SINS of the Rex Book 3 Page 5

  “Facebook or Twitter?” a voice asked.

  I looked up into the handsome face of a man with honeyed colored skin and dark brown eyes. Rakish brown curls rested on his forehead, his smile wide and easy. Though he was a little over average height, I noticed that his body filled out a tux nicely.

  “Neither,” I said with an answering smile.

  “Really?” he drawled, his hands still in his trouser pockets. “I find that hard to believe. Look at this place. People are going to be bragging on social media all night long.”

  “That’s the hope.” My phone buzzed with a response from Evie. Iain was fine, she assured me. The kids were asleep and I should enjoy the party.

  “Boyfriend?” my companion asked, pulling my attention away from my phone.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Are you texting your boyfriend about the great party he wasn’t invited to?”

  My lips trembled with wanting to smile. “No. No boyfriend.”

  “Shame.”

  “What is?” I asked.

  “You don’t have boyfriend. I think that’s a shame.”

  I couldn’t help it—his overly flirtatious manner wasn’t at all threatening or sleazy. I laughed. “I think my husband might be glad I don’t have a boyfriend.”

  The man blinked. “Husband?”

  I held out my hand. “Barrett Campbell. Nice to meet you.”

  “Campbell,” the man muttered, taking my hand and giving it a hardy squeeze. “Your husband is Flynn Campbell. Owner of the Rex Hotel empire.”

  My hand dropped from his. “That would be correct. And you are?”

  “Sorry,” he said, deliberately not introducing himself.

  I waved away his apology. “Don’t be. It made my evening.”

  “You’re just saying that,” he said.

  “Do I have the face of a liar?” I teased.

  He cocked to his head to one side, pretending to study me. “Not a liar. Siren, for sure. A woman with the intent to lure men to their demise.”

  Though his words were teasing, something in his tone had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

  “Well, Mr.—”

  “Filippi. Alessandro Filippi,” he introduced.

  “Mr. Filippi. It was lovely meeting you, but I have to get back.”

  “To your husband. Ah, what a shame. You have a husband.”

  I walked past him, heading back in the direction of Flynn and the others. For some reason, I turned around. Alessandro Filippi’s gaze was still on me, intense, all humor gone.

  “Everything okay?” Ash asked when I found our group again. Flynn was off somewhere, no doubt conversing with guests.

  “Hmm?”

  “Everything okay,” she repeated. “With Iain?”

  “Oh. Yeah. He’s fine. The kids are asleep.”

  “Then what has you looking so worried?” she wondered.

  I grasped her elbow to turn her away from Lacey and the others. “I had one of those moments.”

  She lifted her perfectly groomed eyebrows. “Moments?”

  “You know, where something just happened and you don’t really know what it was, but you know it’s significant?”

  “Ah,” she said in understanding. “Moments. Yeah, gotcha.”

  I was in desperate need of a drink. Now that I was sure Iain was fine, I could imbibe just a bit. I decided to head to the other side of the room, far away from Alessandro Filippi. I wandered to another bar nestled in the opposite corner. There were a few people in line waiting for something stronger than champagne. I finally made it up to the bartender and asked for a glass of scotch.

  “How can you drink that stuff?”

  I turned, grinning. “Better than the swill you drink.”

  Sasha laughed and lifted his glass of clear liquid, which I knew was high-end vodka.

  “That’s how you say hello to me?” I demanded. “By insulting my drink of choice?”

  Sasha opened his arms and embraced me. It was quick but strong.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” I said when I pulled back.

  “Me too.” Sasha surveyed the room with bright blue eyes. “I haven’t seen Flynn yet to congratulate him.”

  “He’s around her somewhere,” I assured. “How’s the suite?”

  “Flynn outdid himself,” he said.

  “Your flight in was okay?”

  “It was. I flew out of Boston.”

  I frowned. “Boston?”

  He took a sip of his vodka. “Had some business to take care of before I came out.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Business?”

  Sasha smiled, all charm and rogue.

  “Ha. I knew it. Did you bring her?”

  “Her? Her who?” he feigned innocently.

  “Oh, come on,” I said, teasingly shoving his arm.

  “Yes, I brought Quinn.”

  “I’m excited to finally meet her,” I said. “You’ve hidden her from me long enough.”

  “I haven’t been hiding her. You live in Scotland. It’s not like you could come to Boston or New York for a quick cup of coffee.”

  “Valid point. So where is she?” I asked.

  “Restroom. What’s been going on with you? How are the boys?”

  “The boys are good.” I briefly told him about coming home from Italy to find that Hawk had maple syruped a wall and that both nannies had quit.

  Sasha had a good laugh.

  “It wasn’t funny,” I said, even though I was chuckling. “Hawk ruined the tranquility that I’d somehow gotten when on vacation. It lasted five minutes.”

  “And how did Flynn handle it?” he wondered.

  “With his usual Flynn-ness. He took the crazy all in stride.”

  “You look really good, Barrett.”

  I smiled. “Thanks. So do you. I’m glad you’re here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  “Really?” he asked with a winsome smile.

  “Of course.”

  He paused. “We’re good, right?”

  My smile was wide. “We’re perfect.”

  Chapter 9

  Sasha’s eyes slid from my face to focus on a spot behind me. I watched his gaze heat and his smile widen. I turned to find a raven haired, willowy woman walking towards us. As she drew closer, I registered the haughty set of her features, high cheekbones, green eyes the color of Irish hills.

  She effortlessly slid into Sasha’s side and his arm went around her slim waist. They made a striking picture, especially when Sasha leaned in and whispered something in her ear. She smiled, and it changed the entire picture on her face. I wondered if she was like Ash in the sense that other women found her intimidating and thus she didn’t have a lot of girlfriends.

  “Barrett Campbell, I’d like you to meet Quinn O’Malley,” Sasha introduced.

  I switched my glass of scotch to my left hand and held out my right. “It’s nice to meet you,” I greeted.

  She grasped my hand in a firm handshake. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Our hands dropped, and we spent a moment studying one another the way women do. Sasha and I had a unique relationship. There was history and love and lot of complication. Quinn was the first woman after me to mean something to him, and I wanted to make sure she was good enough.

  Sasha dropped his arm from around her waist and reached into his trouser pocket to pull out his vibrating phone. He frowned. “Sorry, I have to take this.” He gave Quinn his glass of vodka and then stalked away, phone to his ear.

  “So, you’re from Boston,” I said, focusing on Quinn. “I’ve never been to Boston.”

  “It’s old,” she stated.

  I blinked. “Yes. Old. I’ve heard it’s lovely though.”

  Quinn’s unwavering green gaze held mine. “So you’re the woman. The way he talks about you, it’s painfully obvious.”

  I frowned. “Obvious?”

  “That he’s in love with you.”

  “I thought extreme bluntness was a Midw
estern quality,” I mused.

  Quinn didn’t crack a smile. “I thought it was important to just cut to the chase.”

  “I don’t know what he’s told you—”

  “Nothing,” she interrupted. “He’s told me nothing of your history, only that he’s godfather to one of your children.”

  What was I supposed to tell her? Hawk had been kidnapped and Sasha had helped find him. There were so many other things the man had done for me. Not to mention we were linked because of Igor Dolinsky, and that was a can of worms I never wanted to open again.

  “Sasha and I are close,” I said slowly. “I’m sorry if that upsets you.”

  “You’re married. Why do you need Sasha?”

  This woman held no prisoners.

  “Whatever he’s told you—or hasn’t told you—you need to know only one thing. I love Sasha. He’s family to me and I want him happy. That’s it.”

  She rolled her eyes, all of sudden looking much younger than I first thought. I could understand her jealously. My relationship with Sasha was nothing you could put into a box and label. It didn’t make sense half the time, but that was just the way we were.

  “Why did you come here with him?” I pressed, holding her gaze and refusing to back down.

  “I wanted to meet you,” she said simply. “I wanted to see the woman I’m in competition with.”

  “For the love of—I’m married. I have three children. I’m ridiculously in love with my husband. If you want, I’d be glad to introduce you to Flynn.”

  She paused, all of sudden looking a little hesitant, as if she was finally aware of her insane, blunt behavior.

  “Just a piece of advice?” I went on. “Don’t alienate those who would do anything for Sasha. If you’ve got an issue with him, take it up with him. This really has nothing to do with me. And I think you know that.”

  Before Quinn could reply, I stalked away, leaving her with her own issues.

  It was difficult to compose myself, but I managed to slap a smile on my face. I passed guests, some I recognized because they were famous; the others who I didn’t recognize, I knew were more influential and had billion dollar companies.

  Finding Flynn, I sidled up to his side, managing to extract him from talking business with a group of powerful men and women.

  “I saw you with Sasha briefly. Where did he go?” Flynn asked, placing his hand on the back of my neck. His touch was warm and soothing.

  “He had to take a phone call.”

  He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “I finally met the girl.”

  “Ah.”

  “Ah? What does that mean?”

  “You hate her,” he said with a knowing grin.

  “I don’t.”

  “You do,” he insisted.

  “No one’s good enough for him,” I muttered. “He deserves the best.”

  “He can’t have the best, hen. So he’ll have to settle.”

  I sighed. “I think she might really love him.”

  “Then why do you sound so depressed?”

  “Because she was kind of a bitch,” I said.

  “Barrett—”

  “Seriously, Flynn. She was cold and haughty and when Sasha left us alone, she had all the tact of a storm trooper.”

  Flynn sighed and shook his head. “You’ve got incredible timing, you know that?”

  I frowned in confusion. “What do you—”

  He gestured behind me. I turned, coming face to face with Sasha. “How much did you hear?” I demanded.

  “Enough,” he said, glowering. He looked past me to my husband, holding out his hand. “Good to see you, Flynn.”

  “Good to see you, Sasha,” Flynn greeted, shaking his hand. “I’m going to let you guys sort this out.” With a sympathetic glance at me, Flynn left.

  I winced when I looked at Sasha. I opened my mouth to say something, but a group of people came up to greet me. If Sasha and I were going to be able to talk uninterrupted, then we were going to have to leave the party.

  “Let’s get out of here,” I said to him.

  He nodded. “I’m going to tell Quinn where I’m going and then I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

  On my way out, I was waylaid by Ash. I told her where I was going and that I’d tell her everything later. Sasha was already waiting for me when I made it out to the lobby. We walked through the hotel and ducked into one of my favorite bars in the place. It was modeled after an aristocratic old library. The couches were leather and comfortable, the bar and bookshelves were dark wood, and the lighting was low.

  I greeted the bartender by name—the employees knew me by sight and I’d met a good deal of them and made it a mission to remember their names. After ordering two glasses of vodka, Sasha and I sat down in two large leather chairs that were angled towards each other.

  “What does she know about me?” I asked him. “About us?”

  “Only that we have history.”

  “So she doesn’t know why you’re Hawk’s godfather?”

  “You mean did I tell her that your son was kidnapped? No.”

  “Does she know how we met?” I asked pointedly. We rarely spoke of Dolinsky. It was a dark time for both of us.

  “No.” His eyes met mine. “What did you say to her?”

  “I told her you were my family and that she should get over whatever it was that was eating her.”

  “Barrett—”

  “She was mean to me first!” I accused.

  He tried not to smile and failed. “She’s intimidated by you. And if you knew Quinn, you’d know that never happens.”

  “Why did you keep her away?” I asked. “By not introducing us sooner, she thinks she has a reason to be jealous of me.”

  He sighed. “I wasn’t ready to share her yet.”

  “Does she make you happy?” I asked.

  “I think she could make me happy.”

  We fell silent and took a moment to enjoy our drinks. Finally, he spoke again. “I didn’t tell her much about our history because your story isn’t mine to share.”

  “Listen, I know we have a complicated back-story. And, yeah, I’m not a fan of a near stranger knowing some of my most terrible moments, but if she matters to you, then you need to tell her. Use your judgment, but don’t keep it from her just because you’re worried about my part in all of this.”

  Sasha let out a sigh and then swallowed the rest of his drink. “I guess I can do that.”

  “You trust her?” I asked.

  He nodded. “She knows about my affiliations—and her father is a predominant business man in Boston.”

  I knew what ‘business man’ really meant. “Quinn O’Malley. Irish.”

  “Yes.”

  “How does her father feel about his daughter’s involvement with a Russian?”

  Sasha smirked. “He’s already said he wants to pay for the wedding.”

  “Wedding?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not there yet.”

  “Right. Okay,” I teased.

  “Do you really hate her?” he asked suddenly.

  “If I did, would it change how you felt about her?” I asked instead of answering.

  “No. It wouldn’t.”

  “I don’t know her,” I said truthfully. “I was hoping to get to know her, but she said…”

  “What? What did she say to you?”

  “She said she could tell that you were in love with me by the way you talked about me. You’re not, though, right? Not anymore.”

  “I’m not in love with you anymore, Barrett,” Sasha said with a soft smile.

  I grinned. “Do you promise?”

  “I promise.”

  “Then maybe you should tell Quinn?”

  “Yeah, I should probably talk to her.”

  “If I were you, I’d pull her out of the party and talk to her now. And then tomorrow night, you both will have dinner with Flynn and me. Quinn can meet the boys and maybe she and I can start over.”

  Sasha
reached out, and I gave him my hand. He squeezed it. “Thank you.”

  “Any time.”

  My clutch buzzed.

  “Sorry, let me look at this,” I said, digging around for my cell. I looked at my phone to see a message from Flynn telling me the party had been moved to the casino.

  “Come on,” I said, pulling Sasha along. “Let’s find Quinn and then gamble away a lot of money.”

  Chapter 10

  I found Flynn at a high stakes poker table with four other men, one of whom was Duncan. The lowest table limit was five thousand dollars, so in reality, every table was a high stakes game.

  “Call,” the man next to Flynn said.

  The men put their cards on the table, one by one. With a grin, Flynn set his cards down and with a straight flush, won the jackpot in the middle.

  Duncan groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have sat at the same table as you.”

  “Blame Barrett,” Flynn said, looking up at me with a teasing grin. “She’s always been good luck.” He scooped up his winnings and stood up from the table.

  “Don’t forget,” he said. “Tonight’s winnings are being donated to charity. So have fun and even if you lose, know that your money is going to a good cause.”

  “Where’s Ash?” I asked Duncan as Flynn went to a cashier to cash out his chips.

  “Last I checked, she was at the slots,” Duncan said, turning his attention back to the table.

  “Okay, thanks,” I said, knowing he was getting sucked back into the game. “Good luck, gents.” I walked towards Flynn, who turned to me with a smile.

  “You cheated, didn’t you?” I whispered.

  He pretended to look offended, but there was a definite twinkle in his eyes. “No, I didn’t cheat!”

  “Uh huh.”

  “You settle everything with Sasha?”

  “Think so,” I said. The moment we’d gotten to the casino, Sasha had left my side to try to find Quinn. I hoped they were speaking to one another and clearing everything up.

  “We’re having dinner with Quinn and Sasha tomorrow,” I told him.

  “Yes, dear,” he chimed, taking my elbow and escorting me around the dim casino. The sounds of laughter and slot machines cashing out hit my ears. A slight headache had begun to form at my temples. I wasn’t used to crowds anymore.