“Mmhmm. You and I are going to be great friends, Val.” Making my way through the lounge, I shuffle the bag of food onto one arm and reach between my boobs for my phone. Eleven-thirty. “Man. I’m getting old.” Leaving the bag on the coffee table, I reach for a bottle of Don Julio before scooping it back up and tiptoeing down the long hallway, passing Papa’s office. I step backward, pressing the door slightly, but it doesn’t open. No surprise. Papa and his secrets. I continue down until the end, looking between the door to the cinema or the door to the garage.

I press the door to the garage open. Noticing the dim light above is already on, I kick the door closed behind me and pause when I look up to see Wicked leaning on his bike.

Sighing, I take the steps down and fall onto the bottom one, popping open the bottle of tequila.

“Really? That party wasn’t enough for you?”

“First of all…” I say, raising my finger while wrapping my lips around the tip. “I didn’t get to drink because of Poppy. And second?” I lean back on my elbow, taking another swig. “I’d rather drink at home.” When he starts moving toward me, my legs slam closed. Which is ridiculous because it’s not like they were open anyway.

He passes the Lamborghini, my Aston, and the Rolls, before stopping directly in front of me. My eyes travel up from his boots, past his bare chest and strong abs, and up past the veins on his neck before resting on his eyes.

He swipes the bottom of his thumb against the curve of his lip. “There a reason why you’re in the garage?”

I slowly lift the bottle to my lips, flashing my lashes up at him from below. “No. You?”

“Jesus fuck.” He leans down, snatching the bottle out of my hand. I think he’s about to toss a just-opened bottle of Don to the side when he stares down at me while tipping his head back slightly to take a drink.

I shuffle to the side for him and he falls down beside me, but a step up. “Do you know why Papa wants you yet?”

He shuffles his legs, and one comes painfully close to mine. I hold my breath before turning slightly to grab the bottle from him. Our eyes collide and everything around me fades to the back of my mind. “No, I don’t.” His tongue slides over his bottom lip. “Do you?”

Shaking my head, I whisper, “No.”

“The guy from tonight. He your boyfriend?”