East End (Hear No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,17
withered under the look I shot him. "I am not. It's part of the facade."
My best mate grinned at me. "Sure. I get it. You're just getting into character."
"Exactly. Matter of fact—” Another beautiful brunette approaching us made me stop in mid-thought. “Emma! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be somewhere having fun?”
She gave me a warm smile, and I enveloped her in a tight hug. Emma Varma was sort of our adopted little sister. Her brother Toby had been part of the squad. Back in the day, the five of us had big plans to take over the world.
But then he’d died.
No, he was killed. There’s a difference.
There was in fact a difference, and Toby’s death was why we were here tonight. For vengeance. For blood. For justice.
She pulled back. “Well, don’t you look nice in a tux?”
“I look good in anything.” I said, winking at her.
She rolled her eyes at me. “Of course you do.”
She turned her attention to Bridge, but there was no welcoming smile for him. I couldn’t quite explain it, but the two of them looked like they were sending heat lasers at each other, daring one another to eviscerate.
“Bridge.” Her voice was tight as she addressed him.
“I thought you went back to the States for your new job.”
I watched with rapt attention as she squared her shoulders and pushed out her chest. What in the ever-loving-Prada fuck was going on here? It was like I was watching some weird praying mantis mating dance. I wanted to shout at Bridge that he was out of his depth and that he’d get his head bitten off. But for the two of them in that moment, I didn't exist.
They were locked in this weird hate/eye-fuck situation.
“Thank you so much for taking interest in my job, but after the Van Linsted thing, Mum just wanted me close to home. So I put in for a transfer. I’m home now. Guess you’d better get used to seeing me around.”
“You should go back. I’ll look after your mum.”
Emma laughed at that. “You’re ridiculous. Still playing power broker. It must really burn that you have zero power over me.”
He took a step toward her, but she’d already tuned him out. “So what are you lot up to? I know it’s not to write a fat check. I saw you sniffing around Jameson and Middleton, and I want in.”
The hell? No way, no how. “Don’t know what you’re on about,” I muttered then took a sip of scotch.
“You can’t bullshit me, East. I can see it in your eyes. You trust me and want me to know. And let’s not forget that I got you the video that was the catalyst that set us all on this path. Don't shut me out.”
She wasn’t wrong. “There’s nothing to tell, Ems. Bridge and I have something to do. We’ll catch you later, yeah?”
She blocked our path of escape. Bridge’s body went tight and rigid as he came into contact with her. When he spoke, his voice was pure ice. “Stay out of it, Emma.”
“Or what? You’re going to toss me over your shoulder and drag me out of here? Let’s not forget one simple thing; you need me. I’ll be around when you finally figure out you can’t leave me out of this.” Then she stepped aside and stalked into the crowd.
Bridge glowered after her, looking very much like he was considering clubbing her over the head.
“Well, I’m empty. Join me at the bar?”
He was still looking toward the direction Emma had sauntered when he mumbled, “I’m going to go check on Mina.”
And by check on, he meant shag out his frustrations. But Bridge’s fucked-up relationship was none of my business unless Mina forced my hand. She claimed to love him, so it was better to leave well enough alone.
Suddenly my phone chimed. So did Bridge's. We both pulled them out of our inside pockets, and I frowned as I stared at the text lighting my screen.
Unknown: If you want Garreth Jameson to pay, be out on the balcony in 5 minutes.
Bridge held up his phone as I met his gaze. "Same tosser? Is it Theroux?"
I scowled at his phone. "Looks that way," I muttered as I searched the crowd for Ben. "Let's get to the balcony."
He lifted a brow. “It’s unlike you to be so trusting.”
He was right. Outside of my mates, I trusted no one, let alone a couple of random texts. But I wanted information. Any scrap of information offered