Yesterday’s Betrayal, Today’s Scars

Chapter 11 - DINNER GUESTS

Star POV

The thoughts of yesterday’s non-dinner with Tony and Max keep playing in my mind. First, their father gets taken out, and now they have a hit on them.

Shaking my head, I relax while snapping a fresh clip in. The time I spend here in our shooting range relaxes me. I aim and then squeeze the trigger.

When I sense someone behind me, I lower the gun and turn. Alice is covering her ears, smiling. “Not bad,” she says with a cocky smile. “I’ll match you round for round anytime.” I c**k an eyebrow.

“You don’t have time. We got a call from the Marino’s. They requested a meeting to discuss a specialty job,” she says with curiosity. “Yes, I told them I occasionally take them depending on the details.” Her lip tips up in amusement.

“Anyway, I told them to be here at 6 pm since your evening is clear.” She laughs, proud of herself. “Without talking to me about it first?”

“You know you would have said no. Dinner and a little business talk won’t hurt you. Besides, I already gave them GPS coordinates for the right tunnel, and Alex will meet them in the garage.”

Shit. s**t. s**t. I sigh, “Alice, spending time with them isn’t a good idea.” She reaches forward, taking my hand. “Star, Tony, and Max aren’t horn dogs like most guys. I researched them. They would understand your lifestyle and accept it with no judgment. The big question here is, can you trust them?”

“Alice, I honestly don’t know that's the problem. I don't trust anyone except you and Alex. If I let someone in and they hurt me, I might not recover,” I tell her my biggest fear.

She throws her arms around me, holding me tight. “I know exactly how you feel. But won’t spending time with them while doing business allow you to get to know them? Really know them?”

I take a deep breath, looking down the lane at my target, riddled with holes. I guess I could, but still, keep my defenses up if my damn treacherous hormones will stay in check.

I look back at her. “I'll have dinner with them and do business while getting to know them. But I'm keeping my guard up.” She grins with a mischievous smile. s**t, I've got to watch her.

“Go shower. I’ll put your gun in the weapons room,” she says. “Nope, we're going to have visitors. I'm staying armed. You never know when you might want to shoot someone’s toe off.” I stroll out of the range, laughing.

After showering, I throw on my favorite pair of ripped jeans and grab one of my many black fitted tanks. The twins joke they are the only shirts I own.

Barefoot and comfortable, I grab my Glock, tucking it in the back of my waistband, and head downstairs to help with dinner.

Alex is standing there looking through the fridge, so I walk up behind him, goosing his sides and making him jump. “Let your guard down, didn’t you?” “I don’t need my guard up at home. You're not going to dry your hair or anything?” he asks, looking at my wet hair as if it offends him.

“I'm not trying to impress anyone, Alex.” I shrug. “What are you in the mood for dinner?” He hums. “I'll toss a salad if you'll make that marinade for steaks we love. I can cook the steaks after they get here. Alice can do some baked potatoes and asparagus,” he says.

“Sounds good to me.” “What sounds good to you?” Alice asks, walking into the kitchen. After I fill her in, she gets sides started, and I make the marinade and put the steaks in it. When Alex heads out to meet Tony and Max, I start feeling anxious.

“Go make you a drink,” Alice says with a knowing look. I give her an appreciative smile and go to the bar in the living room to fix a drink. I take a nice sip and stare out the large windows into the compound.

It isn’t long until Alex returns, followed by Tony and Max. I watch as they take the large space in. Our main living area is extensive, with vaulted ceilings, clean lines of metal, and bulletproof glass on two walls. Three recliners, two love seats, and a 146-inch Samsung TV hangs on the interior wall. I am on the far side of the room where our stocked bar is.

I'm taking them all in from head to toe—Tony in a suit and Max in dress pants and a polo. My eyes slowly take in their broad shoulders, great pecs, tight stomachs, and then my eyes go up. Seeing they are both eyeing my breasts.

How the hell do they constantly affect me this way? If I could press my thighs together without them noticing, I would. Tonight, I will need some private me time to get some relief.

I clear my throat. “Would you like a drink now, gentlemen, or after dinner?” Their eyes snap up to my face, neither looking ashamed of staring at my breasts. “Now,” they say in unison.

I point to the bar beside me. “You can make a drink, or we can open a bottle of wine to go with dinner. Your choice.” They both start walking my way, and my heart starts racing.

They stop just feet from me. Tony leans in, “Wine would be good, red if you have it.” Alex is kind and opens the wine fridge, pulls out two bottles of red, and smiles at me. Then he turns to them, holding them up.

Max reaches out, choosing the Merlot. Alex hands him an opener and then shoots me a knowing smile. He knows exactly what the two do to me. Grrrr.

“How do you two take your stakes?” Alex asks them. “Medium rare,” they both reply. I gather myself and tell them to bring the wine and head to the kitchen.

Stopping in the dining room, I tell them to have a seat. I'll be back. They sit the wine and glasses down, and I go to the kitchen, grabbing plates, silverware, and the cloth napkins out of the drawer.

Alice smiles at me while she puts the potatoes and asparagus on platters. I return to the dining room, setting the table. Tony and Max watch my every move.

I don’t look at them until I take my seat. “This is a very unusual table,” Max says. I hum, looking at it. Then, look back at him with a smile. “It is. We special ordered it,” I say.

“I think there is a story behind it,” Tony says, leaning forward and taking a drink. Alex walks around the table, placing our steaks on the plates in front of us. “There is a story there,” he confirms.

Alice looks at me intently, wanting confirmation I'm ok with her telling it. I sigh and nod at her. I hope a little insight into my quirks won't backfire on me.

She looks at Tony, then to Max, and explains while running her hand over the dark cherry table. “This table represents that we are equal, a team, a family in all ways inside this house. Being round, there is no head, no foot.” I smile because all three of us are proud of that.

“You said inside this house,” Max says mainly as a question. “I did,” is all she says. I sigh, knowing this isn’t going to get dropped.

“In our home, this main level, and upstairs, we are all on even footing. We are ourselves. However, when we are downstairs in the offices, dungeon, habitat, or on a job, we each have our own expertise and jobs with different risk factors,” I state.

They are both eyeing me, taking everything in. Alex grunts at what I said. I know he doesn’t like the risks I take on my own. He would prefer to go out on all the jobs with me. But that's not doing what he loves. It would make him miserable even if his instincts were to protect me.

Tony picks up on Alex’s shift in mood after the grunt but doesn’t question it. Halfway through our meal, I decided to get some information. “So tell me about this specialty job,” I say, then take a drink.

“As you know, we have had at least two attempts to take over our operations. It has come to light that the ones we have dealt with are just pawns doing the dirty work. We have a traitor in the family, probably close to us,” Tony states as a matter of fact.

I lean back in my chair and look at each of them closely. To not be able to trust those you bring into your home, someone you have let in completely, not just betraying your trust but wanting you dead, would really f**k you up inside. I shake my head, trying to quell my emotions.

I look at Alex, and his disgust and anger match mine. Turning my gaze to Alice, there is no hiding her feelings. “The topic of traitors in any form is a sensitive topic for us. Especially when it has to do with someone that is considered or is family,” Alex says in his deep voice, looking right at Tony.

“You want us to investigate your family, track them, find the traitor? Then what?” I question, looking from Max to Tony.

They sit staring at each other as if having a private conversation. As the minutes pass, I finish eating and look at Alice, knowing that most of this job will be on her.

She gives me a firm nod, meaning she is all in. I look to Alex, who cracks his knuckles. I guess it's decided, depending on whether they realize what this means.

“You gentlemen have thought of what this would involve, right? It means Alice here is going to hack every computer associated with every member of your family. Every cell phone, every vehicle's navigation, every credit card, and every movement anyone makes will be logged and analyzed. Are you prepared for that?” I ask.

Tony gets a stern look on his face. “We aren’t taking this lightly. In our business, we must have loyalty—one way in swearing allegiance. one way out, by blood. We need to clean house,” he says adamantly. I give him a firm nod in understanding.

“Will you take the job?” he asks. “Yes,” knowing my answer and Alice and Alex’s answer by their reactions. “What’s your price?” he asks. I look at Alice as she will be the lead on this.

She gets a slow smile on her face, and her eyes sparkle. Oh s**t! I think to myself. “My price for this has a catch,” she pauses, looking from one to another. “Since we split all the money, I have to charge you something, so $25,000 will include recovery if Lightning’s service is needed for that. The catch for that price is you owe me a favor.” She then leans back in her chair.

Max leans back in his chair with a thoughtful look on his face. Tony’s eyebrows raise, looking a little surprised. It's a big deal to ask the Marino family for a favor.

I can see the playfulness behind her eyes, and I think they can, too. Tony finally nods and says, “Deal.” “What are you up to, dear sister?” Alex asks. She laughs at him. “What makes you think I'm up to something, brother?” She emphasizes the word brother giggling at him. And I know the banter is going to start.

“Buckle up, gentlemen,” I say with a smile. Tony and Max look at me with curiosity. I shake my head, knowing what's coming.

“It’s Friday night. Don’t you need to get ready for the club?” Alex asks her with a smirk. She gets a cocky look on her face and says, “Yes, us girls like our eye candy too. Don’t you need to go out to stalk your bartender?” she retorts, laughing.

Alex shrugs, “You call it stalking. I call it watching and waiting for the right time to pounce,” he says with a half smile. I shake my head at the two of them.

Max and Tony are watching the whole scene in amusement. Max then looks at me. “And what do you do on Friday’s?” “She reads her word porn or talks to the desert,” Alice replies before I get a chance.

His eyebrows shoot up. “Word porn?” he questions. I shrug my shoulder and say, “A woman needs some smut from time to time.” Everyone burst out laughing, and my face turned bright red. “Be careful what you ask here, gentlemen. We have an honesty policy in this house. You never know what you will get asked in return.” I give them a challenging look.

Tony looks at Alice. “What club do you go to?” I'm sure wondering if it's one of theirs. She gets a playful smile on her face, and I think oh s**t!

“Desire” is her one-word response. The look of shock on his face is comical. “The b**m club?” Tony questions, already knowing the answer. “Yes, are you personally familiar with it?” she asks with a playful tone.

“No,” is his reply, but there is no judgment, just surprise in his tone. Max and Tony look at me, and I know what they think. “To Alice’s disappointment, no, I haven’t gone with her,” I say. “Although she has asked me many times.”

I look at Alice. “You know mixing business and pleasure is a bad idea. As long as Dem is a client, even if he doesn’t realize it, I’ll stay away from his establishments,” I say with finality. “I’ll respect your wishes, but we both know you would enjoy watching as much as I do.” she laughs at me.

I glance at Tony and then Max. I'm sure they can see my embarrassment with this conversation. I need to turn the tables. “What about you two?” I ask.

They are both looking at me, probably wondering which part of the discussion I'm referring to, so I elaborate. “What do you do with your Friday nights? And have you been to Desire?” I clarify.

Tony leans back in his chair, studying my face. I'm sure wondering how honest to be. I raise a challenging eyebrow at him, daring him to lie. That would be a complete deal breaker for trust with me, and I think he sees it in my eyes.

“I have never been to Desire myself,” he glances at Max, giving away some information on Max going. He continues, “On most nights, including Fridays, I'm in the office reviewing weekly reports on all our ventures or at a fight night.” I nod in understanding.

Speaking my thoughts out loud, “I've thought of going to one of your underground fights many times but haven’t made it yet,” I admit. He smiles. “We would be happy to take you some time.” My core tightens, and the thought of them taking me out, but I say nothing.

I look to Max for his answers. “I have been to Desire,” he says, not elaborating, and I have to keep my face straight because disappointment and sadness roll through me at the thought. I have to shut my emotions down because he is studying my face.

“When I'm not in the office with Tony making sure the businesses are running smooth, I'm out taking care of problems,” he explains. I nod in understanding, but the mood has changed at his admission. I know now I can’t let them in. The thought of them being with anyone else makes me nauseous. I'm not just attracted to them. This is more, and it’s scaring the s**t out of me. I need to distance myself again.

I look at Alice, understanding crosses her face. It’s time to end this meeting. Alex picked up on it, too. I stand, grab my dishes, and take them to the kitchen without a word. I have to shake this off. I thought I could relax and be myself around them for a little bit after my conversation with Alice earlier, but I was wrong. It's a mistake.

I can hear Alex’s deep voice carrying into the kitchen. “Just when she started to be herself around you, showing you Star instead of Lightning, you f**k it up.”

Then I hear Alice’s voice, “It would have been worse if he had lied, and you know it. A past can be overlooked or even forgiven depending on the circumstances, but lying is a complete deal breaker for any of us,” she states matter of factly.

I sigh because this is getting out of hand, and it doesn’t matter. I'm too screwed up for a relationship with anyone. People hurt you. That's why I can't let anyone in.

“My guess is you have 30 seconds to go elaborate on your bombshell before she completely locks her walls up where you are concerned, and she never lets you in,” I hear Alex declare. s**t, what is he thinking. I don’t want to talk anything personal with them.

I hear chairs sliding on the floor, making me immediately turn towards the window. I'm praying they leave and do not come in here. The footsteps approaching tell me I'm not getting my wish.