I push my computer a little away from me before swiping my hand over my face. “There’s nothing really going on with Blaine. I think he might want there to be, but honestly, I don’t want anything to do with him.”
Ellie taps the eraser of her pencil onto her lips. “Seems like he was pretty interested in what was going on with you and Xander after that cunt freaked out in the middle of school. I overheard him asking a few people about it.”
“Really? Why does he even care?” I roll my neck, trying to wrack my brain for any form of information that would explain Blaine’s weird-as-hell behavior over the last couple of weeks.
“Fuck if I know. That’s why I had to ask you about it. He seems to be pretty invested in your business which is so fucking strange.”
“You’re telling me. Oh well, Xander is the one I actually care about. My father even asked if he would come to some big function that Hawthorne Industries is throwing on Saturday.”
As the words slip out of my mouth, excitement for Xander to be involved bubbles up again. It wasn’t a dream. It was real, and I am finally going to be able to show the guy I love off to the city.
“Even after how big of a dick he was to you when you first got home?” Ellie asks quickly.
Closing my eyes, I let out a forced sigh. “We had some issues to work out from before I left for boarding school. We were both hurt. We just needed to get past all of it and I think we have finally done it!”
Ellie offers a kind smile. “Then I am really happy for you.”
“Thanks. Me, too.”
“Does this mean we get to go dress shopping for your big night?” Ellie bounces a little in her seat.
“That would be so amazing. I would love it if you would go with me. I need to find a damn show-stopper for sure.”
“Trip into the city!” Ellie squeals. “I have always wanted to feel like the chicks on Sex and the City for one shopping trip.”
“Then it’s a date. I’ll make an appointment for Friday after school at Bergdorf Goodman and have Rolland drive us in.”
“This is going to be the fucking best ever!”
Chapter 17
Xander
I scroll through satellite radio stations until I find something that suits my mood, something heavy, dark, and loud that can drown out all of the noise in my head. Jase has kept me on a pretty tight leash after hearing that Carl Montrose is in bed with Moretti, and if I even tried to escape so I could warn Charles about his business partner, I’m pretty sure Jase would run me over.
I rub the sides of my temples. There is so much that still doesn’t make sense. How are we gonna connect the dots if we don’t ask any questions?
“I can see the wheels turning, bro,” Jase grunts, pressing his foot on the gas and speeding through a yellow light. “But forget it. This is the time to lay low. We got our information, now we watch to see how shit plays out.”
“This is exactly what Lorenzo was talking about!” I shout. “Dad’s MO of standing down instead of taking action...this is why people aren't taking us seriously anymore, why they’re afraid of a takeover. If we sit back with our thumbs up our asses, we won’t ever be able to hold off Moretti. He’s got a lot of money and that can buy power and people, both of which he needs to overthrow us and grab control of our territories. Do you get why laying low is a bad fucking idea?”
Jase swings his car into a parking spot outside one of the dance clubs we own and slams on the brakes before throwing the beast of an SUV into park. He whips his head to look at me, his dark eyes blazing with anger. “And do you get why you’re never gonna rise in the organization? Do you understand that not listening to orders will get your ass killed?”
“Sitting around playing with our dicks is so much more productive?” I snarl. “What do you think is gonna happen when Moretti starts building up? You think all of his fancy shit won’t tempt our guys? People want cash, Jase. They want power. If he promises them both, he’ll win!”
“Dad’s guys are loyal to him. They’ve stuck around because they believe in him and