28. Brotherly love

We arrived at Player in forty minutes, Shane greeted us just after he finish talking to one of his guys.

"Hey, didn't expect you for another hour, thirsty already?" Shane's smile widens as he strode to kiss his wife then lead us straight to the VVIP lounge.

"Dude!" Brenton gave the guy his manly hug complete with the backslap, Trisha said that they're best friends and she's usually their third wheel. Devon snorted a laugh, while Bree was already looking at the menu as if Trish was going to quiz her on it.

Ten minutes later various finger foods and glasses decorated the table, I kept on munching their chicken wings while drinking their fruity cocktails, different names for each glass.

"You're making this a cocktail tasting table?" Trisha laughed at two different glasses I've consumed eagerly. Brenton was busy talking to Shane, while Dave was giggling with Bree.

"I told the waiter to add more fruity mix, keep the alcohol to a minimum, it's just been a while for me," I shrugged and get my hands on the tasty cheese fries.

"Awhile? this is your first time out drinking with us, but I'm liking this side of you already," she clinked her glass with mine and giggled while her husband was busy laughing with Brenton and Devon.

Bree was secretly flirting with the waiter while we pretend we didn't her lame flirty jokes.

"Okay, last glass!" I clinked and savor the fruity tangy favor of my drink.

Seriously Appletini? are they making a comeback?

"...my brothers are going to pick me up later," I grinned and sipped the drink, twirling the liquid inside my mouth.

"Oh yeah, that..." Trisha pointed at the entrance and magically my brothers appear.

I was a bit tipsy. But since the wine drinking habit, I've built a higher tolerance for alcohol. And eating while drinking somehow makes me feel better, I just have to know when to stop, or else I'm going to humiliate myself.

"Damn, we haven't even discussed your bodyguard situation with Shane," Trisha whispered while I shake my head at her.

"It's okay, you can discuss that with your hubby. Just don't tell my brothers, we're keeping this quiet...shh," I giggled and finish my drink. Yup, definitely tipsy.

"Grady!" you remember my friends, and that's Shane, Trish's husband." I greeted too excitedly at Grady, while ignoring Percy, still hating the fact that he told Grady about my friendly drink thing.

"Ella, please..."

"Nope, you're such a tattletale, I expect more from you," crossing my arms, I pout at Percy making Grady smirk while taking the empty seat next to mine.

"Hey Grady"

"Trisha, how are you?"

Grady was easing a friendly conversation with everyone at the table. He's such a social butterfly, good with people, and makes people feel included in their conversation however meaningless the discussion was about.

It was half an hour later when Grady excused us and we were the first ones to leave. I didn't say anything when we're on our way back to my place, but ten minutes into the drive I can't take it anymore and question them about what Trisha's told me earlier.

"Trisha said you called, something about a stalker, did you guys put someone to watch over me?"

"What, why? do you feel like someone is watching you?" Percy was the first one who ask, looking all concerned making me pout deeper.

I laughed and told him not to joke around. "You know you put your man out there that..."

"First of all, our men are trained professionals they won't be seen, not unless they wanted you to see them and I didn't give them such instruction."

"You do have me watched."

Grady's eyes were looking at me intently. "I will have a guy watch your apartment. You should be safe until we figure out what is truly happening. When's Brice coming back? I need to talk to him."

Percy was palming his forehead in frustration as if whatever it is was too mind fucking for him to handle.

"He's taking the red-eye, he'll be in town tomorrow. I'm not promising anything, I'll tell him but he will decide on his own,"

The car pulled to a stop at the lobby. Grady shook his head from my last statement, while Percy was the first to get out of their sleek top-of-the-line Rolls Royce limo and hold the door open for me. Grady instructs their driver to park and wait for his call.

My brothers are dripping in wealth that they use their limo to pick me up. I still couldn't comprehend what they do and how they make that insane amount of money in such a short time.

"Come on, we need to talk to you." Grady hold me lightly by the arm and ushered me inside my building.

They waited for me to unlock my apartment then I walk to the fridge to get three bottled water.

"Talk," I muttered as I took my seat on the kitchen stool.

"You haven't bought a sofa?"

"It's my studio apartment, I paint and I sleep," I shrugged to Percy's judgment-like words. "You can go if you're not comfortable here," I raised my brow, challenging him like old times.

"I guess this is better than your silence months back," Percy sit on the stool to my side. "I...we do care about you, sis," he bumped his shoulder to mine playfully giving me his warmest smile.

I cleared my throat, getting back to why they're worried, "Okay, before you all go sappy on me, spill,"

Grady took a few more gulps before he sets the bottle on the counter, he gave Percy a nod before he started babbling about how they hired a PI to look into Brice.

"You what?" my anger raises straight to my chest. I hated that they're always so into my life, they're always suffocating me with their nonsense about being the protective big brothers.

"Listen, Ella, put yourself in our position, seeing your breakdown made us feel useless, we need to do something."

I could see Grady was holding himself back, his shoulder tense, his jaw clenched, and his knuckles were white on the countertop.

"Sis, just listen, please?" Percy has always been the reasonable one and I finally nodded and let Grady speak.

"Okay," he pulled out an expensive-looking business card, the title stated that it's a private security but the feel of the card was expensive and the letterings were bold and manly.

I shook my head looking at them, "...you're being duped, they're probably cashing out a great deal of money from both of you. I'm fine, Brice stalker issue was years ago. Just get them off my back, they're not that subtle,"

"These people live off the grid, whoever you're seeing are not them." Grady looked annoyed, "we're having you watch, just let us do this, while we're trying..."

"There's something you're not telling me, is there?" I look at Grady but got nothing, then I looked at Percy.

"Brice's case was not solved, the killer is still out there."

"He told me that, but it's been years the killer might be dead, hit by a bus, struck by lightning, maybe even choke to death? look, maybe the murder was incidental, it freak out the killer and whoever did it off himself, or herself." I shrugged and try to keep everyone calm. I was tired, still a bit tipsy, I really need them gone.

"Either way we're not letting you unguarded," Grady said stubbornly.

Finishing off my water I sighed with exaggeration. "You guys, need to find yourself a woman,"

And just like on cue Jacqueline burst into my apartment looking like a million-dollar trophy wife with her sexy black off-the-shoulder designer evening dress, holding her diamond-encrusted clutch and strolling in the most ridiculously sexy looking fuck me heels with her fiery red nails painted on her toes. Her other hand was holding her white faux fur coat that blended the look as if she's the first lady, not the hustling, sex-craved, attention-seeking sugar baby.

"Ella, oh my, I didn't know your sexy brothers are here," she gave her flirtatious wink but then give me her teardrop simple yet luxurious-looking diamond necklace, "hurry, he's limo will be downstairs in like five minutes," she giggled and lower herself down for me to put her necklace on.

I could feel the hot stare from Percy burrowing through my back, and definitely see Grady's jaw move and knuckles turn white on the edge of the counter.

Interesting.

Pretending to have a hard time clasping her necklace I look back at Percy for help, but then Grady gave me a look and I smirked and gave him the necklace.

"Sorry babe, I've just gone back from a cocktail tasting at Player, here, Grady will help you out," I winked at her knowing she was already mentally undressing my brothers' wallet, scanning their expensive wristwatch and the rest I really don't even want to know.

At least Jacqueline can help keep my brothers busy and leave me alone. Brice will be here soon and I miss him.

The stare from Jacqueline brought me back from my thoughts of Brice as Grady managed to clasp the diamond necklace onto her slender beautiful neckline.

"Your date should pick you up at your doorstep, you shouldn't be meeting any man downstairs for a date."

"Wow, daddy, thank you for helping me out, but my date is running late and I'm being practical, and some of us don't live in the fifties." She turned around to face Grady inches from his face, her signature seductive smile plastered sexily on her flawless beautiful face.

I almost break out a burst of laughter when Grady was speechless, but he snapped me a look, and Percy shook his head at me.

"Okay sis, we're going to go before he explodes, I'll call you, okay? I love you, we love you, Ella, just let us do this." Percy hugged me before he grab Grady by his biceps and forces him away from the staring contest that he was having with Jacqueline.

My brothers were finally gone when Jacqueline fans herself making me finally break a burst of laughter.

"Ella, oh my...he can be my daddy, wait...no, they can both tell me what to do,"

"Ew... seriously Jacqueline, they're my brothers! you need..."

But she was gone before I finish my words, leaving me alone in my apartment.

Well, at least they're gone.

I smiled and locked my doors, my mind was at ease as I get undressed and took a shower before settling in on the bed and waiting for Brice to call.