Rule
Knox Montgomery kept me waiting for nearly forty-five minutes.
I thought nothing of it at the time. I was sure the guy was busy, and my appointment had been scheduled at the last minute, so I figured he was fitting me into a tiny sliver of time when he could multitask. He wasn’t the first busy guy I’d ever met with. Plus, it gave me time to gather my thoughts and order them in a way that might make sense.
When the receptionist finally escorted me to Knox’s office, I’d had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to say, but the moment the door opened, my brain went on the fritz, and every thought in my head vacated.
Well, except for recognizing my oldest friend, who was sitting cool as a cucumber across from Knox.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Creed.
He was lounging in one of the upholstered chairs in the small seating area near the windows overlooking the Vegas Strip, one ankle resting on the opposite knee, suit jacket unbuttoned, and a glass in his hand. It must be five o’clock somewhere.
“Good to see you too, brother,” Creed replied, lifting his drink in a mock toast.
Across from him was Knox Montgomery, the man I’d only ever seen in photographs. They honestly didn’t do the guy justice. He was every bit the spectacular specimen the media portrayed him to be. From his fancy suit and shiny shoes to his perfectly styled hair and mesmerizing grin, he was the sort of man who captured people’s attention.
I skimmed his features for a few unnecessary seconds, attempting to find any resemblance to Laikyn. Maybe the eyes. Not only the color but also the shape. Other than that, not really.
Someone cleared their throat, and my gaze bounced between the two men. Luckily for me, Knox was a bit more refined than my childhood friend. He got to his feet and approached, holding out his hand.
“It’s good to meet you, Rule.”
“Yeah.” I glared at Creed as I shook Knox’s hand. “Likewise.”
“Please, have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No.” I continued to singe Creed with my glare. “Thank you.”
“He doesn’t drink,” Creed said with a smirk.
“Why are you here?” I repeated.
“I insisted,” Knox answered for him, then gestured again to the chair. “Please.”
Since I could tell his pleasantry was meant more as a command, I lowered myself into the chair next to Creed and watched as Knox sat on the black leather sofa. He was as refined and dignified as the media made him out to be. I figured that was what money could buy you, along with a resort casino on prime real estate in Las Vegas. Not to mention a vacation home in Malibu, one of the largest buildings in New York City, and a fancy three-story apartment building overlooking Central Park.
Yeah. I did my homework.
“Is she with you?” Knox inquired.
“Who?”
Knox looked at Creed and smirked. “You were right. You said he’d play dumb.”
Creed chuckled. “I did say that, didn’t I?”
I wanted to punch him in the face.
I refrained.
Barely.
“My sister,” Knox stated without a hint of skepticism.
I frowned, looking him in the eye for the first time. “You know about her?”
“I didn’t,” he said smoothly, sipping the amber liquid in his glass. “Not until Creed filled me in two days ago.”
Right after I told Creed. The fucking traitor.
“I made him,” Knox inserted.
“Somehow, I doubt that.” No one made Creed do anything.
“Don’t underestimate his power of persuasion,” Creed said with a gruff laugh.
Knox’s green eyes twinkled with amusement. “When a good friend calls me up and insists on getting my best suite for three days, and he only gives me a moment’s notice, I find myself curious. And I’m good at getting answers.”
“Too good,” Creed grumbled.
Knox laughed, then turned his attention to me. “I’d like to meet her.”
“Just like that?” I countered. “No questions asked? You don’t doubt the validity of the claim?”
“Should I?” His eyebrows angled down. “Creed tells me you’re damn good at uncovering truths because it’s your job to cover them up. Is he wrong?”
I didn’t answer.
“He said you had a DNA test done.”
“You don’t sound surprised that you’ve got a sibling.”
“I’m not.” He took another drink. “I loved my father, don’t get me wrong. I admired him for what he was capable of doing. He groomed me to follow in his footsteps. He was good at business but not quite as good with people. Jeremiah Montgomery had a penchant for younger women. Much, much younger women. And based on my calculations, my sister’s mother would’ve been a teenager when she conceived.”
“Eighteen,” I confirmed.
“And that would make my sister … twenty-two?”
“Yes.”
“What’s her name?”
I looked at Creed, surprised he hadn’t revealed that detail already.
He smirked and kept his eyes fixed on the glass in his hand.
“Laikyn,” I told Knox. “Laikyn Quinn.”
“And her mother?”
“Monica Quinn.”
Knox’s expression shifted, and I saw a hint of recognition followed by surprise. Creed really hadn’t told him.
“The actress?”
“Yes.”
When he said nothing more, I decided to get to the heart of the matter. The part I figured he wouldn’t be nearly as happy to learn.
“Did you know Jeremiah set up a trust for her?”
Knox shook his head but said, “That doesn’t surprise me. As I said, my father was good at business. He knew how to protect his money.”
“It’s not a small amount.”
Knox nodded as though taking it in.
“And there were stipulations. Age and marital status. Both of which she’s close to meeting.”
His eyebrows bounced. “Is that right?”
“Yes. I married her on September 2nd. The clause dictates three months. It’s real. The marriage, I mean.”
“Real? Meaning what? That you love her?”
I refused to look at Creed because I didn’t want him to see the truth in my eyes. I did love her. I didn’t mean to love her, but it had happened all the same.
“I did it for her,” I admitted.
He still appeared amused, but instead of digging deeper, he chuckled and looked at his glass before finally looking at me again.
“That’s why you wanted to talk to me first? Why you didn’t spring her on me without warning? Because of a trust fund.”
I watched him, not replying.
“Not because you love her and want to protect her? Guard her from my initial reaction?”
I still didn’t reply.
“And you think a trust fund will change my reaction to her.”
“When you threaten someone’s livelihood, that tends to happen,” I told him.
This time, Knox’s laugh boomed through the office. “My livelihood.”
I didn’t know what he found funny.
He looked at Creed, then me as he gestured to the room. “I’m not sure what you’ve unearthed about me, but in case you can’t tell, I’m not hurting. My children won’t ever have to work if they don’t want to. My grandchildren, even. And that’s if I only kept half of my liquid assets.”
I knew his net worth, and it put him in a different stratosphere than the rest of the world. But the amount of money someone had was relative to the lifestyle they were used to. So I stood by my assumption that he wouldn’t want to part with the amount his father had left Laikyn.
I didn’t look away. “It’s easy to say that now.”
Knox inched toward the edge of the cushion and angled so he faced me. “I want to meet my sister. If my father left her a trust, it was because he cared about her.”
“He never met her. He died when she was three. She doesn’t know who he is.”
“Then that was his loss. Maybe he went to the grave knowing he’d missed out on something important,” Knox said, his tone harder than before. “But I won’t turn my back on my family. I don’t care if she wants to fight me for every penny I’ve got.”
I considered telling him she didn’t want to do that, but it wasn’t my business what Laikyn did after I made the introduction. I figured as soon as she realized that, with the right investments, her net worth would put her in the same stratosphere as the man the world referred to as the filthy hot billionaire, it wouldn’t matter what I thought. She wouldn’t have room for me anymore.
“Let’s have dinner tonight,” Creed interjected. “All of us.”
Knox shook his head.
“No to dinner?”
“Dinner’s fine,” he said with a wave of his hand. “But I want to meet her now. I can introduce her to my husband and wife tonight, but I’d like to meet her first.”
Husband and wife? How had I not uncovered that yet?
Creed dropped his foot to the floor and sat up straight. “Are Kieran and Emily here?”
“They will be. They’re coming in for this weekend’s auction.”
Clearly, I looked confused because Knox explained.
“My wife owns Delta June’s, the auction house.”
Ah. Well, that made more sense.
“We spend most of our time in New York, but this is our home away from home.” Knox set his glass on the coffee table and got to his feet. He buttoned his suit jacket. “Please introduce me to my sister.”
That was the reason I was there, wasn’t it? To introduce Laikyn to her brother? It wasn’t like I could stall any longer.
I nodded as I stood.
On our way down to the casino floor, I texted Jinx to find out where they were. I wasn’t exactly keen on the idea of throwing Laikyn to the wolf, which appeared to be the case here, but I wasn’t sure how to stop it. The only thing I could do was stick close in case she needed me.
Not that she would. I knew her pretty damn well, and I didn’t think there was anything Laikyn couldn’t handle.
Jinx’s response was almost immediate.
— Sitting at the bar. Behind a piano. Fair warning, she’s had a few.
I turned my phone so Knox could read the screen.
He grinned. “Would you mind asking him to excuse himself? I’d like to meet her alone if that’s alright with you?”
I messaged Jinx and told him of Knox’s request. I assumed by his lack of response that he would do as I asked.
When the elevator stopped on the main floor, Knox walked out first, with me and Creed following behind him.
“Don’t you dare confront her,” I warned. “Ask Creed, I’m a formidable enemy.”
Knox turned to face me. “You can trust me with her, Rule. I won’t say anything to upset her. In fact, I may not tell her who I am yet. But if she gives me an opportunity to get to know even a little about her, I’d like to take it.”
I nodded. As though I actually had a choice.
* * *
Laikyn
And then there was only one.
Me.
I exhaled heavily and tipped back the rest of my drink as Jinx walked away. While we’d been intermittently chatting—him answering me with text messages—he sent one to say he’d be right back. I didn’t ask where he was going, but I assumed the restroom. That or he was sneaking out the back with Rule, and I would have to find my way back to LA because they’d both abandoned me in this fancy hotel.
Did it really matter if they did? At the moment, I didn’t care much about anything, thanks to the alcohol. The bartender had been generous with my doubles, and I could feel the warmth in my veins and a pleasant fuzzy sensation in my brain.
At least they’d had the decency to leave me in a nice place. I’d been to plenty of hotels in my lifetime, carted around because my presence suited my mother’s image at the time. But she’d never brought me anywhere that looked like this. I found I liked the energy of the place, although I had no desire to gamble. Jinx had tried to persuade me shortly before he excused himself, but I’d declined his offer. I didn’t trust myself not to get caught up in it, and right now, I had a feeling I needed to keep my wits about me.
Granted, the vodka tonic had started to diminish my wit. After the third one, I could finally breathe again. I was nervous, but I had no idea why I should be. Rule hadn’t told me why he brought me here, but I knew he had a motive. Something to do with my father. Otherwise, why not just lay it all on the table back at home?
“Would you like another?” the waitress asked as she passed, heading toward the bar.
I glanced at the lonely ice cubes in the glass and then nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” a man said as he approached, his smile warm enough to tame wild animals.
He moved closer, maintaining a smile as he looked me over. There was scrutiny in his eyes, but it didn’t feel like he was assessing my potential as a possible notch in his bedpost.
“Mind if I join you?”
“I … um…” I glanced in the direction Jinx went. “I’m here with someone.”
He didn’t sit, merely tucked his hands into the pockets of his ridiculously expensive slacks.
“Two people, actually,” I continued, unable to stop myself from rambling. “Rule and Jinx. They’re my … uh…” I frowned. “I don’t really know what to call them.”
He didn’t speak, merely allowed me to continue spewing nonsense.
“One’s my husband,” I said, though my tone would lead him to believe I wasn’t certain about that status. “The other, my … boyfriend?”
“And they know each other?”
“Oh, yeah.” I grinned. “Biblically.”
Oh, shit. I honestly hadn’t meant to reveal that.
The stranger chuckled, but he never looked away. He didn’t seem worried that my husband and boyfriend might return any second. Or that they might be off getting biblically acquainted with one another while I waited.
“I’ve got a couple of those,” he said, crossing his ankles as he leaned against one of the large columns that held up the ceiling.
“Biblical boyfriends?”
He laughed, and it boomed through the space. It was jovial enough to make me laugh.
“No. But I do have a wife and a husband.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “I thought that was illegal.”
“I guess technically it is. I’m not legally wed to both of them.”
“Ah. You just sleep with them both?”
His forehead creased, and his green eyes glittered. “It’s a bit more involved than that. We’re building a life together.”
“So it can be done?”
“What? Being with two people?”
I nodded.
“If you’re in it for the right reasons, sure.”
“What about five people?” I mused, thinking back to Rule’s friend Journey and the reverse harem thing she had going on.
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Me neither.”
The waitress returned, passing me one of the drinks and another of those little cocktail napkins. “Thank you.”
She nodded, then handed the stranger the other. “Here you are, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Thank you, Lilly.”
“Wow. You must come here often if they know you by name,” I told him when she walked away.
“I own it.”
I choked on my drink.
Coughing and spurting, I did my best to stop my esophagus from revolting, but I couldn’t. Mr. Montgomery, as Lilly had referred to him, moved closer, his concern radiating from him.
I held up a hand and tried to swallow. “I’m good,” I wheezed.
It took a minute or two before I really was, but he simply took a step back and gave me my space.
When I finally stopped coughing and clearing my throat, he stepped forward and held out his hand. “Knox Montgomery. And you are?”
I shifted my glass to the other hand and took his. “Laikyn Quinn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Laikyn.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Same.”
He released my hand, and for a second, I thought he would walk away, but instead, he sat in the chair beside me. He didn’t get comfortable, instead leaning forward, resting his elbow on his knee as he regarded me.
“I’m fine, really,” I assured him in case he was worried I might hack up a lung again.
His eyes twinkled with mirth as his lips pulled upward.
“Why are you smiling?” I asked, feeling awkward and wondering when Jinx would return. I could use him right about now.
Knox laughed. “I’m hoping we can be friends.”
I forced a smile. “It’ll have to be a short friendship, I’m afraid. I’m only here for a couple of days, and I live in Los Angeles. So…”
“Something tells me that won’t matter.”
Okay, so now it was getting creepy. I mean, he wasn’t coming onto me or anything, but it felt like he knew something I didn’t.
Determined to ensure he understood I wasn’t interested, I tried to stand. It didn’t work as planned, and I ended up back on my butt. The signal that should’ve gone from my brain to my legs appeared to be interrupted by too much vodka.
“Easy now.” Knox held up a hand as though he might help me if I tipped forward onto my face, but he didn’t touch me.
I was attempting to come up with something to let him down easy, but I looked up and saw Rule and Jinx walking toward me. They were watching me intently.
“Can I tell you something?” Knox prompted.
“I … uh…” I gestured toward Rule and Jinx. “Those are my…”
“Biblical boyfriends?” he said, tossing my terminology back at me.
“Yes.”
“I know.”
I looked at him. “What do you mean, you know?”
Instead of answering, he held out his hand again. When he continued to wait for me to shake it, I stared, confused. Did he forget he’d already introduced himself? Or was I so drunk I’d imagined that?
Figuring I could appease him, I shook his hand again.
He held my hand a bit more firmly than he had before. “Knox Montgomery.”
“We’ve kind of established that,” I replied.
“I’m your brother, Laikyn.”
I saw only sincerity and keen interest as I stared into his twinkling green eyes.
Every part of my body went completely numb, and this time, I couldn’t blame it on the alcohol.
* * *
Jinx
We approached Laikyn in time to hear Knox introduce himself as her brother.
I watched Laikyn’s face, the expressions that shifted over every beautiful feature as she processed that information.
I expected her to be bold and come back with some smartass remark. She didn’t. She simply sat there staring at him as though she wasn’t sure where she was or what was happening.
I started toward her. When Rule attempted to stop me, I pulled my arm from his grasp. I was done playing this his way. Knox shouldn’t have sprung that on her without her having someone there for support. She’d had enough of that shit in her life, and I wanted her to know I had her back, regardless.
Knox looked up as I neared. I nodded my head, then put my hand on Laikyn’s shoulder.
Her head tilted, and her eyes locked with mine. A moment later, her expression softened, and the vise squeezing my chest relaxed.
“Knox Montgomery,” he said as he got to his feet and held out a hand.
I couldn’t respond, but I didn’t need to. Laikyn did for me.
She got to her feet and curled her arm through mine. “This is Jinx.”
Knox’s eyes crinkled as his smile spread. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I nodded again.
He didn’t appear surprised that I didn’t speak.
Knox leaned in toward Laikyn. “The boyfriend, right?”
She choked on a laugh and squeezed my arm. “Yes. He’s not being rude. He doesn’t speak.”
Boyfriend, huh? I’d never been anyone’s boyfriend before. I found I liked the title far more than I expected I would.
“Are you okay?” Knox asked Laikyn, his expression sobering. “I didn’t mean to spring that on you so quickly, but after meeting you … I simply didn’t want to go another minute without letting you know.”
Her lips pursed, and she nodded. I could tell she was putting up a wall to protect herself from whatever heartache she expected him to send her way. After all, for Laikyn, family wasn’t there to support her and lift her up.
“I was thinking perhaps we could all have dinner tonight,” Knox offered, glancing between me and Laikyn. “I’ll bring my wife and husband so you can meet them. Creed’s here, too, so I can invite him and the entourage.”
I hadn’t realized Creed was in Vegas until I found him and Rule talking near the elevators shortly after Rule had summoned me. According to Rule, he hadn’t expected Creed to come until later, but evidently, the guy wanted to prepare Knox for what was coming before he was blindsided. It made sense.
Realizing Laikyn was looking at me for an answer, I tilted my head to let her know it was entirely up to her. I would support her, no matter what she decided.
“Yes,” Laikyn finally said, her shoulders no longer hugging her ears. “Dinner would be nice.”
Knox looked at his watch. “Can you give me a few hours? Let’s say seven-thirty?”
“Perfect.”
I watched as Knox’s gaze lingered on Laikyn’s face for a few more seconds. I couldn’t help but think he was truly happy to meet her. I honestly hoped that was the case. Otherwise, this was going to end very, very badly.
When Knox walked away, I cupped Laikyn’s face and forced her to meet my gaze.
“I’m okay,” she whispered. “At least, I think I am.”
I leaned in to kiss her, and she pressed her lips to mine, her hand tightening on my arm.
“I’d like to go to the room for a bit.”
Taking her hand, I turned to lead the way. Rule stood several feet away, his expression rife with torment and pain. And guilt. Definitely guilt.
I squeezed Laikyn’s hand. Her gaze shifted to Rule at the same time she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She stopped when she was directly in front of him, dropping my hand as she faced off with him.
“I’m not sure whether I should be mad at you or grateful. At the moment, I’m too drunk to really care. But I’m warning you, that might change in a little while.”
He nodded, his eyes never leaving her face.
“Can we please just go to the room?” She took a step toward the elevator. “Before I do something stupid like break down and cry right here.”
If she cried, there was a damn good chance I would, and we couldn’t have that, so I urged her toward the elevators. Rule was right behind us, escorting us the entire way. I left it to him to get us there, and I kept my fingers linked with Laikyn’s, wondering what was going through that pretty head of hers.
I found out about the time the elevator opened on our floor.
“Who’s my father?” She asked Rule. “I mean, what’s his name?”
He answered without an ounce of inflection in his tone. “Jeremiah Montgomery.”
“Is he someone famous?”
“He created Montage Markets.”
Laikyn abruptly stopped in the middle of the hall, her eyes wide. “Are you kidding me?”
“No.”
I wanted to slap him upside the head because he answered as though this was some sort of test, not as though she was inquiring about her paternity when she’d spent the first twenty-two years of her life not knowing who the guy was.
At least he waited until we were inside the room before he dropped the next bomb on her.
The moment he did, I realized just how fucked up our entire situation really was.