CHAPTER 7
Laila
I am eating breakfast when Luca walks in and begins talking with the others without a care in the world. I don’t know why, but it angers me that he is so causally handling his brother’s reckless behavior. Luca says something to me as I walk by, ignoring everyone. I would rather wait for Titus by myself and clean guns.
Luca follows me, stepping just inside the door. “What’s going on with you today?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you mad at me?” I shake my head in silence. “You’re mad about something, so are you going to tell me what it is or do I have to guess?”
“Your brother …”
“Oh no. What did he do now?”
“He’s a real mess, you know that? I have no idea how you put up with him.” I spill out of my mouth with surprisingly no ability to stop myself.
Luca rolls his eyes and shuts the door before sitting down beside me. “Okay, tell me everything.” I huff and return to my work. “Trust me. You’re not going to feel better until you vent.”
With his permission, I release my anger freely. “I found him and Jolie screwing in a lounge at the club last night. He’s going to get us all killed fucking around like that. I don’t need that kind of trouble. He came out of there still pumped up and ready to go.”
“Pumped up?” Luca laughs until I glare at him. “Okay, I understand why you would be concerned, but you don’t understand.”
“That’s what he said, but I understand perfectly.”
“No, no you don’t. Ben was engaged to Jolie. She hooked him good. Ben took her to a party that Titus held at his house. He invited all of us that worked for him at the time to celebrate their engagement. Jolie was so impressed by Titus’s money and power she barely paid attention to Ben that night, and Titus didn’t hesitate to take advantage of her interest. She said she didn’t fuck Titus that night, but Ben knows better. We all know better.”
“So why stay with someone after that? It doesn’t make any sense? Unless your brother has some serious mental disabilities?”
“I think Ben mostly continued on with Jolie just to get back at Titus, not that Titus cared.” I shake my head, giving Luca a disbelieving sigh. “Fine. As much as I hate to admit it, Jolie had her hooks into my brother deep. It wasn’t pretty. He wanted to believe her. He was hopeful, and she was manipulating everyone around her. Wouldn’t you want to believe in someone you love?” he asks, leaving me to wonder what that would even be like, being that in love. “And I think he believed one day they would be back together. Then it all became a routine. She was a habit to get through the day. There was no more feeling in it. I am not sure what finally broke him from the hold she had on him, but I sure am glad it did. He was head over heels for her. He would have done anything for her, and she knew it and took advantage of it every chance she got. So, Jolie screwed Titus whenever he wanted, and she was screwing Ben whenever she wanted. At least that’s the way it was until a few months ago when he stopped showing up to their rendezvous. Last night was the first time he turned her down face to face, not that it was easy. Titus never cared about them screwing. Still doesn’t. He pushes Ben on her to get her out of his way so he can go screw who he wants to. Jolie’s a well-paid prostitute basically.”
“Why would Titus do that? Marry her? He doesn’t seem to care about her.”
“She played Titus. I’m not sure exactly how, but she has something on him. Plus, she has to be laundering money, for him, through one of the businesses he bought her. Unless you believe an art gallery that sells only paintings of Jolie makes millions of dollars a year?” I laugh before I can stop myself. “I swear to you, there is a gallery down on Prince with nothing but artists who come in and paint her in various ways. Then, they hang them, and they are mysteriously sold, never to be seen again.” I sit down next to him, curious to know more. “Oh no. Don’t give me that look. I’m not telling you anymore, I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s one of those Jolie things you will eventually learn about anyway.”
“It seems like Jolie doesn’t want to give Ben up either?”
“She only hates that he’s moved on and she can’t control him anymore.” Luca turns to me with a sweet, encouraging smile. “Listen, I know you don’t care much for my brother, but …” Luca gets up, giving me that richly charming Ryder smile. “You know you two would probably really like each other if you weren’t so stubborn.”
“No thanks. I’m good.”
“Okay, I tried. Well, at least let me make it up to you for such a bad first weekend? What are you doing Monday night?”
“It’s my day off.”
“I know, so come hang out with me? I have a bar that I need to check in on where we can get some food and have a few drinks. Then, I can fill you in on all the dirty gossip around here.” Having a chance to learn more about Titus and his people sounds like an opportunity I can’t pass up. “Come on, what else could you possibly have planned that would be more fun than hanging out with me?”
“You are not as charming as you think you are.”
“Yes I am. I’m a Ryder, and we’re very charming.” That must be the family slogan. Luca’s sweet dimples sway me into a smile and a nod of agreement. He’s too cute for his own good.