Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,33

it.”

I started laughing.

“Shut it!” Cross yelled.

I laughed harder and showed him my teeth. “You got a nice set there. I’d like them better on the ground.”

Screw it.

I wanted to fight.

Suddenly there was a screech of tires, and Zeke’s truck raced our way. Jamie was out before it even stopped. “Hey, hey, hey.” He stepped between us, frowning at my brother and me. “What’s going on?”

Oliver was slower to approach, but he sidled up on the other side of our circle.

Zeke turned the engine off and slid out of his truck. It was a big-ass truck. He whistled, smiling crudely at Bren and Cross as he tossed his keys in the air, catching them and repeating as he came to a stop beside me. “Thought the fight you needed us for was at your house.” He nodded at Cross. “You’re exchanging that pussy for this pussy?” His eyes slid up and down Bren. “I’m so down for that. Winner gets your woman?”

I’d heard stories about my brother and his crew fighting. And I knew Bren had had a knife against Zeke’s throat once upon a time, but he didn’t seem to remember that. His words were fighting words.

The shit I’d been throwing out was just to get a reaction. At first.

If Zeke kept running his mouth, we really would be tossing down in a second.

I waited, breath held, for my brother to react.

“Enough!” It was Bren who decided. She shoved Cross back toward their truck. “Your brother was being sarcastic, but he wasn’t mean. And his dumbass friend? Well, that’s a fight for a different night. Come on. You and I have a date, remember?”

Cross didn’t budge.

Unease shivered down my spine, but hell yes. I was so down for this. One big chaotic rough and tumble fight. Let’s have this out. Finally. His eyes locked on Zeke’s before they moved to mine, and whatever he saw in me, it changed him. A different look came over him, and he blinked, as if clearing his head.

Bren was successful in pushing him closer to their truck, but he braked and called over her shoulder, “Who are you fighting at your house?”

Right. I rolled my eyes. “What am I supposed to say? Your mama?” I gave him my middle finger. “It ain’t any of your business. Go screw your woman.”

His eyes went feral.

“NO!” Bren was firm. “I said no. Not him. Not your brother, because he might mean something to you later. Trust me.”

Goddamn. “You’re annoying, Bren.”

She ignored me, still shoving my brother back to their truck. Once he was inside, she turned and addressed me. “You’re a prick, but you’re still blood to him, and I know him. That does mean something.” Her eyes went cold. “Don’t push him until you go over a line you can’t come back from.”

And with those kind words, she strode around to get in on the other side.

My brother flipped me off out the back as they drove off.

Zeke started laughing. “I was hoping to see some Bren fighting moves. That girl is hot.” He turned to me. “Your house, right?”

Jamie let out a breath, his hand trembling slightly as he raked it through his hair. “We were driving to your place when he noticed the Mercedes here. We saw you and them, and it was perfect timing, huh?”

I narrowed my eyes. “You can’t hang with me if you’re scared of a fight.”

Zeke started laughing.

Jamie’s eyes widened, then cooled. “Yeah. Didn’t know it was like that, but whatever. I’m down.”

I doubted it. I could see why no one had made a move against Zeke until now. They needed a fucking leader because they were followers.

I felt Zeke studying me and met his gaze. “Now can you see why I love you? No one else like you around these parts.”

It was an odd thing for him to say, but I was understanding my “best friend” a little more each day. And it seemed odd, but right at the same time.

I sighed. “Let’s go and hope Griffith isn’t at the house.”

“Can I call him pussy if we see him again?” Zeke asked.

I relaxed. “You can call him pussy as if his new name is Pussy DeVroe.”

17

Aspen

Blaise never called, but he texted close to midnight.

Blaise: I’m sorry. Major family drama tonight. Non-bio dad refused to leave the house. I almost beat the shit out of him.

I sat up in bed, and a cold sweat came over me.

Me: Is everything okay now?

Blaise: Can I come over?

A zing raced through me, a