I tapped on his sock covered foot. He startled awake, blinked a few times before his eyes met mine. He was lying on his back with a throw covering his hips down to his ankles. He was fully dressed, apart from his shoes kicked off in front of the couch. He rubbed down his face, wiping away the fog of sleep before he yawned and sat up.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was gruff, and his scowl was already in place.
I put a hand to my queasy stomach. The moment my fingers touched the thin fabric of my shirt, I remembered my state of undress. No bra and my light blue panties were on full display. Then I remembered Dean had seen me practically naked at Show 'n Tail and that helped taper my embarrassment.
“I feel like shit. I can’t remember how I got home.”
Dean shook his head. “I doubt I’d be able to remember anything with how much you drank last night and that was after we got back here. I have no idea how much you drank at Louie’s, but you were already puking before we left.”
I nodded. “The last thing I remember is throwing up in the bushes. After that it’s a black hole.”
“It took a while to get you into the car. You threw up everything but your stomach, and it wasn’t for a lack of trying.”
I scrunched my nose. That explained why my stomach muscles were sore.
“Once I was able to get you in the car, you, uh…cried. You said some stuff about Jameson. It’s probably best you don’t remember that. You asked if we could go kill someone. Skank Barbie, I think you called her? You went into vivid detail on how you wanted to kill her. Which was fucking terrifying. I don’t know what your obsession is with neck ties, but I will never wear one around you. Ever.”
Neck ties?
“After we got back to the house, you stole whiskey from the boss’s study and started chugging it like it was water. It was a task to get you up to your room. You took off your shoes and pants on the way up the stairs. Because you valued the whiskey bottle you were carrying more than yourself, you would have broken your damn neck if I wasn’t there to catch you.” Dean shook his head again as if in disbelief. “It was a fucking battle to get you to give it up. The only way you’d hand it over is if I promised not to leave you.”
Heat scorched my cheeks. I couldn’t remember any of it. “Thank you,” I mumbled, sheepishly.
His brows furrowed. “It’s not like I had much of a choice.”
Well, that didn’t last long. “You couldn’t just accept the gratitude, could you, Grumpy?”
Dean’s cell vibrated on my coffee table. “Not when I have that name to live up to.” I thought I saw a tiny smirk lift the corner of his mouth, but as quickly as it came, it went. He scooped up his phone, light illuminating his face as he read what I assumed was a text. “Asher’s here. I’m going to head home and change.”
“Family meeting today. I need you both there,” I said. Dean nodded and left.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror in my bathroom, I rubbed away the nonexistent wrinkles on my solid black pant suit. I looked fucking fierce. And hot. I’d do me.
The suit jacket was sexy, molding to me perfectly like a second skin. The neckline plunged open until just below my sternum, showing off the sexy black lace bustier corset I had on underneath that gave my breasts a drool worthy push up. The suit jacket stayed closed with two shiny black buttons. The pants hugged my hips and were skintight all the way down to my ankles. I finished the outfit with dark purple Louboutin platform pumps.
My makeup was dark, especially the shadow around my eyes, making my green eyes pop. My cheeks were shimmery and my lips were blood red to match my hair, which was curled into tight waves.
“We’re going to be late,” Dean said, stepping into the bathroom dressed in an all-black suit sans tie. I turned and caught him checking me out with a slight lift of his brow. If the way I looked could lightly crack his resting bitch face, that meant the outfit I'd chosen was perfect.
“I’m ready. Do you have it?”
Dean nodded and pulled a silver .357 Magnum revolver from inside his suit jacket. I took it and opened the cylinder, finding it fully loaded. Pleased, I stuffed the gun into the back waistband of my slacks and pulled my suit jacket over the top half, hiding it.
“The other leaders will have their enforcers there. Seeing as I don’t have an enforcer of my own, you will stand in.”
Dean only let his surprise show for a second. I had already filled Asher in on the plan. He was going to stand in the hall with Stefan’s security to hold Samuel’s and Dylan’s security out. Stefan’s personal security, along with the rest of the security in the house, were already on alert for what was going to go down. Dylan and hopefully Samuel, if I played my cards right, would be forcibly removed from their positions in this family.
I had tiny butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I approached the chamber. I knew I was going to be the last to arrive. I'd planned on it. Passing the goon squad and Asher standing along the walls of the hallway, I steeled my nerves and waited for Dean to open the door for me to enter. Let the games begin.
The rumbling of men talking trickled into the hallway once the door was opened. With squared shoulders and my darkness taking the reins, I stepped into the room.
Like it had seven years ago, silence blanketed the room and heads turned as my presence was noticed. I had entered through the east door behind Stefan’s chair at the head of the table. To his right sat Samuel, then Conor, then Dylan. To his left sat Jamie, then Rourke, then Louie, leaving the Prionsa’s chair, the other head of the table, empty. Six enforcers stood along the walls. Three on the left and three on the right side of the room. I didn’t recognize most of them. I assumed who they belonged to was who they stood behind. How I came to that conclusion was Mark, who was standing behind Dylan.
Without stopping and Dean following in tow, I walked behind my uncles and Dylan to the other end of the room.
“Gentlemen,” I greeted as I strutted like I was walking a fucking runway. At the other end of the table, I pulled out the Prionsa’s chair and took a seat. “I hope I’m not late,” I asked Stefan.
Stefan’s face was void of what he was feeling as he regarded me. “Right on time.”
I leaned back in my chair and glanced around the table. Jamie was predictably expressionless, but I'd caught his eyes traveling up and down my body, taking in my attire, when I'd first entered the room. Rourke looked surprised to see me, as did Louie, but the moment my eyes met his, he looked away. We needed to talk about last night. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one affected.
To my left sat Dylan. He had what the fuck is she doing here written all over his face. My poor uncle Conor looked from me to Samuel and sighed. Last but not least was my uncle Samuel, who pursed his lips, openly frowning. “What are you doing here?” he questioned.
I smiled. “I’m here to attend the family meeting, silly.” I flicked my eyes to Stefan. “Does the Ri have an issue with the Banphrionsa attending today’s meeting?”
The corner of Stefan’s mouth twitched before he steeled himself. “I don’t,” he said.
Knowing Samuel was going to argue, I beat him to the punch. “Perfect! Shall we begin? Uncle Conor, why don’t you start? I’d love to hear how much our family has made recently selling guns.” Conor’s brows rose, surprised. “Or should I ask Rourke, as he’s really the salesman?” Rourke smiled and looked across the table to his father.