Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 219

Chapter 219: He Has Been Handled 

Brianna

“Sorry, when is this Tea party?” I asked Donatella. I don't want to annoy her with questions but to be fair, she isn't always forthright with information.

“They will send you the details. By next week, you are healed, right?” She asked in her funny little accent.

“Yes, I am okay.” I told her. 

I hope all the bruising is completely gone but I looked normal otherwise. My ribs will feel tender for a while but honestly I am used to pain. I have a high tolerance for it, so it doesn't hold me back very much.

“Oh, my darling. One more thing.” She called after me so we wouldn't hang up.

“The Tea Party will be in London.” She told me quickly and then hung up.

I have to fly to London again, I am obviously only going for a few days but for some reason, my mind wandered to Callan. Maybe because the last time I was there, he was with me. Gosh, I wish I could go back to that time. When he wanted to see me and flew out to spend a few days with me, I was so happy about it. And he told me towards the end of whatever it was we had that it bothered him that I was overseas. That I wasn't around, would he even care now if he heard I was leaving again? I am not even leaving for good, but I am curious how he would react. Whatever. 

Cartier is a jewelry brand and they are expensive and I am so excited that I am going to be a part of this. It is all thanks to Donatella of course. They don't know me from a hole in the wall but Donatella did introduce me to the fashion world as her muse, so I got an invite to a royal tea party. How whimsical and stranger. I decided to call Jane and tell her because if I don't tell her these things right away she scoffs and slaps my arm telling me she is my manager and needs to know these things. She is not my manager but I humor her because she is just nosy and I love her.

I also talked to Roy Vortex today, I am almost positive he is mad at me for shutting him out the past several weeks but I haven't fully addressed that until today. I oddly feel guilty about sleeping with Callan but I don't know why because Roy and I are nowhere near a relationship. I think maybe because I told Roy this was so over and then I let him rail me. So maybe that is why. Either way, I don't want to do what I am known for doing, which is push people away when I am through with them or need to start over. And I don't want my slip up with Callan to affect what Roy and I have been doing. Like Jane said, I can't save my body for Callan even though I let him claim it the other night, I just know I shouldn't have. I will not push Roy Vortex away. When I walked out of my room, my brother was leaning against the counter waiting for something to microwave.

“Why did I hear screaming in your room?” He asked me and I snorted a laugh.

“Oh, I told Jane a work update, you know how she is. She squeals.” I shrugged.

“Oh, really? And what was the update?” He was curious, I grinned which made him chuckle.

“A tea party.” I twirled for dramatic effect.

“Excuse me?” His flat expression made me laugh. 

I explained it to him in detail or at least as much detail as Donatella explained it to me.

“Oh, so you are jet setting again?” He noted the destination.

“Not for months, just a long weekend I am sure.” I smiled, trying to steal a piece of his food when he pulled it from the microwave. His reflexes are too fast and he lifted it far above my head so I couldn't do it.

“Hey, kiddo?” I heard him call after me when I was motioning to leave the kitchen. When I glanced back, I saw his hesitant expression.

“Has..umm..has mother tried to contact you?” He asked and I scowled.

“No, has she tried to contact you?” I asked and he quickly shook his head no.

“I am pretty sure she is pissed at us for not going to the funeral.” I shrugged, I thought I would care more but I don't.

He tipped his head for me to join him at the island top where we keep stool. I plopped beside him and he humored me and gave me a piece of our leftovers. 

“We did the right thing by not going, right?” He surprised me when he asked that.

I thought I would be the one more conflicted over this than he is. I leaned my head against my hand and was resting on the counter.

“We would have been second guessing ourselves more if we showed up. They get in our heads, they do it without even being present. Imagine if we went?” I replied. He hummed and seemed to agree.

“I guess I just wanted to check in, I know you said you don't like the violence stuff and things took that turn. So, yes, I guess I just wanted to check in.” He told me.

“Big brother Bryce.” I pretended to pinch his cheek. He almost stabbed me with his fork which made me flinch back and whine.

“And as for the detective, Callan handled that too.” He let me know. I had the meaning to ask but dead father beats creepy detective Nasa is the one reason why my father found me in the first place. The asshole.

“Handled as in?” I asked, I needed clarification on how Callan handled that one.

“No, no.” He chuckled.

“He talks to his connections somewhere up the line and they are way above his pay grade, so that case is officially closed.” He explained and I released a breath of relief.

“Okay, so we are tying up some loose ends, slowly but surely. How about the mafia war? I haven't heard any mention of anything.” I arched my brow.

“Being handled.” That was all his said.

“All I need to know is if you are in danger.” I explained my only concern with his work details.

“Let's just say we tied up those loose ends as well. Things should go back to normal, we were just waiting a little bit before lifting this code red here, you never know.” He explained.

I would understand better if he told me how they were tying up this particular loose end but again I know I don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss.

“So what is going on with you and Vortex? He keeps asking me about you, which I have to give the man credit for. He is fucking brave for even bringing you up to me.” He chuckled and shook his head.

“What is he asking?” I wondered, he shrugged and covered his mouth to swallow another bite of his food.

“Just how you are and why you had refused to see people, stuff like that. I think you are right, Brianna. Roy Vortex might have a little crush.” He looked all too amused.

A crush? He said so once but I chalked it up to him joking around.

Do I want Roy Vortex to have a crush on me? I know they say he isn't usually like that which means this is a little more serious than just a crush. Why would he act like that with me? What is so special about me? I am in too confusing a place to be able to give him that part of me. I just had sex with Callan, so that is a prime example as to why I can't just have a crush on Roy Vortex. I do like him, he is attractive, funny, smooth and very good in bed. I know I should like him and I do but I am still in this stuck place that doesn't let me just fall into this thing with him. If he actually cares about me beyond the physical and a moderate friendship, then I will have to tell him about my conflicted heart. And I don't know how someone like Roy would take it. A crush isn't that serious, right? I huffed at myself, it is not like the guy is proposing. He just asked my brother a few questions, and I shook my head.

“Don't be ridiculous.” I snorted, he wasn't buying it. 

He gave me a face but dropped it, I don't think he likes thinking about me and one of his friends anyway. I told Roy I would make time for him this week, I guess I will just see how this unfolds. I just have to wait and see how things turn out.