Corbin had ridden with Pop instead of with me and Lance, but I’d have to face him soon. He was undoubtedly hoping to fully take part in this operation and likely thought he would be since he was being included in the staging meeting. I was going to have to disappoint him. I considered asking my father to deal the blow, but if I was going to be the leader, I had to be willing to dish out the good and the bad, no matter if it was my brother or my cousin or the man I was in love with.
I stopped halfway to the door of the mattress store that served as a front for us. We used the rooms in the back to conduct business.
Was I truly in love with Henri? I hated that I hadn’t seen him before leaving. I’d sent him a quick text as I left the party, and he’d sent back Stay safe and a heart emoji.
A heart. I couldn’t let myself read too much into that. I was a job for him.
Do you really believe that?
Did I dare not believe it?
“Remy. Jesus, where is your brain?” Lance shook my shoulder.
Fuck. How long had I been standing there? “I’m running through our plans.”
“No, you’re not. You’re thinking about Henri.”
I growled. “Don’t mention him again.”
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
“What did I just say?” Lance never could leave things alone when he should.
“Remington?”
“Lance, we have a war to win tonight. That’s what I’m going to focus on.”
“That’s what you’re going to focus on from now on, you mean?”
I let out a long breath. I was tired of arguing. “Yes, from now on.”
“And afterwards, we’ll go for a drink and—”
“Afterwards I’m going home.”
He laughed. “So you can fuck Henri?”
I grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yanked him toward me. “Disrespect Henri again, and I will make you pay for it.”
Lance whistled. “I knew you were falling for him.”
I didn’t say anything else. My anger had already proven me a liar. The more I protested, the more Lance would poke. I needed him tonight, and if I beat the shit out of him, he wouldn’t be able to play the role I’d chosen for him.
My phone buzzed as we arrived. I pulled it out and saw another text from Henri. The man I saw before came back. Your security chased him off, but I wanted you to know.
Fuck. Who was it? I’d confirmed Charles was dead. Clark was still clean-shaven and currently at the warehouse waiting to enact our plan with the gunrunners. Did they have a cousin who looked like them? Was it just a coincidence? At least now I knew how to keep Corbin involved.
I sent a quick message back. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.
Corbin and Pop were already at the shop, along with Niall, Giorgio, and several of my cousins. The first thing I did after entering the room we used for mission briefs was signal to Corbin that I wanted to talk to him on his own. We walked out onto the showroom floor. I hoped Lancelot was briefing everyone like I’d asked him to.
“What’s up?” Corbin asked.
“I need you to head to my house and guard Henri. There’s some man that’s been hanging around who looks disturbingly like Charles Landry.”
Corbin looked ready to punch me. “You can’t be serious. You want me to babysit? I thought you were actually going to include me this time.”
“I told you I was going to increase your role in the family business. I didn’t promise you’d be involved in this mission.”
“But this is the most important thing we’ve done in months, and I don’t get to be a part of it. You already have guards on your house. What do I have to do to prove myself to you?”
“What I just asked you to do. I trust you more than those guards, and keeping Henri safe is as important to me as taking part in the takedown of the gunrunners.”
He glared at me, looking like he might explode, then slowly, his features softened. “Wait a minute. Are you saying—”
“I’m not—”
“You like this guy. I mean, I get it. He’s cute, but since when are you ready to settle down?”
“There’s no settling down. Henri and I are enjoying each other, and I have promised him my protection.”
“So you’re blowing smoke up my ass about this being important?”
“No. Shit. Corbin, do this for me, and take it seriously, and next time, I promise I’ll give you a bigger role. Oh, and if I can wrest him away from Lance, I’m also going to send Tony with you.”
“Jesus, when is he going to learn he can’t bring that damn monkey to a fight?”
“Apparently any progress we made on that was ruined on X’s island. Tony was exactly the diversion they needed to take down the last of the attackers.”
“Fine,” Corbin said. “I’ll watch over one adorable twink and one ill-behaved monkey, and if I’m a good little boy, next time I get to play with the big boys.”
Why had my parents spoiled him so badly? I believed he was sincere in wanting to be part of what we did, but I needed to believe he could take orders and keep himself in check. “I need to know you’re taking this seriously.”
“The guy means a lot to you, but you aren’t ready to admit it. I get it, and I’ll make sure he’s safe. God knows that monkey is like Lance’s baby, so I wouldn’t dare let anything happen to him.”
“There will be guards posted outside the house as usual. I want you inside.”
“So I’m supposed to entertain him too? Should I dance and sing for him?”
“Corbin.”
“Sorry. I just…”
He looked so defeated. I wanted to tell him my hands were tied because Pop had given
