I look from Justice to Thorn and back. “I did, but I really do need to post something, unless you want Aquarius Social to go under.” He doesn’t move and my heart sinks. He does want Aquarius Social to fail. I can’t let that happen.
He sighs. “Other people can post and explode all of the stars.”
Oh. He has no idea I’m the one who charges the crystals. I lift my chin. Why is he continuously underestimating me? It’ll be his downfall, I’m sure.
Justice looks at his brother. “Are you going to tell her?” he asks in Gaelic. I try to look curious and not like I know what he said.
“Yes,” Thorn replies in the same language. “I’ll question her later. You’re excused.”
Justice pauses and reads the screen of his phone. “A couple of news outlets are reporting her death. Something about a killer in town murdering brunettes.”
That didn’t take long.
Thorn cocks his head. “That might come in handy. You’re excused, Justice.” He speaks in English this time.
Justice turns and storms out.
Come in handy? Does he plan to hide me from the entire world? “Why did you just hurt his feelings?” I ask.
Thorn stares at me. “What?”
How can he not see that? “Justice is your brother. He wants in on your life, but you treat him like an employee. It hurts him.” I stand.
Thorn looks toward the now vacant doorway before glancing at his watch. “Don’t worry about my brother. For now, answer one question. Do you know how to code?”
“No.” Heat rises into my face. It’s embarrassing that I don’t code. Yet another subject I still need to teach myself. “Why?”
He studies me with that intense gaze I can feel beyond this second. “You know that if you try to kill me, I’ll retaliate, right?”
My heartrate picks up. “Are you threatening me with death?”
“No. I won’t kill you, but you won’t be happy. For a long time.”
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Sure, I want to kick him in the balls much of the time, but I won’t murder him or attempt to do so. That’s not me. Plus, I kind of want to get him naked now that I’ve decided to take my own destiny into hand. “Thorn?” I prod.
“Doesn’t matter. Right now, you and I both need sleep. Move. Now.”
I tilt my head, too unsettled to sleep. “I need to post something, Thorn. Let me borrow your phone.”
His eyes blaze. “Why? Do you think I want to help you feed Aquarius Social? Let me disabuse you of that notion.”
I take a step back. “I know we’re rivals. But isn’t there a sense of balance among the four families?”
“Balance? Who gives a shit about balance?” He scrubs a large hand through his thick hair. “Your father called three times today.”
The change in subject throws me. My father was fishing, but at least he’s looking for me. “What did he say?”
Thorn’s smile holds a hint of cruelty. “Nothing. I didn’t answer.”
I roll my eyes.
One of Thorn’s eyebrows rises. “I saw a post where an influencer named Jackie interviewed you.”
I’m getting a headache from the fast switches in topic. “I get interviewed a lot.”
“For Malice Media.”
“Oh.” I think back. “Yeah, I remember. I agreed because I pimped Aquarius Social the whole time.” Is this why he’s pissed? “That’s not out of the ordinary, Thorn.”
He’s studying me as if he wants to dig right into my head. “Did you have anything to do with the upload of that interview onto my system?”
“Of course not. It wasn’t my feed.” Duh.
Yeah, he’s irritating me, and it’s obvious he’s in a grumpy mood, but the man oozes sex appeal. I wonder if there’s a way to bottle his pheromones and sell them. I’d make a fortune. Even better, what if I could somehow tie them to Aquarius and our user experience?
“Alana?” Thorn’s smooth as bourbon voice pulls me from my thoughts.
I jerk. “Sorry. Lost in my own brain.” Which always pisses off my father.
“What’s twisting around in there?” Thorn asks.
I startle. He’s asking about my thoughts? Not angry that I’m daydreaming when he’s trying to talk to me? “About a way to bottle your sex appeal and sell it to lonely women.” Heck. Happy women would want it, too.
He falls silent, his head cocking slightly. “Sex appeal?”
“Yes.” I study him. He’s so tall and broad—so strong. Add in the obvious intelligence and whole pissed-off, wounded male vibe, and every female cell in my body explodes. This is beyond wrong, but I don’t care. I want the feelings from this night. The experience before I sacrifice myself for the company and my family. This is for me. “Speaking of which, I’m wondering if you’d like to pick up where we left off the night before.”
He stills. Not in an obvious way, but more like a shift in the energy that surrounds him. “Are you messing with me?”
