Fraud (Antihero Inferno #2) - Lily White Page 0,113
me. And thank you for always making me feel alive.
Gabriel
When we leave the den, Ivy walks out ahead of me, her long hair a mess falling down her back and her eyes scanning the living room as we walk in.
Tanner’s stare shoots to me immediately, and I grin like I hadn’t just wasted an hour of his time.
Even though Ivy got cleaned up and was ready to walk out, I’d trapped her against the door for round two.
We weren’t quiet about it either.
Leaning a shoulder against a wall, I watch Ivy resume her place by Luca and Ava.
“We all good now?” Tanner asks me. “Did you get it out of your system...again?”
A smile stretches my lips. “Yeah. We just had some issues to discuss.”
The other guys smirk and laugh softly, a few elbowing each other as Tanner stares at me with disbelief.
“It sounded like one hell of a discussion. You sure you’re ready to get back to why we’re all here?”
“I can go one more time if you all want to give me another half hour.” I shrug and run a hand through my hair. “I’ll make it quick, just so you don’t feel bad about yourself.”
Tanner’s stare narrows on my face.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Another shrug. “Nothing. It was just the type of discussion that takes time. But if you think it can be accomplished in less than five minutes-“
I leave the implication to hang between us as his eyes widen.
“Whatever, asshole. I’m not going to stand here and argue about my stamina.”
I know Tanner better than that. He won’t let the jab go. He’s too damn arrogant to let it slide.
“I’ll let Luca tell you instead.” He turns to her. “Babe, tell him.”
“Are you insane?” Her face turns a bright red as her head spins to glare at Tanner. “Just finish the meeting, and shut the fuck up.”
The rest of the guys bust out laughing, and my eyes slide Ivy’s direction to see her cheeks stain pink.
It feels weird seeing her as part of the group. But maybe that’s what fate had always intended. I can’t say I’m surprised about it, though. In so many ways, our paths have always led the same direction.
Thinking back to what my father said, I wonder again about the agreement he had with Ivy’s father.
Why would they want us to get married? It seems like every time we get closer to one answer, a million more questions pop up to replace it.
“I can’t finish the meeting because I’m too busy wondering why this asshole thinks he gets to have discussions while we’re all standing around waiting for him.”
“Gabriel,” Luca says, “come here.”
Flashing Tanner a mischievous grin, I push away from the wall and drop down to sit on the floor. Leaning against the couch between Luca and Ivy’s legs, I let my head fall back, and my eyes lock with Luca’s. She grins and reaches out to ruffle my hair.
“Is Tanner being mean to you?”
“Yes. I think you should refuse all discussions with him for the next thirty days until he learns to be nice.”
She laughs just as a hand wraps around my wrist to jerk me up from the floor and shove me down again between Ivy’s legs.
“Shut the fuck up, asshole. Leave my girl alone and worry about yours.”
No worries on that.
I run my hands up her legs and laugh when she grabs them before they can climb too high.
“Fucking hell,” Tanner barks as he stabs a hand through his hair and paces away.
He eyes both Ivy and me. “Back to the actual discussion and not whatever the hell it was you two were doing.”
I grin. “If you’re not sure, then there are plenty of videos online that provide adequate instruction.”
“Oh! I have suggestions for some good ones,” Sawyer calls out.
Damon speaks up next. “Speaking of, have you seen the newest video uploaded by-“
“All of you, shut up!” Tanner snaps.
The room goes silent except for a few snorting laughs, everybody but Tanner fighting like hell to hide our grins.
He glares at all of us slowly, one after the other, and it only makes Shane and Mason laugh harder.
“Back to what we were talking about.” His dark stare shoots to me. “Is that better, or do you have something else you want to say?”
My smile fades, and I squeeze Ivy’s hands. “I’ve got nothing. You didn’t leave yourself open with that one.”
“Good to know.” He stares at me a moment longer. “I think I liked you better when