Page 28 of Wild Like Us

Thatcher at least acknowledged his attraction to Jane. Akara won’t even admit to himself that Sulli is beautiful. No bodyguard-client boundary forbids him from making a move. He’s the fucking boss, and she won’t fire him.

Denial—he’s so far in fuckingdenialthat I’m starting to think this is all a lost cause.

Maybe Akara does just see her like a sister, and my dumbass is putting too much energy in the wrong direction.

A buzz vibrates my pocket. I pull out my phone. “Speaking of that handsome devil.” Checking the text, my jaw tightens.

Uncle Joe wants me to invite Tony to the bachelor party. Put him on the list.– Cinderella

Yeah, I have Thatcher in my phone asCinderellaever since Donnelly tattooed it on his ass.Barely makes me laugh after readingthattext.

“Fuck,” I mutter and show Akara the message. It’s bad enough Tony Ramella is invited to my brother’s wedding, and now the prick is going to theparty.

Akara looks irritated too. “He’ll probably decline the invite. Right?”

“He won’t for the same reason Thatcher has to invite him. It’s a family obligation. Uncle Joe is trying to glue-stick everyone back together so there’s not a Capulet and Montague situation.”

The Ramellas are married into the Morettis and Piscitellis. Tony is family.

I hate that he’s family as much as Thatcher. Because I’d do anything for family, but Tony…after my brother saved his ass in a fire…he’s still a raging prick.

He couldn’t give a fuck about my brother or me.

But I’m not gonna be the one to create a war among my family. My mom is married to Nicola Ramella, and rifts with the Ramellas will directly affect her. She’s had enough hardship in her life. I’m not giving her more.

I type out a text.Rah.

That’s it.

Rah.

Short foroorah.

My brother can definitely feel my irritation in those three letters.

I shove my phone in my pocket. “As if planning this party wasn’t hard enough.”

Akara glances at me. “You know I can help—”

“No,” I cut him off. “You have enough on your plate,boss.” Akara needs me. It’s why I’m here in the first place, watching over his client.

“Not enough that I can’t make time for you,” Akara says. “The offer isn’t evaporating.”

“Roger copy.”I’m not taking it.For his sake.

Truth: I never thought throwing Thatcher’s bachelor party would be hard. I figured it’d be a cake walk. And yeah, I always knew I’d be my brother’s best man one day.

He’s my twin—he’s been a part of my life before I knew whatlifewas. What he means to me is greater than air, than water. Almost losing him in that fire this year…that was the worst pain I’ve ever felt.

I’d rather be burned alive.

Being a best man,easy.

Organizing a bachelor party,easy.Buy some booze. Some wings and pizza. Probably go to Uncle Joe’s row house, the biggest place among our family that’d cost us nothing.

Do it cheap.

Not that I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on Thatcher. It’s just not fucking sensible. It’s a party. We grew up saving cash for practical shit. Clothes, toothpaste, the bad-luck day where you get in a wreck or the water heater breaks.