The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7)(89)

I shot a guy in the head that was about to take him out.

“Shit, I didn’t see him.” Remy gritted his teeth in frustration. “Gracias.”

His gratitude came begrudgingly. It cracked me up how competitive he was and how he hated missing something or getting help.

I acted blasé about it. “Mmm hmm.” But he still flipped me the bird for my answer, and I had to laugh.

“So, this guy who owns the garage and who Pick actually used to work for ended up being his paternal grandfather? That’s some crazy shit.”

“Yeah, about as crazy as me finding out my boss was my brother.” I didn’t mention that I was a little jealous Pick had ended up discovering a new family member who didn’t outright hate him, resent him, or just not give a shit about his life. But then I reminded myself, I’d gotten a new family member out of Pick, hadn’t I? So I was technically no longer batting zero in that regard.

“Hey, I keep forgetting to ask. Will you deejay his wedding reception? It’s going to be at Forbidden next Sunday.”

“Next Sunday? You mean, like in eight days, next Sunday?”

“Yep. I would’ve thought Eva would’ve been more into the big, drawn-out grandiose planning thing too, but apparently they’re ready now and don’t want to dawdle. So, what do you say about deejaying? You’re really the only other person I trust with the sound system.”

“I am?” The crack in Remy’s voice told me he was honored by my announcement. After clearing his throat, he sounded much less emotional and more nonchalant. “Okay, sure. No prob. How’s Pick handling it, anyway?”

“The wedding plans?” I sent him a short frown. “Like I know.” Or care.

“No.” He snorted and waved a hand. “How’s he, you know, dealing with the shock of learning so much in one day. Met his uncle, then his grandfather. How’s he doing with that?”

I sent him another strange glance. “No idea. He seemed okay to me. Why?”

“Oh, Jesus.” Remy rolled his eyes. “You hetero men. I swear. Always too afraid to talk to each other about your feelings.”

Now I was really stumped. “What the hell was I supposed to ask him?”

“No sé.” Sticks sighed as if I was impossible. “Ask if he was bien, maybe. If he wanted to talk about it. If—”

“I’m sure Eva will take care of all that. He doesn’t need me to give him a hug or pat on the head.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Remy glance my way. “And what about you?”

Huh? “What about me?”

“You don’t have an Eva to talk to or hug.”

I sent him an incredulous glance. “Yeah, and I’m not the one who met my grandfather for the first time today, either.” I’d just gotten confirmation how much my mother had truly despised me.

“Yeah, but you had to face your uncle again after not seeing him for…how long now? And you spent the entire morning with Pick, when a month ago, the idea scared the shit out of you.”

“Christ,” I groaned. “I tell you way too much.” When he just smirked, I rolled my eyes. “My uncle’s still completely impartial about anything to do with my life, and Pick...I don’t know, I’m growing on the idea of him being my brother.”

“Really?” That seemed to please Remy. “That’s great.”

“Yeah, ever since he told me he’d already researched Polly online and knew what had happened to her and my dad, I haven’t been so freaked.”

“Speaking of your dad—”

“Don’t.” Holding up a hand in his direction to cut him off, I sighed. “I haven’t seen him again since the run-in at the bar.”

Remy was quiet a moment before saying, “Well, I still think he’s following you. Keeping tabs on you.”

Of course, he did. “And I told you, I couldn’t give a shit less if he was.” Which I highly doubted he was. “As long as he stays back and I don’t have to face him, it’s all good.”

“But what if he—”

“Sticks.” I sent him a sharp glance. “I’m not worried about him. He has no reason to come after me. From the moment he realized I couldn’t help him score any drugs and I wasn’t going to give him any handouts, he probably forgot I existed. And I say good. Goodbye and good riddance.”

“Well, I’m going to stay paranoid and keep an eye out for him.”

I shook my head, even though it felt kind of nice that someone was so worried about my welfare. “Suit yourself. I hereby and from henceforth make you my official bodyguard.” When I made a sign of the cross in his direction, he snorted.

“A sign of the cross? Really? What the hell was that about?”

I snickered. “No idea. It just seemed fitting.”

He laughed back. “Man, you are so weird.”

The way he shook his head as if perplexed by my weirdness made me laugh, too. I was about to tease him and tell him he was the idiot who had the big ol’ man crush on me, but I don’t know, I decided to just roll with it.

“You think that’s weird? Well, did you know...” Remembering something I’d read online the night before when I’d been unable to sleep because I’d been stressing about my friendship with him, I asked, “that when they used to cut off a boy’s nuts to make him sing castrato, the lack of testosterone in his body would then make his—”