“This is exactly the drink I need,” I said as I leaned back on my seat and sipped my beer. When I turned to my right, there was Jessica, a beautiful young blonde with the most devilish smile I had seen, and to my left, there was Tatyana, an exotic Russian with an erotic accent that sent chills up my spine each time she spoke.

“What drink?” Jessica teased as she took my bottle and gave it a sip. As she did she wrapped her leg around me and then gave a soft kiss on the cheek. The dim lights of the bar accentuated the sexy curves of her hips and the edges of her long hair.

Tatyana giggled and took the bottle from Jessica and pressed it against her neck. She cooed at the cold touch and then looked at me, “Why do you need cold drink? Are you exhausted? Is modeling work too tiring?”

I felt the sarcasm in her tone but even I admitted I was complaining about trivial things, “Okay, you got me there. I just stood around and let people take photos. It is tiring though, especially when they ask me to stay in position for so long. Today’s shoot took three hours you know.”

“Oh, look at me,” Tatyana did a whiny impression. “I work three hours a day and all I do is stand while people take photos. My life is ruined.”

Jessica laughed and glided her hand across my muscle-bound chest, right underneath my shirt, “Oh, don’t be too mean on him, Yana. He’s like a baby and he needs some kisses.”

Both girls giggled and simultaneously kissed my cheeks.

“Looks like you’re having fun,” a male voice cut in.

The girls and I looked up to find a tall, lean and dashingly handsome man putting a bucket on their table. The man then slid onto the seats and took his place beside Tatyana.

“Wow, you’re a cutie,” Tatyana said as she got a better look at the man.

“Baby girl, you won’t get anything from him,” I joked as I pointed at the man. “That’s Trevor Wild, the owner of this joint. He’s married.”

Jessica’s mouth went wide with awe, “You own Mercury Wild?”

Trevor nodded with a smile as he handed us our drinks. He then turned to me, “So, what’s new?”

I shrugged, gulped down on my drink and placed it on the table. I then wrapped my arms around the girls and said, “You know how it is – just another boring day doing nothing and then spending a few hours looking handsome in front of a camera.”

Trevor shook his head and chuckled, “You lucky bastard. Well, Preston and Lyla are hosting a party at their place. Are you coming?”

“Sure,” I said. “Formal party? Something fun and casual?”

“Formal,” Trevor answered. “They’re launching a new business, I think, and the party’s to attract investors and endorsers.”

“Got it,” I said.

I found this kind of business talk boring. While Trevor was a really close friend, all I wanted to focus on right now was getting busy with the two girls in my arms. I felt especially anxious because of how sweet they smelled. I just couldn’t wait to get their clothes off.

Even Trevor could feel my excitement to get down and dirty. He got up from the table and said, “Well, I got to go. Just update me all right?”

I just gave a nod of approval and watched as Trevor headed off to greet other guests in the bar. With Trevor gone, I spent the rest of the hour flirting with my girls. I particularly felt excited whenever they’d touch me or give me a slow, luscious kiss on the lips.

Everything was going fine until my damn phone buzzed.

“Hold on,” I excused myself when I saw who was calling. “I need to answer this.”

Jessica and Tatyana gave me some room to stand up. With my phone in hand, I walked to the back of the bar where it was not so loud and I could concentrate on the conversation. I put the phone up to my ear and answered the call.

“Hey, what’s up sis?” I greeted. It was Sonya, my elder sister.

“D-Daxter,” my sister stuttered and I could hear her sobbing.

Almost instantly my mood shifted. I could tell something was wrong. Sonya was a strong woman, one who wouldn’t cry for even the most serious problems. She was the one I looked up to the most, even more so than our older brother and our parents. If she was crying, then something was up. I could feel the knot just getting heavier in my gut.

“Are you crying?” I just had to make sure. “What’s wrong?”

“Gary’s dead,” she replied and her sobs became loud wails. Even though I couldn’t see her, I knew the tears were flowing down my sister’s cheeks.

This came as a heavy blow to me.

Gary was always the one our parents looked to inherit the family’s wealth. Gary was the one who would carry the family business. He was the one they adored and loved the most. Sonya and I were just the “background” kids, the backup to fill up a family photo.

I pursed my lips and forced myself to ask for details, fighting back the tears as I did, “H-how did he die? What happened, exactly?”

“He was driving home when a drunk truck driver lost control and slammed into his car,” Sonya replied. “It was a head-on collision. The guys at the morgue said Gary’s face was pulverized by the sheer weight and pressure of the truck. Oh, God!”

Fuck. I could feel the rage boiling in my gut. I wanted to find that driver and break his neck. “Where are you? I’ll meet you.”

Sonya sobbed and told me, “I’m at the morgue, the El Fariza Royal Morgue.”

“Okay, just wait for me there,” I said. “I’m a little drunk, though; just letting you know. I’m here at Mercury Wild.”

“Can you drive?” Sonya asked. “Do you want me to send one of our drivers?”

I vehemently refused that offer, “No way. I can get there by myself. Just wait for me there.”

“All right, you take care,” my sister said and ended the call.

There was a lot to handle now.

I had to deal with my brother’s funeral, with the case against the truck driver, I had to reschedule everything I had planned with Jessica and Tatyana and I now had to do the one thing I hoped I could postpone indefinitely: facing my parents.