me, muttering something that sounds like, “favorite fucking word.”

“What?”

He doesn’t answer, setting my bag in the chair next to me.

“Need you to hang here for a bit.” He pulls an L-shaped side table closer and pivots it so it is positioned over my lap. “You can work here. I’ll be back in an hour, and then I’ll take you up to your room.”

“I can go up now,” I protest.

Brady stares hard at me for a second. “We don’t have an elevator. Are you up to climbing two flights of stairs right now?”

“Oh.” I feel my cheeks heat. “Thank you.”

“It’s what we’re paid to do.” Sera’s voice rings out, and my head snaps around to see her standing nearby. “We look out for people who can’t look after themselves.”

Her words hit me like a slap in the face. I was so wrapped up with Brady I hadn’t even realized she was there. The way he stiffens, I think he is equally surprised.

“Sera,” he warns, turning to face his sister.

She widens her eyes in fake innocence and smiles. “What? I’m just saying that’s who our clients are. Making sure they don’t get hurt is what we do. What peoplepayus for.”

For whatever reason, Brady’s sister has taken an instant dislike to me. I plaster an equally fake smile on my face. “It’s an invaluable service you offer.”

Her eyes narrow at not getting the reaction she was obviously hoping for.

Deciding to leave the two of them to their bad moods, I twist to pull my computer from my bag, gritting my teeth against the discomfort. I flip open my laptop and look up, raising my eyebrows as if I’m surprised they are both still there.

“Let me know when you’re ready,” I say coolly, before turning my attention back to the computer, not really seeing what is in front of me.

13

BRADY

“What the fuck was that?” I snap at my sister as she follows me into my office.

“What was what?” Her hazel eyes flash back at me, and for a minute I forget how pissed off I am about how rude she was to Elizabeth and just enjoy the glimpse of the old Sera.

“You’ve never been rude to a client like that before.”

She makes a face and gives me a one-shoulder shrug. “I don’t like her.”

I throw up my hands. “First of all, you don’t know her, and second, whether or not we like our clients has nothing to do with how we treat them.”

“Oh reeaally?” She cocks her head, ponytail swinging. “Because youalwayshelp clients out of the car and walk around laughing and whispering in their ears?”

Her eyes are full of emotion, but she looks at her boots before I can figure out what it is. When her head lifts, the mask she’s worn this past year is back.

I take a slow breath, reminding myself to be patient with my baby sister. She hasn’t had an easy time since her attack, and not for the first time, I miss my smiley, but fiery, baby sister.

“She’s injured.”