Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“I can’t imagine that’s true,” Casey says, smiling at him. She’s going to make the same mistake everyone makes: she’s going to think Con is normal.
Except he’s not even close.
He makes me look like a normie saint.
“You’d be surprised. We used to run around down here getting into fights and causing total mayhem, and those fights weren’t always against other people. We beat the total shit out of each other, day in and day out. I think big brother here holds a grudge.”
“Father practically demanded it,” I mutter.
Casey gives me a frown. “That seems crazy.”
“He made us tough,” Con says, nudging her with his elbow. “And look at us now? Four kings ruling our little fiefdoms.”
“Still, wouldn’t you have rather gotten along?”
“Like you and your brother?” Con asks, glancing away as if he’s not lobbing a grenade into the middle of the conversation.
Casey’s face goes pale. She stares at him in alarm. “How did you—”
“Research,” he says, waving it away. “Don’t worry. I’ve got my little spies all over the place.”
“Con, don’t be an asshole,” I say through my teeth. He’s freaking her out on purpose. Testing her boundaries. He does this sometimes and it’s annoying.
We pause near the craps tables. “I’m just saying that a happy childhood does not guarantee stability,” Con says.
“You should recheck your research if you think my childhood was happy.”
Con’s jaw tics and he gives Casey a crooked smile. “There’s a difference between being poor and getting abused.”
“I never said there wasn’t.” Casey seems annoyed now.
But Con, being Con, does not care. “Is that why you work the floor still? Even with all the money in the world at your disposal, you can’t help but want to work like you could lose everything at any moment?”
Casey reels back toward me. “Am I being psychoanalyzed right now?”
“Con actually does have a psychology degree,” I say, keeping a straight face. “He thinks it makes him qualified to judge people.”
“He’s joking,” Con says. “I dropped out of school.”
“Much to Father’s regret.” I give my youngest a glare. Father had such high hopes for Con, and it was always like Con lived for nothing more than to disappoint the old man.
“At least you got the chance,” Casey shoots back. “I mentioned college once and my mother laughed in my face. That’s the closest I ever got.”
“Okay, we don’t need to play the Pity Olympics,” I say, steering them away and toward a nearby bar. “We all had it rough.”
“Truth is, I liked our upbringing,” Con admits. “Father was difficult and Mother was always detached, but we had a lot of freedom. You remember running around this place, going nuts out on the boardwalk, long days on the beach, swimming and surfing?”
“Easier times,” I agree.
“You surfed?” Casey gapes at me. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I live fifty feet from the ocean. Every local surfs when they’re young.”
Con drapes his arm over my shoulder. “Big bro here was the best of the best. I thought he should turn pro.”
“Imagine the look on Father’s face if I had.”
“It would’ve killed him much sooner.”
“Missed opportunities,” I say, a little wistful.
“You people have a very weird relationship,” Casey says. “But I’m happy I got to meet you, Conlan.”
“Con,” he corrects. “And you too, Casey. Even though big brother here dropped the whole marriage thing out of nowhere, you seem okay.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” I say.
“Your mother seemed to think you were going to scare me away.” Casey’s laugh is a little forced. “So far, you don’t seem so bad.”
“Give me time.” Con flags the bartender and asks for a drink. “Now, I have some people to catch up with. That spitfire Trish Wane still work here?”
“Running the hotel side.”
“I miss that gorgeous woman.”
“Good luck. Trish hates you.”
“I know, it’s lovely.” Con winks at Casey. “Wonderful meeting you. We’ll speak more soon.” Then he’s off to terrorize poor Trish, though if I wasn’t sure Con was about to get the worst of it, I’d put a stop to him.
“Your brother seems… interesting.” Casey frowns at me, head tilted.
“That’s one way of putting it. Sorry to run you down like this, but he insisted.”
She tugs at her hair. “Speaking of ambushes, I need to tell you something.”
“What’s wrong?”
I can tell she doesn’t want to tell me whatever’s on her mind, which puts me on high alert. “Earlier today while you were getting Conlan from the airport, I was out for a walk on the beach. And I ran into someone.” She chews her lip, looking confused like there’s something she should remember but can’t reach for it.
An ugly pit opens in my stomach.
“Who?”
“Tony Vetch. He came out of nowhere.”
I tense, looking around as if the bastard might be nearby. “You ran into Tony on the beach?”
“I think he was out there looking for me. Or maybe it was coincidence, I’m not sure.”