Page 48 of High

“Manny.” My face burned so hot, I wouldn’t have been shocked if it melted off. “It’s nice.”

His men had shuffled behind the chair across from me, and one cleared his throat, causing Conall to laugh.

Bringing the glass to my nose, I sniffed. Bad move. Whatever was in there smelled like something I definitely didn’t want on my tongue. It had the scent of something wicked. I held my breath and took a tiny gulp. My mouth burned. My throat burned. I coughed.

“Tequila. Figured you’d like that.”

“Why, because I’m Mexican?” I glared at him and he snickered, raising a hand, which he then let fall to his side.

“Well, yeah.”

“I don’t drink much, actually.”

He snorted and took a large swallow from his own glass. “It’s better if you just tip it in.”

Centering myself, I blew out a long breath, and he guffawed as I lifted the glass. I sputtered and coughed as the alcohol burned a hot path down my throat, all the way to my gut.

“So, I’m supposed to be pumping you for information,” Conall said casually as he went and took a seat across from me. “But that seems stupid, ’cause you’d be expecting it.”

“Excuse me?” I wheezed.

Conall shook his head and a small furrow formed between his brows. “I know you’re not stupid, or assume you wouldn’t be, with the position you’ve managed to snag for yourself. Rumor has it, no one gets Reyes.” He glanced around. “But like you want to know about this”—he danced a finger along his collar—“I admit to a certain curiosity. How’d you come to belong to the Reyes Cartel boss?”

“Belong?”

He tapped his collar and cocked his head to the side. I was a little jealous of the graceful way he moved. “You don’t belong to him?”

“Oh.” I chuckled, but it got lost in my glass as I tilted it to chase around drops at the bottom simply to give myself time to think. The alcohol had me feeling braver than I had been lately. “I do, but not the way you think… maybe? His parents raised me too, along with him and Arlo.”

Conall’s eyebrows shot upward. I was inexplicably nervous as he leaned forward and rested his glass on his knee.

“I know these high-rolling men can be devil-may-care, but I didn’t expect… you know. You’re family?” He dropped his chin and gave me a somber look. “That’s next-level kinky.” His eyes gleamed with amusement and maybe from the alcohol he’d been drinking.

I fumbled my glass, and thankfully it was empty, or I would have spilled my drink. “No! No, we’re not related. Our fathers were good friends, and when we were younger, we were close, and now….”

Conall smiled and sat back. “Ah, that’s rather touchin’.”

Nodding, I smiled, but then remembered this man was fucking someone Thio clearly thought of as his enemy. “Don’t get the wrong idea about that.”

He snorted and then laughed. “I’m likely the only person in this room who wouldn’t. I get family and circumstances outside of your control.” His mouth curved down to the side for a moment, and I worried I might have upset him somehow.

“Hey there, carnalito.” Arlo ruffled my hair from behind, and I sat up surprised as he hopped the back of the couch and landed beside me. Far too close. His cologne got stuck in my nose, sweeter than the scent Thio wore, and I didn’t like it.

I thought about reminding him of what had happened earlier today—Thio wouldn’t be happy with this—but I didn’t, not with so many ears all around us. I widened my eyes at him, but he only grinned, flashing his white teeth. He ran a hand down his short beard and his brown eyes sparkled with amusement. Same old Arlo. I shook my head.

All at once uncomfortable, I slid over until I was resting my side against the arm of the couch. I hadn’t thought much at all about how Arlo acted toward me until Thio flipped out over it.

“Can’t believe two of the most attractive people in this room don’t have a man plying them with alcohol. Hey, you,” he said to one of the waitstaff passing by with a tray of empty glasses on their shoulder. He got an unhappy look from the woman dressed in a simple black dress when he grabbed her elbow. “Can we get refills here? Bring some margaritas on the rocks. Snappy, huh?” The woman smiled, but I could tell she wanted to drop the tray on his head as she stormed toward the bar.

Conall only looked at Arlo like he was insane.

“Not sure I like…. Oh,” Conall said as the girl swept back far faster than seemed possible and handed off drinks to all of us. She snatched Arlo’s empty glass with more force than I thought was necessary, but again, I didn’t blame her. She gathered the empties from me and Conall with sympathy in her eyes.

“When did you get so rude?” I asked Arlo. “Gracias, miss,” I said to her retreating back.

He only laughed. “No one makes things easy for me these days. I try to be nice, provide pretty men with prompt service, and all I get back is sass.”

Conall smiled and shook his head, but I noticed he didn’t seem happy with Arlo there, and I didn’t blame him. Maybe I was just used to the way he acted.