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"I blow shit up." It was true. My pants still had debris on them from the distraction discharge we'd set off during the mission earlier in the day.
Her brows drew together. "Oh, do you work for the studios?"
It took me a second to process her meaning. I'd forgotten we were so close to Hollywood and the movieindustry. I knew a few team guys who worked in the movies, but I liked the real stuff. No cosplay for me.
"Mag was a Navy SEAL," Gavin blurted out loudly. "Retired before the pension kicked in for some unknown reason."
Wren's eyes blew wide and she stared at me like I was trying to rob her.
"Jesus, Gav." He knew he wasn't supposed to talk about the details of my military service. All of it was completely confidential.
He leaned toward me and used a fake quiet voice that she could totally hear. "I'm marrying her. She's gonna find out."
I looked to the ceiling. God help me get through this.
"Now, he's a private commando for hire," he said confidently to Wren.
Wren smiled and nodded, but I could see she wasn't following along.
"That's enough." I growled. My job was dangerous and extremely sensitive. He was pushing too many boundaries all at once. My fists clenched, and I was very close to punching my brother in the face at his own engagement party.
Luckily, a waiter appeared and Gavin distracted me by ordering like a pimp, a full spread including lobster noodles and Peking duck. Then he asked what their best liquor for toasting was and ordered a round of top-shelf Baijiu.
Wren watched him the whole time with adoring eyes. What a faker she was. There was no way she found Gavin's little display of recklessly ordering too much food attractive.
The chow was good and we ate silently. Wren wasn't a chatty bird. At least she had that going for her. Gavin was still a gabber like he always was, telling stories about us as kids, most of them untrue.
We didn't have fun times. We were too poor, too busy trying to survive. We had a trauma bond, but that didn't translate well to a girl wearing pearls and loafers, so he embellished. The guy lied as easy as he breathed.
She smiled and nodded at his tall tales, dabbing the duck sauce from the corners of her lips. Was this girl just gullible as hell? She didn't doubt anything Gavin said? The dude was a poor street thug from the bayou, not the highballer he was pretending to be.
"What do you like to do for fun, Wren?" I asked, my tone a little too accusing.
"Oh, I guess I like to feed the birds." She didn't seem sure of her answer.
"I fucking hate birds."
Her face froze in shock and she turned back to her plate. Couldn't handle cuss words and she was with Gavin? They could not be more mismatched.
By the time dinner was over, I'd had enough of their little show. "Let's talk outside," I said to my brother.
"I was going to make a toast." He lifted the small but expensive tumbler of booze he'd ordered.
"After we talk." I stood up and made it clear with my glare he would be following me.
"Fine. I'll be right back, sweetheart." He pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek, and bile rose in my throat. I'd only seenGavin fucking girls on couches, ass naked in the air. Never seen him even kiss a woman anywhere near her face.
This whole evening was a huge farce.
Chapter 2 The Happy Couple
Magnum
Gavin followed me outside, and I tried to check my anger. He was my brother and I loved him for that, but all this drama was cutting into my routine. Time was money and playing games with Gavin did not pay well.
"You're being an ass to her, Antoinne." He stopped on the sidewalk and crossed his arms like I'd done him wrong.
I gave him the death glare. "Call me that again and we're throwing hands."
