Rival

RAINEY

While Ansel and I were caught up in our little spat, his brothers had gathered at the window. They were watching us like we were the latest episode of their favorite show.

As soon as Ansel hoisted me over his shoulder and started for the porch, they all scrambled back to the couch, pretending they’d been engrossed in an episode of ~Supernatural~.

Their faces were lit up with amusement as Ansel carried me past them, my petite frame perched on his shoulder like I was a featherweight doll.

“Check it out.” Alex smirked, stretching his arm across the back of the couch. “You guys thought I screwed up, but I actually brought them closer. You two look-alikes will never see a brother fall, thank you very much.”

He reached for the last of Arden’s ice cream, only to frown at the tiny bit of cream left in the corner. “You ate the whole thing, you greedy bastard.”

Arden licked his lips, grabbing the remote. “You didn’t say you wanted any, did you?”

Alex shot him a deadpan look, and Arden smirked back, licking his fingers. “It was delicious.”

Suddenly, a bare foot connected with his neck, and Arden’s head snapped back from the impact. He clutched his neck in surprise. “Ouch! What the hell, are you an alien or something?”

Somehow, Alex had managed to kick his brother in the neck. A triumphant grin spread across his face while Aiden doubled over with laughter.

“Are you a ballerina, Alex? How did your foot even—?”

“He’s an alien, that’s what he is.” Arden rubbed his neck while Alex laughed triumphantly, flipping his brother off before heading to the kitchen.

“I’m sure you know where to stick that!” Arden shot back, massaging his throat with a grimace. “Damn. He kicks like a bastard.”

***

“Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to get you some tea, okay?” Ansel wrapped a towel around me, and I nodded, shifting my gaze to Lea, who was watching us with an unreadable expression.

“Make sure she stays put,” he told her, and she nodded, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness. As soon as Ansel left the room to fetch me a warm drink, the atmosphere grew heavy.

Now that it was just the two of us, I found myself staring at my feet to avoid making eye contact.

I heard her clear her throat softly, trying to break the silence.

“You must really love Ansel.”

I looked up at her. She was wearing a gray knitted sweater and a denim skirt, her legs crossed as she sat in the chair Ansel had just vacated.

“I mean, you ran all the way here in your pajamas. That’s adorable.”

She giggled a little, and I glanced down at my shorts, which were still damp and clinging to my legs. I tugged them down, not bothering to hide my eye roll.

I wasn’t sure if she was being sincere, but I honestly didn’t care. If she was trying to befriend me, it wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t like her being around Ansel.

~Actually, I just don’t like her.~

“Look, I know this might seem a little…strange, but it’s not. Ansel didn’t invite me here. I came on my own and forced my way in.”

I rubbed my arm, staring at the floor, refusing to respond. Hopefully, she’d get the hint and stop talking.

“Ansel loves you,” she continued. “I know this because he’s been talking about you non-stop since I got here. I just wanted to say that you’re really lucky.”

Her voice was tinged with sadness. “Ansel’s an amazing guy. He’s one in a million. He’s kind, caring—”

“Then why did you betray him?” I met her gaze head-on, watching as she tensed up, swallowing hard.

“I—I wasn’t supposed to fall for him,” she stammered. “I was ordered by my boss—”

“Ron Moretto.”

“Yeah. I was supposed to be his mole. In return, he’d take care of my family and make sure I was financially stable. He told me to keep an eye on the King brothers.

“He specifically told me to win over Ansel, so I could infiltrate their family. But I started to actually like him. Well, ~love~ him.”

Her last words made me uncomfortable, but I pushed down the jealousy as I tilted my head to the side. “How do you betray someone you love?”

She sighed, shifting in her seat. “It was my job, and if I didn’t do it, my family would be in danger. I didn’t have a choice.”

She had my attention now.

“What did Ron make you do?”

“He had me bug their house so he could listen in on their conversations.

“He thought that Austin—Ansel’s dad—was still plotting against him after the death of his brothers. You know about that, right?”

I nodded.

“Yeah, so he wanted to keep tabs on them. But Mr. Austin wasn’t plotting against him anymore. He was trying to live a normal life. He didn’t care about Ron Moretto.

“And he specifically warned his sons not to get involved with anything related to Ron, so Ansel and his brothers weren’t even thinking about him.

“But one day, Ron got paranoid and decided he wanted to kill them all, saying he wanted to get to them before they got to him.”

Her face crumpled, and she looked down, tears welling up in her eyes.

“So Ron told me to get Ansel to show me where Alaric has his secret drug camp.”

I sighed, shaking my head.

“Ansel had faith in me, so one night I convinced him to take me to their place. I got to meet Max, Drake, and the rest of their crew. I felt right at home there. You know how welcoming those brothers can be.

“So, when Ron rang me up and I slipped outside to chat with him, the guilt was eating me alive. I asked him if he could rethink the whole thing.”

I squint at her. “What was his response?”

“‘You’re on the job, Lea. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for him. Mixing business with pleasure is a fool’s game. Don’t piss me off. Where do they hang out?’”

“He’s a cold-hearted jerk.”

She nods in agreement. “Yeah. So, I gave him the address. I tried to warn the brothers about the impending danger, but it was too late. Their place was stormed not even half an hour after my call with Ron.

“Thankfully, the brothers could hold their own, but Alaric ended up getting shot in the shoulder. That’s probably why, out of all of them, he despises me the most.”

“When did all this happen?”

“Two years ago.”

“Oh…”

She lets out a heavy sigh. “Ron Moretto’s men torched the place, so Alaric lost a ton of drugs.

“He wanted to hit back, but Melissa and Austin love their boys too much to let them get tangled up with Ron Moretto.

“So, Alaric quit dealing drugs for a bit, and after I confessed that I was the one who ratted them out, they didn’t want anything to do with me.

“The only reason Ansel talked to me at the party was because he wanted intel on Ron. Intel that he could use to keep you safe. I told you, Rainey, it’s all about you. He’s in love with you. I can see it.”

I drop my gaze. ~I’m in love with him too.~

“After that incident, I told Ron I wanted out.

“Usually, if someone leaves his crew, he kills them, because they know too much about him and he doesn’t want them spilling the beans.

“But he didn’t kill me. He said he liked me and that I did a good job getting the King brothers to drop their guard. I guess not everyone can do that.”

~Well, I can.~

I push aside the boastful childish thoughts as she continues her story.

“I heard that he wants you to be his new mole and that he’ll be back in a month. The reason I showed up unannounced today is that I have a few contacts in the crew.

“One of them tipped me off that Ron plans to come into town two days earlier than planned.”

I narrow my eyes.

“He’s like that. He doesn’t keep his word. He likes to spring ‘surprises.’ I thought that information might be useful to you guys, so that’s why I’m here.”

Nodding slowly, I manage a small thank you.

“Don’t worry.” She smiles, and surprisingly, it seems sincere. “If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Ansel will keep you safe. He won’t let anyone harm you. I can guarantee that.

“You don’t know how lucky you are, Rainey.”

I manage a small smile.

~She couldn’t be more right. I don’t know what I did to deserve someone as incredible as him.~

~I don’t deserve him, but I’ll gladly accept the gift I’ve been given. Even if it’s just once in my life, I deserve to be happy too.~