Take (Fury Brothers #4)

A sense of pride washed through me. This place was mine. I’d built it, hired every person, worked hard to make it a success.

For a long time, I’d had nothing that was just mine. Nothing that hadn’t been worn or used by someone before.

I straightened my long black tie as I walked down the stairs. Again, that was in the past. I nodded at my man sitting at the reception desk, then stepped outside.

Night had fallen. Around me were the familiar streets of the Warehouse District. My brothers and I owned the entire block. We had several warehouses, most of them renovated to become our homes, offices, and places of business. Kavner lived in a penthouse in Ignis Tower, which rose above me on the corner.

I strode down the street and turned the corner. Ahead, the gold sign for Ember glowed in the dim evening light. Beside it sat Smokehouse, Dante’s bar.

But tonight, the crowd gathered outside Wildfire. There was a long line of people dressed in their 1920s finest, waiting to get in through the sleek, gray concrete entrance. Spotlights strobed and jazz music echoed from inside.

I glanced at my cellphone. Still no message from Jack’s sister.

A spear of frustration hit me, which made my headache throb. I’d texted and called my best friend’s sister numerous times. I’d had no response. Zero. She hadn’t bothered to answer the phone once.

Jack was my best friend. We’d been in the Army together, and now Jack worked for a private military contractor.

I frowned. Lately, Jack had been taking riskier and riskier jobs. I didn’t like it. I’d offered him a job at PSS, but the man wouldn’t sit still, wouldn’t put down roots.

One day, he was going to get himself hurt. Or worse.

He’d called me a few weeks back, from who knew where, to ask me to keep an eye on his sister. She was moving to New Orleans to study at Tulane University.

Francesca Parker. I’d only met her once years ago, not long after Jack and I first joined the military. She and Jack’s mom had flown in from Seattle to meet him off the plane.

I had a vague recollection of a gangly teenage girl with braces and dark hair. I knew she had to be in her mid-twenties now. She was doing some sort of postgraduate studies.

I really didn’t have time to babysit some college girl. Especially one who didn’t return phone calls.

I strode toward the door of Wildfire.

“Hey.” A blonde in a tiny flapper dress standing in the line grabbed my arm. “Please take me in with you.”

“Sorry.”

“But this line is so long.” She fluttered her eyelashes.

She was beautiful, but I didn’t even feel a blip of reaction. I never found it hard to find company of the female variety, but it had been a while.

Lately, I just hadn’t been interested.

I shook my head and tried to soften it with a smile. The bouncer saw me and waved me in.

“Sorry. Have a good night.” I turned and stepped inside.

The large space had a high ceiling and moody, gray walls. There was a tree in the center of the restaurant. The branches rose up, spreading outward, covering the ceiling. Glowing blossoms on the branches twinkled gold.

There was a good crowd, so I figured Mila would be happy. As if I’d conjured her, I spotted her in the crowd. She was talking to some of the staff, and was dressed in a black-and-gold flapper dress. Her brown hair was done in a mass of gentle waves.

And not far behind her was my older brother, Dante.

Dante was tall, dark, and masculine. He gave off the vibe of a man who liked being in charge. He was wearing all black, with a gold scarf.

As I watched, he reached out and touched Mila’s ear. She looked up and shot him a brilliant smile.

I felt a strange pull in my chest. It was good to see Dante happy. I just hoped it stayed that way.

Love wasn’t something I trusted.