The Insiders (The Insiders Trilogy #1) - Tijan Page 0,18
that interrogation room for the first time. He must’ve been toning down his intensity since the car ride, but it was back in full force now. He was dangerous, and livid. Not a good mix. But his eyes latched on to me, burning me, before sliding to Matthew. That’s where he stayed, and that’s when I saw the arrogant bravado start to slip from my half brother.
Matt’s head lowered an inch. He grew a little … self-conscious? Was that what I was picking up from him?
“What are you doing here, Matt?” Kash clipped out, strolling past him.
That was wrong, too.
He stalked past him, coming in, bypassing me. His eyes had moved to me, he watched me the whole time he went past, until he stepped into his closet. Coming out, he’d taken off his shirt and carried another one in hand. Tossing it on his bed, his hands dropped to his pants.
Oh, whoa.
I did not look away.
I should’ve. I could’ve.
I didn’t.
No way.
He was cut and chiseled, and there were sleek lines of muscle all over him. Not overly, where it was too much muscle, but enough to give him a leanness. He was like a jaguar, one trimmed and poised to attack. His eyes flashed to me again, and I gulped before they skirted to Matthew and stayed there. He’d found his target.
“I asked you a question. What are you doing here, Matt?” He let go of his jeans and shoved his arms in the shirt, pulling it over and down. It fit perfectly.
Shocker.
“I’m meeting your new friend. What’s her name? She still hasn’t told me.”
“Because it’s not your business,” Kash shot back.
Matthew laughed, but I heard the unease in there. “First time you bring a girl here, and you think I’m not going to check her out? You nuts?”
“Right there.” Kash’s head fell back, his nostrils flaring. “First time. First. Time. You don’t think I’d want privacy, even if she was my girl?”
Doubt filtered over Matthew’s face, his eyebrows pinching together. “You’re always shoving your way into my places.”
Places. Matt had more than one?
Matt was still speaking. “You never give a shit if I’m pissed or not.”
“That’s different.”
A snort. “How?”
“Because you’re a dumbass that usually needs me to either kick your ass or someone else’s ass around you. That’s why.”
I waited, expecting a retort from my brother. None came. He nodded, running a hand over his head and gripping his neck for a moment. “That’s fair.” A corner of his mouth curved up, and he went back to studying me. “But seriously. Who is she?”
Kash let out a sigh, grabbing his shirt. “She’s a friend from the family. My family. Bailey Hayes.” He bundled his shirt up in a ball and threw it at Matthew, hard. It was enough to smack against his chest from across the room. “That’s all you need to know. Respect her wish. She ain’t here on vacation.”
My eyes darted to him, my body warming.
There was that protective asshole that Matthew commented on, but it was regarding me. I knew it was a lie. He was helping with my cover, but I couldn’t deny that it felt nice to hear it. I almost wished it were true.
“How you going to handle Victoria?”
Victoria? Kash had mentioned her earlier. I waited to see what he’d say, but he only jerked a shoulder up, before unbuckling his jeans. “I’ll handle her.” He paused, raking us both with a look. “Can you both get out? I need to change my pants.”
Matthew started laughing. “Now I know she really ain’t your girl.” He nodded to me, still smiling. “Come on, Little Mystery. If you’re going to snoop in Kash’s place, you’re not going to find the right spots. I’ll show you where he keeps the good booze.”
My gaze skirted to Kash at the snooping word, but he didn’t seem to mind. His head cocked to the side, his fingers waiting, holding on to his waistband, he looked annoyed. Trailing after Matthew, I tried to wrap my head around everything.
My brother was right in front of me.
He had caught me, questioned me, then tried to grill me. Now he was showing me where Kash hid his booze, which wasn’t a secret place at all. Down the hall. To the kitchen. He wound around the island to the pantry, and that was where a whole row of bottles was shelved.
“Wow,” I deadpanned, waiting in the doorway as he grabbed a few of them. “You’re right. I never would’ve found those.”