Page 48

“Stop by my office when you get here.”

Royce ends the call, leaving his demand not up for discussion.

Scrolling through the list of numbers that are new to my email, I bypass every contact that means nothing until I find hers.

Adding her contact to my phone, I hover over the number. Finding a picture of her I love, I edit it into the contact photo and add a green heart by her name. Pressing the favorites star, her contact travels to the top of the list, exactly where it should be.

“Jett, nice to see you, bud.”

Royce’s head of security yanks me in for a hug. The force slaps our large chests together like cemented bricks.

The line to get into Private Landing is down the street, like always. Seeing how many people are here, how many women at that, would’ve sparked a fire in me this time two years ago.

I would’ve even picked a few from it, adding them to my VIP list.

But now, in a sea full of women, Fia’s the only one who would ever make me swim to the surface.

“How’ve you been? The boss keeping you busy?” I ask, shoving my hand into the pockets of my jeans.

My brother runs his staff like mules. I’m shocked to even see a smile on Mike’s face, but he is talking to me.

“You know how it gets.” A light laugh echoes his speech, but the creases at the corners of his eyes tell a different story.

With a slap on his shoulder, I give him a knowing look.

“I’m going to head up to see him before I get my night started. Keep an eye out for any showstoppers; you know what I like.”

Setting him up for failure, I brush past him in two large strides. There will only be one showstopper at Private Landing tonight.

The dim glow of the club dusts under my shoes the second the door slams behind me. Maroon velvety carpet lead up a steep staircase, guiding me down a modern hallway to my brother’s office.

Careful to knock before I enter, I wait for just a moment before turning the handle. I fuck with my other brothers, but Royce Parker is not to be fucked with.

“Come in.” His deep voice ricochets even over the loud bass thumping through the walls.

“Somehow, this place gets nicer every time I’m here. I don’t know how you do it.”

White marble flooring serves as a mirror to the lacquered black desk that looks like it could be straight out of a feature in Architectural Digest.

“Bottomless hours and booze. Sit,” he demands.

A smile tilts the corner of my lips as I take his stern instruction. He’s in a good mood tonight because that was almost a joke.

“I haven’t had much time to look into what you asked me about, but I have found a few things.”

My consuming thoughts about Fia have taken away from the nagging reminder that I’ve been waiting for a word on my biological parents.

Nerves race through me, my leg bouncing.

“I was only able to locate one parent, your father.”

My stomach knots. I don’t know how to respond, so I don’t. Waiting with bated breath, Royce continues after my queued nod.

“He’s in Greenway.”

Flashes of white dot my eyes as I try to make sense of what I’m hearing.

“You’re joking— How? Do you know where?”