Now she was just lying. I was a lot of things, but cute wasn’t one of them.

“Don’t waste your time. My brother here’s not the party type. Owen is married to an absolutely stunning, beautiful, loving, completely homicidal woman. Did you girls know that my brother is a professional Monster Hunter? For real…He kills monsters for a living. Dude’s like a superhero. He’s killed werewolves, zombies, vampires, you name it.”

“Mosh, please…”

“Nuh-uh.”

“No way.” Giggle.

“Yeah, way. All that stuff is real. See, but this one time Owen pissed off this ancient squid god from outer space. That’s how I really lost my fingers. Asshole death cultists kidnapped me and took them off with a hacksaw blade. That bus accident was just a bunch of lies. Huh, Owen? Tell them.”

MCB would drop him like a hot rock if he kept this up. “You trying to get in trouble? You know how the system works.”

“The system? Oh, yeah, I know all about the system. The system is why I’m here now. Yeah, ladies, monsters are real. Straight from your worst nightmares, things you can’t even imagine, but my big brother protects us from them. Huh? Tell them, Owen. Let us hear your tales of glory.”

“Shut up.”

He pointed at the nylon bag I had over one shoulder. “You got Abomination in there? Going to go save the day, dispense some monster justice? That’s what really happened in Montgomery. This giant red monster and his purple bitch sister, they killed those people, not me.”

One bimbo was giggling hysterically, but the other one was actually paying attention, eyes wide, looking between me and my brother. She actually seemed rather perceptive for someone with a nose piercing.

“You keep talking like that in public and the MCB—”

“The MCB will what? Ruin my life?”

“They’ll end your life, dumb shit.”

Mosh let go of the girls. He couldn’t hide the anger anymore. “You—”

“We need to talk.” I cut him off. If he wanted to have a fight, we should at least do it someplace private. “It’s important.”

“Oh, really? Whose life are you planning to wreck this time?” Mosh sneered.

“Dad’s.”

He stopped, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then rubbed his face with both hands. Knowing Mosh, he’d either calm down or take a swing at me. I got lucky. Once he composed himself, he addressed the groupies. “Diane, Cindy…”

“Cathy.”

“Yeah, whatever. I’ve got to jet. Family business. Sorry.” He pulled two red tickets out of his vest. “These are good for drinks on me at the bar downstairs. Enjoy yourselves. I’ll catch you ladies after another show.”

The groupies made disappointed noises. “Do they validate parking?” Cathy asked, but Mosh was already steering them back toward the elevator.