Cali stood as I neared and wrapped me in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you,” she whispered, eyeballing Pietro over my shoulder. “Did you have to bring the muscle, though?”

I grimaced. “It’s either bring the muscle or not leave the house,” I told her, pushing her back into her side of the booth before taking my own seat. “You look great, by the way. Definitely better than the last time I laid eyes on you in the flesh.”

She touched the side of her face that had been swollen and bruised when I’d seen her the summer before. “You would be surprised by the changes that happen when you’re no longer living with an abusive, sadistic monster.”

“I can only imagine.” A waitress came over, asking if we were ready. Cali ordered for both of us, sticking with burgers and fries, claiming they were the best she’d eaten in the city so far.

“I worked here until my roommate got me the job at the club,” Cali said as she picked up her glass of cherry cola the waitress had brought back for both of us before promising our food would be out shortly.

“I’m going to assume you make bank at that place,” I commented. “Or you wouldn’t be fighting my brother so hard on continuing to work there.”

The older girl rolled her eyes. “I make plenty to cover my bills and have enough left over for a little nest egg in case of emergencies. Your brother just wants me to be his kept woman. He says he only wants to spoil and take care of me. I don’t consider it taking care of so much as wanting to control me. I’ve lived that life, Nova. Never having a penny of my own. Having to rely on some man to provide everything. Beholden to him for every meal, every piece of clothing. I’m never going back to it. If he can’t handle me working, he knows where the door is. No one is forcing him to stick around.”

“What if you had a different job?” I asked cautiously. Ryan had mentioned that he’d offered to give Cali—or as they knew her, Lis—a job at the office, and he’d suggested I bring it up to her. I was sure he’d meant for me to wait, but he didn’t know that I was well acquainted with my brother’s girlfriend already.

I only had two secrets from Ryan, and Cali was one of them.

“I don’t need a different job. I’m fine right where I am.” She crossed her arms over her chest, her jaw popping. The whole pose reminded me of Garret, and I had to bite back my smile. She was picking up his mannerisms already. It was adorable, but I knew better than to mention it.

“What if the job offered better pay and benefits like health care?” I sweetened the deal.

“I’d say your brother is using you to try to control me.” But she was sitting up straighter, her head leaned ever so slightly closer to me. “But I might be interested in hearing you out since you mentioned health care.”