Chapter 74
Marcus
“Maybe not,” Ian said as he sank into the armless chair and lifted his drink. I frowned. “Is that a beer?”
“Common, Dad. I vividly remember the doctor saying I should consume less alcohol but never said I should stop.”
“Because he was just trying to downplay the whole thing to make you feel better.”
“Maybe not and maybe you’re the one who’s aggravating the whole thing to–,”
“That’s enough guys. You could just stop by a court later to argue this out but not over my beer.”
I pinched my nose and exhaled. “Sorry. I just care about you and-”
“You’re scared. I get it Dad but that shouldn’t stop you from living or stop me. Go on, take a sip.” My eyes returned to my glass that’s been untouched and I reached for it. Well, fuck it.
“Hmm.” I made the satisfied sound the moment I tasted the cocktail and figured Paul wasn’t exaggerating about the quality.. Martini has always been a classic and this bar just heightened how good a glass of Martini could make your evening.
“I told you,” Paul noted and then finished what was left of his glass. His eyes darted to the crowd for a moment and I followed his line of vision. My eyes landed on the well–stocked bar counter with a good number of people lining up to make a good order.
I still couldn’t figure out what he was staring at and when he cleared his throat, he lowered the glass to the table. “I guess I need a moment to grab something good.”
“Something good?” Ian and I chorused. Hell, Paul didn’t answer us and just like an automated robot, he walked away and drifted into the crowd but I took note of where he was heading and after a few seconds I lowered my empty glass. “I’ll just check on that guy,” I told Ian and patted him softly.
I’d have thought he was heading to the dance floor if I didn’t know Paul all my life. Nothing could make him take a chance at dancing, it’s not just his thing and he’d never agree to give it a try.
He thinks of dancing as such a sacred act but he’d kiss whoever he wants and even have one–night stands and that—that isn’t sacred to him.
“What are you doing?” I asked when I finally got closer to him. “What’s going on?”
He scoffed. “You’re never going to change, are you?”
“Well, that depends on what exactly you are referring to.”
“You know exactly what I mean,” he continued and a laugh followed. “Being the FBI.”
“I’m sure as hell not interrogating you. I just want to make sure you’re not about to blow off your head by yourself.”
“And what would make me want to do that?” he asked with his brow raised. His eyes darted to the side where a brunette was and a smirk followed. “Maybe her.”
“Fucking hell,” I blurted and rolled my eyes at that moment. “Can you just-,”
“Wait. How about you switch up your taste and go for the dark skin beauty, hm?”
I shook my head. “No. No. No. Don’t even start.”
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16:51 Fri, Dec 13 BBT.
Chapter 74
Paul and I looked at each other and then we simultaneously turned our attention to the lady. Sure, she was good–looking but not exactly my type of woman.
“She’s good looking bro,” Paul said still staring at her.
“I agree.”
“Then go and fucking talk to her.”
“No. She’s pretty yeah but you know you don’t have a spec and I do.”
“How the hell do you cope with having only petite women around?”
I scoffed. “Don’t make it sound like that.”
“Of course. You just seem to be uh–a fan of ladies like
your
secretary.”
“Exactly,” I blurted not sure how that came out. Paul’s brow arched together and that was how I knew I may have said something wrong. “I mean, they-”
“I’ve always known there was something.”
Never.
When I say never, I don’t mean never, I just mean no. I knew where this whole conversation would lead up to and I didn’t want that, at least not yet. I shook my head again and when a bartender was passing, I called for him.
Paul and I both reached for the same glass of wine and so I paused and let him take that one before I reached for the second one. “You know what? Now that I’m sure you’re just being a jerk as always, I’m going to head back to meet my son.”
“Our son,” he corrected.
“Right.”
Paul has always loved the name. The feeling and responsibility that came with being Ian’s godfather. I do like it too. It sort of makes the work easier knowing that Paul would always be there to fill in for me and be the best where I am inconsistent.
“I’ll just grab this for him,” he said reaching for a bottle of Macallan frowned. “No, you won’t.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and closed the gap between us so I wouldn’t have to yell to be heard. “You fucking know that he should not be consuming alcohol.”
“I know that but last I checked, he could take it moderately.”
My hands balled into a fist and I let out a small sigh. “You don’t fucking get it. Ian doesn’t have a filter for things. Whatever he does, he does in excess and this won’t be an exception.”
“Willing to bet your company on it?”
“The line across my head vanished and my jaw dropped instead. “What???”
“I’m just messing with you,” he laughed. “I know you love lan and I love him too. You need him to be alive and so do I.” He paused. “And I’ll tell you this for free that it’s the restriction that kills first.”
With that, he grabbed the bottle and smiled before walking away. “And please, get laid before you return to us.”
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Chapter 75
