Page 99 of Nothing to Win

“Oh,” she said, panic rising within as she stood up.“Uh, thank you for the drink.”

Her retreat was thwarted by Brogan catching her wrist as he stood.

“Don’t apologize for us,” he said, as he had before.“Didn’t I teach you not to be ashamed of us?”

“There is no us,” she whispered, twisting her hand out of his grip.She wanted to flee, would, but something had to be said first.“Don’t lose sight of why you’re here.Everett likes harmony.Play nice.”

“With your brother?”

Touching him was instinct.Hopefully no one would notice her palm on his chest.

“Bram will try to provoke you, is trying to provoke you, because it will hurt you.Don’t be stupid, Mister, use your head.”His attention drifted, she could almost feel her family bearing down on them and tugged his jacket.“Look at me, Brogan.”It was probably her tone that dropped his eyes to hers.Stern wasn’t her natural state, still, she gave it a shot.“Use your goddamn head.”After looking into him for another beat, she blinked around to Julius.“Do not let him screw this up.”

Spinning around, she went to her brother and father as fast as she could, meeting them fifteen feet away, putting a hand on each of them.

“Where are you going?”she asked them both.

“That fucker—”

“Is nothing to do with you, Bram,” she said.“If you make a scene, you’ll just look like an idiot.You don’t want to confirm the room’s suspicions about you, do you?”

She didn’t even care if her brother was offended and mocked his expression of surprise by copying it.

“Gianna,” her father berated.

“I’m going to bed,” she said without waiting to hear what else he had to say.

Bram grabbed her upper arm.“What about Gault?”

Dropping her head to the side, she peered up at her brother.“What about him?”she asked and stepped back to fold her arms.“I’ve had a few drinks, but I’m not drunk enough to go to bed with a man I only met today, if that’s what you were hoping.”She wasn’t sure he was listening, because his focus ascended in increments until he was glaring over her head.No need to check the identity of his disgust’s target.“You know, I’m contrary enough that I might take your revulsion as a challenge, big brother.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means if you keep looking at my ex-boyfriend that way, I might be inclined to get him drunk and take advantage.Think that would cause a stir around here?Would your buddy Gault like that?”

“I told him to stay away from you,” Bram barked.

“That’s not up to you.”She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder in Brogan’s direction.“You want me to turn around and offer myself to him?”

“You wouldn’t!”

“Yes, I would,” she said, tired of her brother’s attitude.He’d been so smug all day and she’d had about enough of it.“I can just shout it out.You think any of these hundred or so people will notice if I invite him to my room for sex?I wouldn’t have to shout that loud.You think Everett would like that?What would be worse for you, Bram?Brogan saying yes or publicly rejecting me?Hmm?Either way it would be a good show, wouldn’t it?”

“You’ve screwed up this family enough already.You better be damn ready to do whatever Gault wants if it gets us this deal,” Bram growled.

“Enough the two of you, for crissakes,” her father said.“Gia go to your damn bed, we’ll talk to Gault.Be up early tomorrow, have breakfast with him.”

“I have plans,” she said.

Her father bent to get closer.“I don’t give a damn if it’s your wedding day, you’re going to have breakfast with Gault in his private suite.Do not forget what’s riding on this.”

For her or for them?

Holding onto her frustration, she nodded.“Fine,” she said.“Goodnight.”

Her father pushed her toward the door.“Goodnight.”

After a few paces, instinct prompted her to glance over her shoulder.Oblivious, her family whispered to each other, but it wasn’t them she sought.Brogan, he was the one, and he was looking straight at her.Julius was at his side, not that he noticed.Brogan was fixated on her.