Chapter 5

CHAPTER

FIVE

Anthony’s fingers curled. He’d learned how to fight, and in prison he learned even more dirty tricks than his brother. He’d needed to learn, so he wasn’t destroyed by those who liked to break the new arrivals, the new toys. Just because he’d given up sex while locked up, didn’t mean everyone had, and sometimes “No” was best served with a fist.

As much as he wanted to watch Cillian’s ass as he walked away, he kept his gaze on his brother.

“He’s too good for you. You’re nothing, but you swanned in like you were something. You shouldn’t even be here.” Hayden took another step forward.

“I’ve paid the price. I can move on.” Anthony kept his voice level.

Hayden shook his head. “You think these people will forget?”

Anthony was sure Hayden wouldn’t let them. “I don’t care what they think.”

He cared what Cillian thought, and he didn’t seem to give a damn. But he would when the party invitations stopped and the contacts stopped calling. Anthony needed to prove himself and get onto the first rung of a long climb up. He’d never been scared of falling before, but he’d found out how much that could hurt.

Hayden balled his fists. “You’ve always cared.”

That proved how little his brother understood him. He’d always done what he’d wanted for himself, not for others. His success had been because he wanted it, not because he was trying to impress anyone.

“You always tried to outdo me to suck up Dad’s praise.” Hayden’s face contorted into a mask of hate.

Anthony remained relaxed and didn’t move. If he did, Hayden would lash out. If it came to blows, Anthony was certain he’d win, but Hayden would play the victim and involve the cops. And Anthony already knew how the cops would view him. They’d see his record and even though he’d done time for a white-collar crime, he was still branded a criminal.

He didn’t want Cillian to see that.

Or his sister.

He needed to care what other people thought because he needed friends and allies to help him succeed on the outside, putting his life back together and forging a future.

In that heartbeat, he wanted to rise up and rub Hayden’s face in his success. He’d enjoy that the same way Hayden enjoyed Anthony’s fall. All he needed was to find success.

His plan required …a job. That was the first step.

Hayden lifted his fists. “Come on.”

“No,” Anthony replied, flexing his hands at his sides. His blood burned with lust and tension and the need to defend himself, but the moment he lifted his fists, he’d lost.

Hayden laughed and spittle landed on Anthony’s face. “You’re scared of me.”

“I’m not scared, but you should be. You’ve had ten years to get ahead. To make sure I’d never catch up.” He leaned in a fraction and kept his voice low. “Watch your rearview mirror; watch me gain speed. I’ll overtake you. When I turn forty, it’ll be my shindig in the papers.”

Anthony leaned back. He didn’t give a fuck about a birthday four years away, but Hayden would. His brother’s eyes narrowed, and his shoulder tensed. Anthony twisted to the side a moment before Hayden’s fist flew past and his knuckles smashed into the wall.

Hayden swore.

But Anthony was already walking away, his back turned to his brother, listening for the next attack. For his brother to knock into him or something equally as stupid.

“We aren’t done,” Hayden snarled.

“We’re brothers. We’ll never be done.” Anthony stood in the doorway. He’d hoped to feel some smug satisfaction at seeing his brother holding his wounded hand and looking impotent and enraged. He would’ve laughed once, finding it comical that Hayden spent all his time trying to best his younger brother—even through school. As the eldest, Hayden should’ve automatically been in front. Instead, he’d turned everything into a competition. How many sporting wins? How many academic certificates? It amused Anthony because it angered his brother.

His brother hadn’t changed. But he had.

“Anthony!” Margot called, making her way toward him, cutting through the party like she was done with their bullshit. Maybe Cillian had fetched her. He didn’t need rescuing, but he was grateful anyway.

He smiled at her. “Hayden is drunk and might need to clean his hand up. He attacked a wall.” Her gaze dropped to his hands. Not even his sister trusted him. “He swung at me. He should be grateful he’s got all his teeth.”

“When are you two going to grow up?” She brushed past him.

He was going to hear about it later.

The party had continued without him, but he didn’t feel like drinking or dancing, and he couldn’t see Cillian. He made his way to the front door and slipped out. His evening had turned out pretty much as expected. Hayden hated him and he’d walked out early. The only ray of light was Cillian. He leaned against the hood of his sister’s car and stared up at the stars.

The house went quiet, then there was a round of applause, and someone began playing the piano. Cillian. How much had his brother paid for a private performance?

He pulled his phone out of his pocket to search up Cillian concert pianist . He wasn’t hard to find. Anthony cursed, realizing just then that he’d left without getting Cillian’s number.

Damn. That was a mistake he wasn’t used to making.

Could he go back in?

Panic fluttered in his chest. Nope. He couldn’t do that twice in one night. He had limits. And Cillian hadn’t asked for his number either. It was one thing to have a kiss at a party and another to want more. He should count himself lucky he’d gotten that kiss.

He touched his lips and smiled. First kiss since getting out. A kiss that left him wanting more. The music shifted to an arrangement of a pop song that Anthony remembered from before.

The kiss had irked his brother, so perhaps the party had been good after all.

He sat under the stars, enjoying the music, and thought that this wasn’t such a bad way to end the night. Cillian’s performance ended too soon. Next to him, his phone buzzed and vibrated. He grabbed it, almost afraid to look at the message. He’d only given his number to a handful of people, and he hoped it wasn’t a random check on where he was.

It wasn’t.

My number. Call me. Cillian.