Sinful Like Us (Like Us, #5)

by Krista Ritchie

“Is that it?” Sulli asks Akara and Banks. “You’re both just jealous.” Banks raises his shoulder in a shrug. Akara’s muscles are flexed. “No.” He puts his fingers to his earpiece, as if comms chatter is louder. “I’m your bodyguard and you’re dating someone for the first time. That’s it.” Sulli frowns. “So you won’t care if I bring Will?” It takes him a second to say, “If that’s what you want.” “That’s what I fucking want.”

They yell at whoever comes through. Instantly, I recognize the chestnut-haired, blue-eyed bodyguard. A plastic bag is hooked on his elbow. “Suck my dick!” Donnelly shouts at the crowds, then shuts them out with the kick of the door.

lmao

After Donnelly was taken off Beckett’s detail, the Tri-Force transferred him to a Hale. Xander Hale, to be exact. He’s been working alongside Thatcher this past week. Two bodyguards on one client.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Farrow says coolly to Tony. I missed something. Tony smirks, too pompous. “We all know Donnelly shouldn’t be going to Hawaii if his client is staying back home.” Thatcher retorts, “Donnelly is a groomsman, and Farrow wants him there.”

“Hey.” Akara comes forward and motions for Tony to step aside. He ushers him towards the corner and sneers, “You can’t talk to a client like that.” Donnelly digs into his cheesecake. “Been waiting for someone to put away Tony the Toolbox.” “If only permanently,” I sigh. “Murder with the Cobalt fam,” Donnelly says through a mouthful of cheesecake. “Those who slay together, stay together.” I eye him. “I meant metaphorical murder.” I pause, curious. “Did you?” He puts a hand to his chest, grinning and not saying one way or the other,

lmao

First come the bodyguards. I count five. And then five famous faces bring up the rear. Charlie, Beckett, Eliot, Tom, and Ben. Every single one of my brothers. They’re all here, and they’re far too fixated on Thatcher like he’s tonight’s five-course meal.

fuck omg what is gong to happen

“Do not cower,” I coach quickly. “Do not avoid their eyes. Do not show fear. They’re little fiends that will chew you up like you’re nothing more than a three o’clock snack.” A shadow of a smile plays at his mouth. “You smile now but they can smell blood in the water, and the second you cut open a weakness,

“Five teenage boys can’t hurt me, point-blank,” Thatcher proclaims. “I doubt a hundred could.” I ease some. “Your cockiness is helpful.”

He nods once. “I’m all good. I have this.” He drops his voice lower. “They can’t make me do anything that I don’t want to do.” I quirk my brows, lips parting. “You would jump naked over a fence for me?” His complete unwavering, sexy self-assurance says hell yeah.

He just stares at me. “We’re not competing for jack shit, you and me.” “We’re not,” I agree. “This is just something we do together.” “Getting naked and jumping fences?” “Oui.”

Tom swings his head to Eliot with a laugh. “You think it’s us?” He means the dead quiet. Eliot grins. “If it’s not, I’d be offended.” He unbuttons his expensive pea coat. If the God of War and hedonistic Dionysus birthed a child, they’d spit out my nineteen-year-old brother.

He winces a little. “Demande à Charlie.” Ask Charlie. I frown. “What’d he put you up to?” “Nothing. I want to be here,” Ben says strongly. “It’s important.” I wonder why our sister isn’t with them, but it’s a question for later. My voice is soft as I ask, “Then why do you look pained?” “Parce que. Je ne pense pas que cela te plaira beaucoup.” Because. I don’t think you’ll enjoy this very much.

Om

And Charlie—everyone thinks he has no soul but his is just the darkest, deepest of them all.

I don’t back down. “We don’t need to do this, Charlie.” “Yes we do.” He leans forward. “Just remember we love you.” Heat builds in my body, and I whisper back, “I hate you right now.” He smiles. “It’ll diminish in time.” He rises.

Eliot is the one to clamp a hand on Thatcher’s back. “Follow us, boyfriend-in-law.” Thatcher seems unruffled and ready for any hell. He swivels a knob on his radio and glances over at his brother. Banks upnods to him. “Get some.”

I just can’t make an enemy out of them, and lately I’ve been way too good at making those. My objective: don’t piss off my girlfriend’s brothers. And behind that objective lies another: take care of them.

“I was respecting your sister.” I will always respect Jane. Eliot hoists himself on top of the booth frame. He uncorks a bottle of wine between his legs. It pops. “Did you hear that, brothers? Thatcher, here, was respectfully fucking our sister.”

Lmao

“Thatcher Alessio Moretti,” Eliot says with the raise of his wine. He knows my middle name. It’s a public fact. But his drawn-out, embellished delivery snakes a chill down my spine.

“You have to drink it,” Oscar says. I almost stiffen. Don’t freeze up like a motherfucking shitbag. I try to kick my ass into gear, but a nagging voice growls, stay sober. Adding to the mess upstairs in my head, Eliot and Tom’s Epsilon bodyguards start spewing shit on comms. “Stop helping Thatcher.” “This shouldn’t be easy for him. He fucked the team.”

“It’s just that…” Jane trailed off, giving me a long once-over. Her aching breath pushed her lips apart. She fixated on my dark hair tucked behind my ears and my jawline and my tall, muscular build. “You’re blatantly hot and fit in the realm of Vikings and billboard jocks. I’m—” “Gorgeous,” I interjected. Not hesitating to cut her off there.

I bottle heat in my lungs. “I wasn’t allowed to be attracted to my client publicly, not beyond the op.” I shouldn’t ask the Cobalt brothers anything.

And I know I’m not that. “Why were you all so sure that your sister’s feelings were one-sided?” Jane whips her head to me, smiling. I’m not easy to push over, honey. “I just didn’t think you’d be into her,” Beckett admits, and to Jane, he says, “I owe you an apology, sis. I’m sorry.”

snake. The plaque reads Master of Deception with the year engraved below. Comms crackle. “Flash it to us, Moretti,” Oscar banters. No chance. If I acknowledge SFO, the Cobalt brothers will think I’m choosing security over them. I set the trophy on the table and hear Farrow, his voice picked up on Oscar’s radio. “Cobalts are extra as fuck.” He’s not wrong. Donnelly enters the line and starts asking questions since he’s not at the bar anymore.

“Really?” Jane snaps at Charlie and Beckett, the two oldest. Charlie taps the card with his cane. “If Thatcher can’t complete this, then he’ll drown every time he’s with our family.” “Around forty,” I announce my number. Suddenly. Just like that.

Her brothers go quiet, and a wave of concern flows towards Jane. She sighs softly. “I didn’t mention this to gain sympathy. It’s just a fact.” “It’s a sad fact.” Eliot pries the card off the table.

Lmao

Eat the hearts of many rabbits. Gut reaction, I almost laugh. “Real rabbit?” “One pound each,” Charlie says in reply.

Ben tells his brothers, “How would you like it if I cracked your ribcage and tore out your heart?” Charlie rips open the last buttons of his white shirt. Bare chest and toned abs in view. “Go ahead.” Eliot unpockets a switchblade, twirls the knife, and stakes it on the wooden table near Ben. “No,” Jane scolds. I tear the knife out of the wood and snap the blade closed with a quick hand. I shove the weapon in my back pocket. “Murder-blocker,” Tom quips. “The worst,” Eliot jokes.

Ben goes to steal the rabbit carton. Charlie pushes him back. “Let Thatcher decide.” I look between the Cobalt brothers. Choose. I dip my head down to Jane. “I’m eating it.” “Me too,” she whispers with a wince. She feels for Ben.

“Can’t you just skip this card, Charlie?” Maximoff gestures to the table. “Ben is uncomfortable—” “Life is uncomfortable,” Charlie sneers. “Stop trying to save him.” Maximoff glowers. “Jesus, man.”

“Eh, that is…not… pleasant.” She coughs in a fist. “The odor is foul.” “Hold on.” I pop three more nugget-sized hearts in my mouth and stand up. I chew on my hike to the bar. I have blinders. I’m not looking at Tony. But I hear him snickering. Fuck him. I mime water to my brother. Banks extends his body halfway over the bar. Reaching the fridge beneath. On stools, Farrow and Oscar start clapping for me. Like I’m in some fucked-up, backwoods hot dog eating contest.

My brows knit. “What about delegating?” She likes to delegate tasks on strengths and weaknesses. She can’t stomach bloodied rabbit. I can. “This is different.” She chews slowly, then swallows. “I have to do my equal part.”

She gags instantly. One more gag and she’s puking—she starts to. I cover her mouth with my hand. What I do for love and pussy. Jane has to force down vomit. Her blue eyes flit to me with relief and appreciation. She swallows. Her cheeks radiate heat against my hand, and I’m more in love with this girl today than I was yesterday.

Audrey Cobalt is calling. Back when I was just Jane’s bodyguard, her thirteen-year-old carrot-orange-haired sister would gawk up at me while I was on-duty. I’d wait for her to say something, and she’d just let out this wheezy sigh.

Lol just likw jw

“Jane?” Audrey says tearfully. Jane frowns at the phone and clears her throat of food. “Audrey, what’s wrong?” “I heard all six of you are there and I’m not. You’ve all left me out.” Her voice cracks, nearing a sob. “Us, Cobalts—we’re a seven. Not a six. Yet you…you kept me from joining tonight, why? Is it because I’m untrustworthy? Because I leaked the bodyguard video? I promise you can trust me! I promise. Please, give me another—” “Stop,” Charlie groans, pinching his eyes.

Audrey sniffles. “Why then?” Her voice rattles. “Why not include me now?” “Very important question, Audrey.” Jane glares at her brothers. “Why keep out our trustworthy sister?” “She helped with the cards,” Tom defends. Beckett answers coolly, “She was with Winona and Kinney. We didn’t want all the little girls here—” “I knew it!” Winona Meadows shouts. Kinney Hale comes onto the line. “You’re all a bunch of ugly trolls! We don’t even like you—”

Lmao

Comms crackle, the signal distant. “Donnelly to SFO, I found the space babe.”

Lmao

Relief strikes, then confusion. How the hell did he find Luna Hale? Look—a part of me suspects that Donnelly eating Luna out wasn’t a one-time thing like they told Jane, but we’re both still keeping that secret for them.

Lmao

I hand her a napkin, and we exchange a knowing look. If she needs to spit the last one out and hide it, I’ll help her cheat. Partners in crime, she once called us. That’s not long gone. Eyes brightening, Jane nods in agreement.

How much he’s sacrificed for ballet. It makes this next part that much more painful. “You can stay here and dance, but if you continue to use, then Charlie, Moffy, and I will force you on this trip.” Beckett freezes cold.

but there is a reason you never told your best friend you use.” I turn in my chair. Sulli is already approaching the booth. Disappointment all over her face. “What the fuck, Beckett. How long?” He looks pained. “It’s not a big deal—” “You’re using drugs!” Her eyes bug. “We said we’d never take the easy out and use performance enhancers!”

“Fuck that,” Sulli cringes. “Jane is right. You didn’t tell me because I’m the one person who chose a sport over a childhood and I’m the one person who can tell you fuck your excuses.” Beckett shoots to his feet. “What about you? The second you retire from swimming you’re all of a sudden drinking alcohol and passing out—at least I’m not pointlessly destroying my body.” I wince. “Cold, brother,” Eliot says sadly. Sulli grits her teeth. “Fuck you.” “No, fuck you,” Beckett snaps.

Charlie rises, leaning his weight on a cane. “What have you learned, children?” This is a classic Cobalt word game. What have you learned, children? Whoever asks this directs the game to those younger than them. Beckett is next in age and supposed to pick a line of poetry, the others will then add to his opening line. He stares at the table. “I’m not playing.” Eliot rises. “It was all decaying.” Tom leans back. “I can feel us fraying.” Ben opens his mouth to finish the poem. His eyes start filling with tears. And he buckles forward and cries into his palms.

“I said, you…shouldn’t…be…here…either,” O’Malley repeats annoyingly slow. “Your client is Xander Hale. He’s staying in Philly, so you’ll be in Scotland as a friend of Farrow’s, not as security. And this is a security meeting.” Farrow cuts in, “Donnelly has to be here in case we need extra hands. It’s that simple.” This shuts up O’Malley for half a second. “The team isn’t paying for your travel expenses, Donnelly,” he yells. “How are you even affording this?” “My good looks,” Donnelly quips.

I can’t apologize for falling in love with her. I can’t call what happened a mistake. Gun to my head, I’d repeat every moment so I’d have the boldest, smartest girl next to me—a girl I shouldn’t have. But she’s mine, and I might not deserve her but I swear to God, I’ll never harm her, and I’d give my life to protect her. I know I’m not a prince. I’m not a king. But I’d treat Jane like she should be treated. She’s my princess, my angel, and my queen. Every morning and every night. I’d kneel at her feet and stand by her side.

He cranes his neck more to look up at me. “Admit what you did was wrong.” “I can’t do that.” Flat-out. I can’t. Being with Jane is the most right thing I’ve ever done. “Great.” He’d be in my face if he could reach it. “So you’re saying that if I find myself in a room alone with Luna Hale, and she comes onto me, I’m in the clear to fuck her. Right there. Down and dirty on the floor.” I almost snap. I almost yell, she’s nineteen!

SFO rustles behind me, fuming. I take a short glance backwards. Oscar looks murderous. Farrow straightens up more than usual. He places a hand on Donnelly’s chest. “Ignore the fucker.” “He’s been asking for a fight.” Donnelly boils. “He’s gonna get hit—”

He raises his hands. “I’m just using the precedent Omega has set. If they’re of age and willing, then it’s fair game, right?” “No,” I say harshly. Deescalate this shit. I try to take a breath. “You were Luna’s bodyguard when she was sixteen,” I remind O’Malley. “Jane was twenty-two, an adult, when I was on her detail. Maximoff was twenty-two when Farrow went to his. I’m not saying it’s right, but it’s fucking different.”

Price, the Alpha lead, glares at everyone. “Who punched Moretti?” He’s asking who should be fined three-grand. Bodyguards can’t hit other bodyguards without punishment. No one speaks. No one points fingers. With an inhale, I announce, “I started the fight.” I touch my lip. It’s already swelling. “You can fine me.” Banks gives me a hard look like you idiot. O’Malley frowns. Akara wears even more disappointment. Price nods. “Will do.”

Wtffff

It drives me insane. I scrape a palm down my wet face. My hand is shaking. Christ, I just want to hear her voice. I should compartmentalize my feelings and shove off. But I pull my phone out of my pocket. Without much thought, I’m calling Jane. Like this is an ingrained reaction.

Farrow leans on a stall door. “See, I know what it’s like to be decked in the face for sleeping with a client.” I almost laugh. Yeah, I’m the one who punched him.