One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

Author:Rebecca Zanetti [Zanetti, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

Alana

I settle in with my third martini in the slinky bar and face my cousins, curious about them. Nico appears relaxed for once after having taken off his jacket, and he seems to be enjoying his Skrewball whiskey. The choice both surprises and amuses me.

He’s the one who insisted we all go for drinks.

Scarlett is busy fending off free drinks from tech guys while sipping on a cosmopolitan, and Quinlan is drinking a bourbon, with his jacket hanging off his chair and his sleeves rolled up. He’s handsome in a classic Italian way, and his gaze scans the area, as if looking for threats. “We weren’t expecting the call to join Aquarius today,” he says.

“How do you feel about that?” I ask. He was close with my brother, but I don’t know this guy.

“I don’t know or really trust you or your father,” he admits.

“I like my job at Aquarius as a computer programmer, and taking more responsibility for tech is a challenge I might welcome.”

I appreciate his honesty. “Nico and I don’t know you, either. However, it would be great if all of you could combine to help charge the crystals once in a while.”

He looks at me, his gaze appraising. “I bet you do get tired.”

Scarlett taps the table with a red nail. “I never really thought about it.”

“Most people don’t.” Yet another thing Thorn and I have in common, and he doesn’t even know it. Yeah, I feel a little vindicated that he assumed there isn’t more to know about me than what everyone sees onscreen.

Scarlett snorts. “I’ve tried to charge crystals before and it’s exhausting.”

“Me too,” Nico adds, motioning to the waitress to bring another round. She has to be in her midforties, and he’s flirting with her with all he’s worth. She’s batting her eyes right back. “Alana, I’ve never seen you stand up to your father like that before. I was impressed.”

“As was I,” Quinlan says.

Scarlett shrugs, apparently bored. “Why don’t you stand up to your father?”

I smile. “This is my first week on the board of directors. Before that, my job was charging the crystals and posting continually.” I do like being the face of Aquarius and directing its focus.

“You have almost six million followers,” she says, the sound slightly unwilling. Does she want me to be a bonehead, or is she seeing more to me and isn’t sure what to make of it? Not that I care what my cousins think.

“It’s necessary,” I admit. “We’re in trouble because of my absence the last few days, but I’m building on viewer curiosity fast.”

Quinlan downs the rest of his glass. “I saw. You’re obviously not afraid of Thorn Beathach.”

My stomach clenches because that is not a true statement. I’d be an idiot not to fear Thorn.

Scarlett rears up. “Anybody who resorts to kidnapping deserves all the angst we can bring him.”

Girl power, huh?

“I agree,” I say, my face heating. I wonder where he is right now. I know that he’s seen my posts and I can’t imagine he appreciated them.

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