Corrupted Chaos (Tarnished Empire)(37)
“You did?” I turned to study him in disbelief.
Lucas’s smile was as bright as the sun setting on his blond hair. He’d put on swim trunks and abandoned his shirt to showcase his abs of steel and biceps that were strong enough to carry anyone into the lake. “Well, that’s a lie, but I stared at her flirting with Rodney.”
“Now that I believe.”
He chuckled. “Anyway, tomorrow night there’s a mandatory campfire where we should know everyone’s name, as there will be a quiz.”
“Sounds like we’d better go learn some damn names.” I shrugged and Lucas pulled me along like this was his grand adventure.
We met a few at the grill. Rodney, our buff crush, made hamburgers while Melanie, a redhead who was as small as a mouse, flirted with him. Theo was quiet and scared of the lake but nice enough.
Later that night, after enjoying a few drinks and laughing with my new friends, I meandered back to my cabin with Lucas. “You don’t have to walk me back to the cabin, Lucas. It’s like two hundred yards from yours.”
Cade, still in his navy suit and his freaking hot eyeglasses, swung open the door as we stood there, arm in arm.
He laser-focused on where our bodies linked. “Thanks for bringing her back, Lucas.”
Lucas didn’t say anything for a whole second as he gaped at Cade in glasses. He practically drooled before I elbowed him and he came back from being feral for our boss. He cleared his throat and pointed out, “See, I did need to bring you back. Mr. Armanelli is even thankful for it.”
“I’m not going to be mauled on the few steps from one cabin to the other.”
“There are bears out here.” Cade shrugged and then winked at Lucas, who was smiling like they had some inside joke.
“Bullshit. There are not.” I swiveled my head around, though.
“How do you know?” Cade leaned against the doorframe. “We’re in their territory now.”
“Actually, I think I heard one growling in the forest earlier.” Lucas carried on with him.
Still, grizzlies and black bears weren’t a joke. “I watched a documentary—they will rip apart a person. So this isn’t funny. People have died.” I stepped closer to our patio, then hesitated. “Well, how’s Lucas supposed to get back now?”
Cade outright laughed. “Security has us surrounded, Izzy. No bears are getting through. Or people, for that matter.”
Did I feel ridiculous for forgetting we were actually a national asset working on election cybersecurity? Yes. Was I going to admit it? No.
I waved him off and shoved him aside to walk into the cabin as I yelled over my shoulder, “Love you, Lucas. See you bright and early for a swim.”
Cade corrected me. “She’ll see you at noon because we need to work first.”
Lucas’s eyes widened at me, then he mouthed, “Text me,” before he spun around and hurried away.
“Great,” I grumbled, “so I’m working while everyone else gets to know each other.”
“You’d really rather do nothing with everyone than something epic online with me?” Cade stood there in his suit, looking at me with a completely puzzled expression.
“I would rather be with people I enjoy hanging out with and fit in with them.” The pull to be a part of the group was about as strong as working hard for me. They were my driving forces as an adult, and I’d accepted them.
“Why fit in when you can stand out?” he asked. “You have more ability than any of those people out there.”
“Okay.” I whispered the word, not sure how to take his compliment. We threw darts at one another, not positive reinforcement. “Even if you can stand out, sometimes it feels nice to fit in, Cade. Don’t you go out and enjoy being with friends every now and then?”
His life was private, but it put the spotlight on his brother and made him out to be a hero, a reformed mobster. Cade was happy to let his brother have the attention while he kept himself buried in his phone. No one knew what he did, but they opted for keeping their distance. Everyone was aware of his brain power, his genius, and how he could snuff out a life—via technology—on a whim.
“I enjoy my family. And I enjoy work. The internet is full of entertainment.” He shrugged, turned on his heel, and went into the kitchen. I padded over to the island counter and ignored the buzzing of arriving texts coming from my phone. “You going to answer your phone?”
“Probably not.” I shrugged. “It’s either my family, Lucas, or my ex. Lilah would call if there was an emergency, and Lucas is probably just letting me know no bears got him.”
He hummed. “And Gerald?” He sneered his name, somehow knowing the man didn’t deserve our time.
I sighed. “Honestly, at this point, I don’t check.”
He pulled some milk from the fridge and got two bowls from the cabinet. “If he’s bothering you . . .”
“If he is, then what? My boss will give him a call?” I snickered at my comment. “Quite frankly, he’d probably think you stole my phone and hurt me, considering you’re an Armanelli.”
“As an Armanelli, I don’t call people that need to be dealt with,” He grumbled. “And hurt you? Why would I ever hurt you?”
“Well, you hate me—”