I Want You Close, I Want You Closer

Chapter Six

You wait with limited patience, taking another sip of your lemon and mint water, checking the Armani watch Shawn just bought you and sighing at the fact that you've been waiting in this restaurant longer than you intended.

You're sitting in a private section in the back, the host of the restaurant knowing full well the family you belonged to, and that the only reason anyone from your family, or any family like yours, comes to this restaurant is to conduct business.

Leo and Mathias sit on either side of you, just as impatient when your guests finally arrive, Danny strolling in with a black eye that's sealed shut, arm in a sling, scars on his face from Shawn's wrath.

You can't help but be a little smug about it.

Behind him strolls in his younger sister Brittany, who looks pissed as hell, but to be quite honest, you could care less.

Danny was your friend, Brittany not so much. Growing up Danny got along with you and your siblings, but Brittany was always cold and rude, so you never got along.

It only made sense she would try to be here today.

Just like Danny, they both thought they had a leg to stand on just because their father worked for yours. But without your father, neither Danny nor Brittany had a claim to this lifestyle, making them targets.

Which they were about to be, if they didn't agree to your terms peacefully.

"You're late." Leo starts, exuding how upset all three of you are in his tone.

"You look nice, Danny." Mathias quips, laughing to himself.

Brittany scowls. "No thanks to your sister."

If there's anything you're grateful for inheriting from your father, it's the confidence, attitude, and rage of an inferno in situations like this - where you can safely turn it on and off.

"I'm sorry, but we weren't speaking to you." You say sharply, arching your perfect brow in her direction, sending her a scathing scowl of your own. "In case you forgot how this goes, you'll speak when spoken to. And if you can't follow simple instructions, you'll surely be dismissed. Understood?"

You can tell she's biting her tongue, and in your brain you're just daring her to say something.

This wasn't a friendly sit down by any means - this was a tried and true mafia style sit down, something you never thought you'd do in your life.

"Also," Leo says. "We only invited Danny here to speak, so your presence isn't necessary."

"Why'd you tell my father about what happened at The Ring?" You cut to the chase, tired of waiting and wanting to get this over with. Danny can barely look at you when he answers.

"I felt embarrassed. And he deserved to know."

"Deserved to know what?" Mathias spits. "Her relationship wasn't hurting anyone. Who cares who she dates - don't you think if it was that much of a problem, if it mattered to her in the slightest, that she'd be with him at all?"

Danny winces. "But Angelo-"

"Don't you think that if I gave a shit about what he thought that I'd actually bother carrying his last name?" You retaliate. "The only reason you reacted the way you did is because of your father, and your blind and meaningless loyalty to my father."

You lean forward, elbows on the tables and hands locked together. "I considered the issues and consequences of my relationship with Shawn." You say, looking Danny in his good eye. "I considered them long and hard and decided that I didn't give a shit. So yes, we went out. Yes, I'm his girlfriend. And my relationship with him is none of your business, it's not the business of my father, or you, or Brittany."