My phone won't stop ringing. I'd hoped that after the first few times I ignored it that whoever was calling me would get the fucking hint and stop, but no dice. It's going off, yet again, and I have to excuse myself from my current blonde companion. She reminds me of a certain someone on the exterior but she doesn't have nearly the wit or the sass that Adriana possesses. Adriana being the entire reason this woman is here in the first place. I was hoping to fuck all of the sex hormones out of my system before my double shift tomorrow. One had to prepare themselves for a day alone with Adriana because I know if I don't I will be nonstop, perpetually horny.

I snatch my phone of the countertop and tell my company to give me a minute while I take the call. A familiar name is flashing on the screen that has me knowing it has to be an important call. The fuck? He never calls me at this hour especially for his time. Blowing out a deep breath, trying to sober myself up, I answer.

"You're calling rather late this evening." I glance over at the clock. "Or should I say early in the morning for you." He wastes no time and starts speed-talking. His voice sounds panicked as he relays the series of events that have unfolded for him over the course of the last day. "Wait wait wait, slow down. Can you repeat that in a slower, much more articulate way so that I can actually understand what it is that you are saying?" He does exactly that, telling me something I already knew and had kept from him— our mother wasn't killed in a hit and run accident. Our mother was murdered by the Warner-Riley family. Our entire family was but, from what my mother had told me on the night of my little brother's eighteenth birthday, they deserved it. My mother though, my mother did not deserve the death she'd been dealt.

"Braxton? Hello? Are you still there?"

"Yeah, Tris, I'm still here." I let out a long agitated sigh as he continues, telling me exactly what Dedaj's plans are for him and Daniela. I had told my brother that Torey is now aware of his presence in her life. I had told him that he was not thrilled about it. What I had not told him about was the colossal violent eruption that had happened afterward. Torey isn't someone I had planned to take out on this endeavor but if he wants to murder my brother I may not have choice. The man is a savage.

"Brax, I dont know what to do. Tell me what to do. I know Torey is alive. Dani knows he's alive. I can't just fucking marry this woman, his woman, he will fucking slaughter me." Don't I know it. I saw the way he took out several men like it was nothing and they weren't even my brother. I can't imagine what he'd do to him if he was actually in front of him and when he's at full strength.

"Alright, here's the deal, talk to Daniela about it. Clear the air between the two of you so that she thinks that she can trust you. If you don't say anything about the conversation she's going to think you're hiding something and conspiring against her with her parents. You're not. So don't let her believe that."

"But Daniela *can* trust me." I let out a sigh at his emphasis of the word can. Regardless of whether the Dedaj's wanted my brother to fall for their daughter or not it would appear he may have already done that. Daniela is an extremely beautiful woman and she's a damsel in distress— just his type. He's always had a thing for the broken ones.

"She already has two boyfriends, Tris." He's quiet which has me shaking my head. "I know she's attractive and I know you looked up to Torey and everything but—"

"I just care about her is all. It's not like that."

"I'm sure it isn't, Tris." Although I'm thinking the opposite of what I said. I'm not going to push him on it but I will remind him. "Just remember who the people in her corner are. You aren't safe either way." This wasn't part of the plan, him going to Albania. He was just to infiltrate the Dedaj syndicate in New York and gain information, access. Him being mixed up in all of this wasn't supposed to happen. Him being, for all intents and purposes, betrothed to the mafia princess was not part of the plan in the least. My brother now has a bright red target on his back. "Fucking hell, Tristan, what did you get yourself into?"

"I know, I know. I don't know what to do, Brax. What do I do?"

"Like I said, talk to her about it. Maybe you guys can come up with an arrangement over the whole thing. You two play house for a little while to appease her parents and let that be it. Nothing more." I'm met with silence so I continue with, "but Tris, whatever you do, do not sleep with Daniela. If you sleep with her..." More silence. "You can't fall for this woman. She is spoken for. Tristan, tell me that you understand the words coming out of my mouth."

"I understand. Hey look, someone's at the door. I have to go." He hangs up immediately which has me arching a brow and staring at my phone screen.

"You better not fuck that woman." There will be no saving him if he puts his dick anywhere near or around Daniela. Him just being her guard was enough for Torey to go on a murderous rampage. Brooks seems level-headed enough but if my brother goes through with what her family is planning— he'll be a dead man.

✩✩✩

"Good God you are a sight for sore eyes." Adriana says as I make my way into the theater room. She pauses whatever she was watching. "If I had to put up with anymore of Thomas I would've taken a long walk off a short pier, if you know what I mean. That man is the epitome of boring and don't even get me started on the lack of sex appeal. The man makes me drier than kitty litter."

"Kitty litter?"

"Yeah, I don't know why I chose that specifically but you get what I'm trying to say. He does not do it for me. Not even a little bit. Rodger is better. He's funny and mildly attractive. The man has nothing on you though so there's no need to be jealous." She gives me a playful wink. "How was your day off? Did you miss me? Think about me while touching yourself or did you touch someone else? Please, fill me in on the details, especially if they're sexual."

"You know, your brother may have a point."

"What point is that exactly?"

"You really do know how to talk."

"I have practically no one to talk to and I am bored. Sue me." She gestures for me to sit down next to her so I take a seat. "So fill me in, sex on legs."

I wish I could unload everything on her, to someone, but she's one of the last people I can. There's something about her personality that is disarming. It's a bit frightening considering the reason I'm here. The way she just makes everything lighter, comical, surprising me with whatever comes out of her mouth, puts me at ease in a strange way. It's easy to be around her, she makes me laugh.

"Hellllooooooooo, I said FILL ME IN, good sir."

"I didn't do much." I finally admit. "Went out to a bar, met a girl, and almost got laid. That sums it up."

"Almost?" She seems genuinely interested, grey-blue eyes full of curiosity. It's kind of nice to have someone ask about my life for once, a person around me physically who actually gives a shit, even if it's just because she wants to fuck my brains out. She's not the only one who wants to. I would gladly fuck her brains out. But I can't. But I want to. The faces she would make and I already know how she would moan my name. To actually be inside of her while she was doing it though would be— "I am in suspense here." This is the moment I realize I'm just staring at her like an idiot thinking about ravaging her.

I clear my throat then answer with, "uh yeah, I was uh, I was interrupted with an important phone call. It ruined the mood so I asked her to leave."

"Ah, cock-blocked by a phone call, what an unfortunate series of events." She taps the arm of the chair she's in and then says, "Speaking of sexy time, I hung out with Mr Buzz LightQueer last night." I bark out a laugh at that. This woman does not give a single shit about the things that come out of her mouth. It's refreshing.

"Let me guess, that's what you call your vibrator?" She nods. "May I ask how Mr Buzz LightQueer acquired his name?"

"It's a vibrating double-ended dildo that I typically only use with other women. It's cute too. It's multi-colored and has this glittery look to it. It's pretty watching it go in and out of someone, you know?" She said it so blasé, like we're talking about the weather and not her banging other women.

"Yeah, the name seems appropriate."

"See, that's what I thought too!"

"May I ask why you have that at your parents' house."

"It's a relic from my college days. I found it in my closet with some other goodies. I was finally getting some good use out of it the other day but my brother had to go and ruin it for me. I haven't been properly laid in a while and I think I'm starting to go mildly insane because of it."

"You and me both." I blurted the words out and it has her cocking her head to the side, eyeing me with a playful smirk. "I wasn't insinuating anything." At least I hadn't consciously been.

"Weren't you though?" She sits up a little straighter and there's something in her gaze  that is predatory, hungry. Fuck, I'm so horny. I knew I should've gotten laid last night. "I'm sure all that was, was a Freudian slip." She stands up and brings her hands to the hem of her camisole. Right before I can stand up and leave the room before I do anything stupid she takes her shirt off, tossing it directly in my face. I peel the fabric away and have to suck in my bottom lip at the sight of a topless Adriana. She hadn't been wearing a bra. "Or maybe it wasn't just a slip?" She takes her hair out of the messy bun on top of her head, letting her long blonde hair fall in waves over her shoulders. She takes a few steps until she's standing directly in front of me with a mischievous look.

"Adriana, we can't—" She straddles my lap and it has me shutting up immediately because her tits are now in my face.

"Can't we though?" She leans down and kisses me and I don't stop her. No, my hands fist directly in her hair as I deepen it. Because I want this. I want her. I have since the day I met her. The consequences I can think about later.

A/N:
I wonder what next chapter will be about...

Also... the secret is out. Tristan and Braxton are the Marling brothers.