The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,227

my mind.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be annoying, Joseph.”

“Too bad.”

“You’re doing this for me, not for him. Don’t forget that. And we both know you’d do anything for me. You’re the only family I’ve got in the world.” I knew that would hit him in the right spot. My brother wasn’t emotional, but that subject got him every single time.

“Ugh…”

“Is that a yes?”

“I said ugh.”

“And in Joseph’s world, what does that mean?”

He was quiet over the phone, taking his time before he answered. “Fine…I’ll go.”

“No men. No guns.”

“Be reasonable, London.”

“I mean it. No guns or men. Just the three of us.”

“How do I know he’ll keep his end of the bargain?”

“Because I’ll be with him. If you think I’d ever let him hurt you, you’re out of your mind.”

“That’s how it better be. And since Crewe is the one buying, you bet your ass I’m gonna order the most expensive thing on the goddamn menu.”

We sat in the back seat as Dunbar drove us to the restaurant. The windows were tinted black so no one could see inside, and that was the reason Crewe and I had screwed in the back seat so many times.

He was dressed in jeans, a gray t-shirt, and a brown leather jacket that made him look yummy. His shoulders looked nice, along with the rest of his body. He shaved before we left, so his jaw was clean, which was something I only saw in the morning before he left for work. He didn’t say much, annoyed about this dinner the way Joseph was.

“Any ground rules?” he finally asked.

“No guns.”

“You already said that. Anything else?”

“Like?” I wore jeans and a black leather jacket, something Crewe’s stylist in London had picked out for me. We never met in person, but she always selected clothes that perfectly fit my shape.

“Topics of conversation.”

“Just don’t be explicit about screwing me and we should be good.”

“Not something I would talk about with anyone…let alone your brother.”

“Well, you asked.” He looked out the window with his hand resting on my thigh. He didn’t seem nervous about the dinner, just annoyed. He preferred to spend his evenings alone with me in the castle, making love in the enormous bed we slept in every night and eating dinner on the balcony that overlooked the courtyard.

“Just because I didn’t bring a gun doesn’t mean I can’t kill him with my bare fists.”

I did my best not to roll my eyes at his ridiculous display of machismo. “If either of you does anything, I’ll kick both of your asses.”

He chuckled at the thought. “Sure, Lovely.”

“Hey, I have an awesome right hook.”

“You’ll have to show me sometime. I’d love to see it.”

“I need a punching bag too. Are you volunteering?”

The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “I miss that…”

“Miss what?” I asked, not following his logic.

“That fiery attitude. You used to talk shit to me all the time when we first met. Now you’re just sweet and affectionate.”

“Are you saying you want me to be mean and sarcastic?”

“No,” he said with a chuckle. “Well, maybe when we’re fucking.”

“Duly noted.”

Dunbar pulled up to the curb and opened the back door so we could exit the car. Crewe took my hand and walked me inside, approaching the hostess desk in the dimly lit room. Tables were packed, but the noise level was low, everyone speaking quietly. A low-burning candle sat on each table.

Joseph already had a table against the back wall, and instead of waving us over, he just stared at us as he drank his beer.

“My brother is in the back.”

Crewe looked up and spotted him before he pulled me with him. As we approached one another, my pulse pounded in my ears. The last thing I wanted was for these two men to murder each other over dinner.

“Hey.” I wrapped my arms around my brother and hugged him.

“Hey.” He hugged me back.

Crewe took a seat, not bothering to shake Joseph’s hand.

Joseph probably wouldn’t have shaken his anyway.

I sat beside Crewe, and Joseph was careful to choose the seat directly across from me.

Super awkward.

Joseph took another drink of his beer, finishing the rest and leaving a foam moustache on his mouth.

Crewe scanned the restaurant discreetly, probably making sure Joseph didn’t have backup lurking around.

There was so much distrust and hatred I could feel it pressing into my skin. “Let’s see what the menu looks like…” I picked up the black menu and read through the selections. “The rib eye looks pretty good. What are you