Chapter 35

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FIVE

“I can come in on Friday, anytime.” Anthony’s schedule was wide open, and even if he had something planned, he’d have cleared everything for a job interview.

“Would ten suit?” the woman from the local government asked.

“Perfect.” He raked his teeth over his lip, not wanting to ask outright if she realized he had a criminal conviction, but also not wanting to waste both of their time. “You read my entire application and understand the reason for the career change?”

“Yes. Should you be offered the job, are you available for an immediate start?”

“I am.” Immediate meant after doing the paperwork and the pre-employment medical, so about two weeks at minimum.

“Excellent. Come to the help desk and ask for me. I’ll see you on Friday.” She hung up.

Anthony let out a whoop of glee and a fist pump before reminding himself that he didn’t have the job yet. He exhaled slowly, tamping down on the happiness for a moment while he texted Cillian that he had an interview. He followed it up with a string of emojis that hopefully conveyed both his excitement and gratitude.

He didn’t expect one back; it was early, and Cillian was probably sleeping.

Nor was he going to scour job listings. He was taking the rest of the day off to watch some of the movies and TV shows that Cillian referenced.

He texted Mick to let him know he had an interview on Friday. To which he got a two-word response.

Good work.

Once again, it was who he knew, not what he knew, that had gotten him this far. And it was because of his brother he’d met Cillian. Hayden would be pissed if he found out that he’d accidentally helped.

Anthony kicked back on the sofa and scrolled through streaming services until he found what he wanted, well aware that this was exactly what Margot thought he did all day, anyway.

Today he didn’t care.

Fifteen minutes into the movie, Hayden’s car pulled into the driveway. He got out, slamming the door before stalking up the steps.

Had Anthony locked the door when he got home from his run? He thought he had because he’d gone and taken a shower…

He got up, ready to block the door if he needed to, because facing off with Hayden while he was in a mood never ended well.

Hayden pounded on the door frame, making the fly screen rattle. “I know you’re in there.”

Anthony put his hand on the door. Had he locked the fly screen?

Hayden jiggled the handle, but the fly screen didn’t open. Anthony exhaled and opened the front door, staring at his brother through the screen. “What is it?”

“What the fuck have you done?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He really didn’t. Wasn’t the PI still tailing him? Was he sitting on the street watching Hayden lose his shit?

“Cillian fucking Fraser.” Hayden jabbed his finger at the screen.

Oh… This must be about the blackmail. “I haven’t seen him for days.” Even though all he wanted to do was kiss him until they both forgot to breathe.

“What the fuck did you tell him?”

Anthony considered his options for a couple of seconds, then opted for one truth. “That I wasn’t ready to bottom.”

Hayden tilted his head. “You’re fucking sick.”

“I have no idea what’s going on, but you’re making a scene.”

“Let me in.”

“No.”

“It’s not your fucking house. Let me in.”

“Exactly. It’s not mine. I don’t have the authority to let you in. Call Margot.” If Hayden kept going, someone might call the cops, which would make things messy. Messier.

“How did you find out?”

“Find out what? What did I supposedly do? What could Cillian possibly do to you?”

Hayden slapped the screen with both hands. “You’re fucked. You’re going back in. And this time, I’ll make sure you never get out.”

Anthony’s heart stopped for a moment. “This time?”

Hayden laughed and leaned in. “Who do you think tipped off the cops about the coke?”

Anthony snarled. “You fucking prick.”

“I thought you’d end up someone’s bitch or that someone would do you in. Yet you’re still a thorn in my side that I can’t pick out.” He took a couple of steps away. “This isn’t the end.”

Yes, it was.

Anthony straightened and stared at his brother. “You win. You have the money, the house, the cars. Enjoy it. I don’t care anymore.” He didn’t want it. He wanted a little apartment that came with a cat. He wanted to listen to his boyfriend practice the same song for hours and watch him laugh, drink rocket fuel coffee, and have conversations with Snap as if the cat would answer.

Hayden spun around and pointed at him. “Because of you and that bitch, I’m going to lose it all.”

“What are you talking about? Margot said you had a prenup with Bianca.” If she cheated, she got nothing. That was the entire reason why Hayden had sought dirt on Cillian. But Bianca still couldn’t take everything. Hayden was being rather dramatic.

“I’m talking about your cock-sucking bitch… He had his agent report me to the ethics board for blackmail.”

Anthony blinked, taking a moment to process everything. Cillian’s agent was a lawyer, so when he’d gone to her, she’d smelled a rat and had dug down to find it, unconcerned about getting her hands dirty in the process. “Don’t refer to Cillian that way.”

“Did you not hear me?” Hayden jabbed at the screen. “That farm boy fucked his way up and reported me . Who the fuck does he think he is?” Even now, his brother saw himself as the victim of someone else’s schemes, but he never cared about the victims of his own machinations.

“If it’s not true, you’ve got nothing to worry about… unless you were blackmailing him?”

Hayden huffed and glared but didn’t answer the question. “You need to tell him to withdraw the complaint.”

Anthony shrugged. “He’s a grown-up and can make his own choices.”

“Ah, so you’re using him to get to me?”

“I haven’t done anything. What did you do to him?”

Hayden’s face twisted into a mask of hate. “I…”

“If you need any tips on how to survive behind bars, don’t call me.” Anthony shut the door and locked it. He rested his forehead on the cool wood as Hayden shouted at him. Cursed him and threatened to send him back.

He hoped the PI was capturing everything. Then he remembered Margot had a security camera out the front, and that it was all being recorded.

“Best of luck, brother,” he murmured as he walked away, leaving Hayden to rage at the consequences of his actions. Anthony had been angry at first, but when the charges were read aloud, he acknowledged he’d done every one of them, at least once, and was guilty.

Hayden would plead innocence until his last gasp.