Defenseless by Corinne Michaels Read Free Book Online Page B

been easy, but together we created games to make it fun.
    “Ten bucks each time someone tells you that you look like Dad.” I try to get him to bite. I’ll make at least a grand if he takes it.
    “Five,” he counter offers. “And five each time someone tells you that you should really eat more.”
    “Done.”
    No one will ever say that to me. They don’t think women can ever be too skinny. If anything, they’ll tell me I should really start seeing their personal trainer, whom they’re probably screwing on the side.
    “Be ready to pay up, sister.”
    We enter through the double doors, and now I’m in awe. The décor is more lavish than anything she’s ever done. Crystal is everywhere. The lighting is low but catches every facet of glass in the space; the room sparkles. The tablecloths are burnt orange. It’s a far cry from her usual white and black style.
    “Holy shit,” Dominic mutters.
    “Did she hire a new party planner?”
    “Or maybe she had a lobotomy and we didn’t know?”
    “Would explain it,” I say before our mother spins and levels us both a death glare. “Nose goes,” I say with my finger on mine.
    “Brat.”
    “Loser.”
    I love my brother. He accepts me for who I am, makes me smile, and keeps me human. With him, I never have to pretend. He stalks off toward the devil incarnate as I grab a flute of champagne off a passing tray.
    “Keep these coming,” I say to the waiter. He nods with a knowing look on his face. Yup, it’s going to be an alcohol-required kind of night.
    My natural instinct is to scan the room. It’s habit, and it truly comforts me. I gain a sense of control when I know the enemy is lurking. I see a few family friends and our nosy neighbor who attends everything so she can build her case that we’re into something illegal. I love that my mother indulges it, almost provoking her to try it.
    “Charlie!” Kristy squeaks as she rushes toward me. “It’s been forever. How are you?”
    Kristy Tubb is my childhood friend. Her father Dean was an agent for twenty years and my father’s handler. Naturally, they pushed us to be friends, and it was a blessing we got along. We grew up having only each other to talk to. Our “family vacations” were always spent together in some remote place with nothing to do. We had to entertain ourselves with made-up worlds and games. Kristy suspects I’m truly a spy, but I’ll never trust anyone outside the CIA.
    “You!” I smile. “You look amazing!”
    She scoffs. “Hello! Look at you! I mean, do you eat?” My face falls. I’m not telling him about that one. She doesn’t count. “I was hoping you’d be here tonight. Is Dom here?”
    I chuckle. “I think your ship sailed, my friend.” I loop my arm in hers as we walk toward the bar. Where, of course, my brother happens to be talking to someone.
    “Not until I get one sailing trip in,” she jokes. “I’ll never lose hope on him.”
    I laugh and roll my eyes. She’s a mess. You’d think after twenty years, she’d move on. But instead, she just keeps trying. “Look who I found, Dom.”
    “If it isn’t Kristy Tiny Tubb.” Dominic slips into politician mode. I watch as his body tenses, but he uses the nickname that drives her insane. “Been a while. You look great.”
    She nods and then downs her champagne. “It’s been a long time, and I really hate that you still call me that. I’m not so tiny anymore.”
    His eyes peruse her for far longer than I’m comfortable watching. “I’ll let you two catch up,” I say a little too loudly. “Come find me when the deejay shows up!”
    “Not a chance in hell Priscilla hired a deejay.” Kristy giggles.
    “But I might have.” I tip my glass with a grin.
    I saunter off to find that waiter with the drinks. I’ll need to keep a full glass if I’m expected to stay for any period of time. Of course, Mom spots me before the nice man can refill me.
    She gives me that mom stare that pins me to the floor. If I could read