East Bound by Nana Malone (big ebook reader txt) 📕

is real, and Ben's the head of it, and Bram Van Linsted wants to be the head of it, but he can't be." I glanced over to East. "Did I get it right?"

He shrugged. "In a nutshell."

"Okay, while you guys are arguing, I'm going to use the loo. Bridge, where is it?"

He guided me to a door at the back of the study. “Down the hall, first door on the right.”

"Yeah, thanks."

I didn't want to leave Amelia in the den of wolves, but East would make sure no one ate her

After I used the facilities, I stepped out and accidentally made a right instead of a left back to the study. Hushed voices had me rooted to the floor.

Bridge whispered in a harsh tone, "You need to leave."

"What? That's absurd. I'm part of this. Ben invited me. Are you going to tell him that you're kicking me out?"

"If I have to."

The woman's more feminine voice said, "You can't kick me out. Everything that happened affects me too. Besides, what's your deal anyway? What does it matter to you if I want justice for my brother? What does it matter to you if I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get it?"

"Because you think you're playing, but this isn't a game. The other night, someone took shots at us. Actual real bullets. It's not one of your fancy dress parties where you get to play spy. This is real life. People are going to die if we're not careful."

"Who the hell appointed you my brother?"

There was a pregnant pause.

"God, what is your problem with me? You've always hated me."

Bridge's voice was tense and low. "I haven't ever hated you, Emma."

I racked my brain. Emma, Emma, who was Emma?

Oh yeah, I remembered East mentioning Emma. Toby's sister.

I hadn’t seen anything in the records I’d pulled about her and Bridge having a relationship though. But the kind of fight that they were having, that was some we-fucked-once kind of energy.

"Goddamn it, what is your problem, Emma?"

"The problem is you. You can't control me. Since Toby died, I’ve wanted only one thing, and that’s for the people who were responsible to pay. And if that's you, so be it."

"Don't you understand? I'm trying to keep you safe."

"Yeah, you're just forgetting one simple fact. I never asked you to keep me safe. And I don't want your help. If I have to do this myself, I will."

"The hell you will—"

A door opened somewhere, and there was another feminine voice. "Okay, clearly I've interrupted something."

I knew I shouldn't be standing there listening. I knew it. But I couldn't help it. It was like I was in the middle of this drama and couldn’t turn away.

"Is this your girlfriend?"

Bridge's voice went tight. "Mina, let it go."

"Let what go? If you're inviting your whores over, the least you can do is tell me."

"Mina, stop."

Emma just laughed. "His whore? From what I hear, you already occupy that role."

And then there was a crack. I didn’t know what happened, but it sounded like a smack. Then there was deadly silence and the second woman said, "I'm tired of this. I want them all out of my house."

Bridge laughed low. "First, you will never put your hands on her again. I don't care how pissed off you are. Ever."

There was a long beat of silence, and I inched closer.

"Second, this isn't your house. Until we get married, which you keep putting off, this is my house."

Another long pregnant pause and then a sniffle. "God, I knew you were cruel, but this, this takes the cake."

There was thumping and stomping, a muttered curse from Bridge, and then more shuffling. I eased backward. I shouldn't have been listening. It didn't matter how curious I was or what the hell was going on, it wasn't my business.

But damn, it sounded like Bridge had problems.

Chapter 20

East

When Nyla returned from the loo, she was giving me a Can we keep her? face. When I'd gotten her text earlier, I had been willing to hear Amelia out, but that bridge didn't quite extend to bringing her fully in.

Isn't she fully in already? Look at Nyla. 

Nyla, Telly, and Amelia had their heads buried together talking about something. Livy came over. "You care about her a lot."

My chest ached. "Yeah, I do."

"I know this is hard for you."

"It's not hard caring about her. Well, not now."

She laughed. "It just took you a while to realize you were being an idiot, right?"

"I'm so lucky that I have you lot to tell me when I'm being an idiot."

He laughter was a soft trill. "Well, you can always count on us for that. So, new member, huh?"

I glowered at her. "Amelia is not a new member, we're not keeping her."

"Have you told that to Nyla?"

"I don't think Nyla is making decisions here."

"Well, she's with you, so she's in the group. And she walked her friend in here with her, so it’s highly likely Amelia will be with us permanently now too. After all, Telly and I were a package deal."

I scowled at Amelia. What was I supposed to do with this information? I had to get to work. We had the Elite coming for us, had Interpol inadvertently on our assess, and a master thief demanding our attention, all because I'd been careless.

Ben joined us, and he wrapped an arm around Livy. "So, are you telling him that Amelia is in or not?"

Livy laughed. "Well, he seems to think that we shouldn’t cave."

There was no fucking way. It was difficult enough having Nyla in this, and now we had this new wannabe member. We didn’t know her or what she wanted from us, so why should we take the risk? I was getting deeper into my own thoughts, and I didn't realize that the room had grown silent.

I looked up at Nyla, and she raised a brow. Amelia, to her credit, just stared me in the eye. Telly decided to be as unhelpful as ever. "Oh, don't