Sins, Lies & Spies (Black Brothers #2)(37)

Even though he and Langley moved to L.A. a year ago, Archer still owned his plush condo in the Four Seasons Hotel. He did everything but hold a gun to my head to get me to buy the place from him, but I didn’t want it. I made good money, especially in the past year or two, but nothing like Archer. It didn’t hurt that his fiancée had a healthy trust fund too.

I leaned my hip against a bike rack, crossing my ankles. “I don’t know, Archer. I am swimming in a pile of shit right now. Can we meet for coffee tomorrow?”

He didn’t answer for a second, and I could imagine the look of disapproval splashed all over his face. “Langley will be disappointed.”

I grinned and shoved my free hand into my pocket. “Just Langley, not you? I think you’ve got that backward.”

Langley was a beautiful and talented woman. My brother looked at her like she had created the universe. And for that, I loved her, but I wasn’t deluded enough to think she returned the sentiment. She tolerated me. She invited me to their home for the holidays, but I’d always gotten the distinct impression that I made her uncomfortable, nervous even.

Archer sighed. “Dinner was Langley’s idea. She wants to get to know you better. I want the two most important people in my life to know each other and be friends. What’s so bad about that?”

Guilt swirled in my gut. Archer was right. I needed to make more of an effort with Langley. She wasn’t going anywhere, and I didn’t want her to. She softened all my brother’s hard edges.

“Fine.” I rubbed a hand down the side of my face. “Can you change the reservation to four people? I’d like to bring someone.”

“A woman?”

“Yes.” I curled my hand around the icy metal of the bike rack.

“Seriously?” Archer said, drawing out the word.

“Yes.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m not a complete *.”

“What happened to the three and done rule?” he asked.

In the past, I kept my relationships short and sweet. I didn’t want any commitments. I didn’t want anyone encroaching on my freedom, and I sure as hell didn’t want anyone telling me what to do. Since I met Trinity, none of that seemed important. I wanted her in my life and in my space. The thought of her walking out of my life in a couple of days or a couple of weeks hit me like a punch to the gut. Unfortunately, I didn’t know if I could trust her. My gut said yes, but I’d be the first to admit lust clouded my judgment when it came to her.

“Yeah, well, this woman is different,” I responded, my voice gruff.

“If she successfully navigated the three date Knox obstacle course, then she is different.”

“We haven’t been on three dates. In fact, we’ve barely made it through one,” I confessed.

Archer didn’t respond for a prolonged beat. I heard paper shuffling in the background, indicating he was working. He was always working. Less now that he lived with Langley, but he still put in ten-hour days.

“Ah, I suspect there’s a story there.”

“Probably. I don’t know.” I pushed away from the bike rack and started walking down the street, maneuvering between people. “It’s complicated.”

Archer chuckled. “It always is. How’d you meet her?”

I snorted. “She pointed a gun at me, and basically threatened to kill me.”

“Wait. You’re kidding, right?”

“No.”

“Not exactly a fairytale beginning.”

“No. Certainly not,” I agreed, pausing in front of Trinity’s house. “But neither was your first encounter with Langley.”

Last year, Archer concocted a plan to destroy Senator Wharton, his biological father. He used Senator Wharton’s stepdaughter, Langley, to make it happen. Somehow, they ended up falling in love and getting a sickeningly sweet happily ever after.

“Maybe not, but no guns were involved.”

“Right, the guns came later,” I said dryly, referring to Senator Wharton’s attempt on Langley’s life that landed him in prison.

“It’s water under the bridge.” He cleared his throat. “So, does this woman you’re not really dating have a name?”

“Trinity. Trinity Jones,” I said, pulling her key out of my pocket and stuffing it in the keyhole.

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“I bet.”

“It’s true, but do me a favor and tell her to keep her guns at home.”

A laugh burst from my lips. “I’ll do my best.”





CHAPTER





TWENTY-ONE


Trinity



Knox and I walked into Leslie’s bar. It was pitch black with a few well-placed spotlights and the glowing onyx bar. Music pulsed through the speakers. People laughed a little too loud. Perfume mixed with sweat and alcohol tickled my nose. I was glad I didn’t have to work in a bar any longer. I enjoyed the tips, but I hated the late nights.

We were supposed to meet Knox’s brother and his fiancée in an hour and a half. Meeting Knox’s family seemed premature. He told me he wanted to take things one step at a time and see what happened. I agreed because I had enough complications in my life, but there was something about Knox that made me crave more. Every time he walked into the room or his gaze landed on me, my stomach tightened in wistful longing.