Free Game Of Risk (Risqué #3) by Scarlett Finn Page A

dealing with, I thought that helping him out with his sister was the least I could do.’
    ‘Yeah and that's cool,’ Blaser said. ‘You're right, we do owe him and you know that Colt and I will do whatever it takes to repay the debt we owe him.’
    ‘Do I hear a but?’
    ‘Taking her to Mom was a bit extreme.’
    ‘Not the way I see it,’ Ruger said, pushing his bottle aside to rest his forearms on the bar. ‘I had to take her somewhere and Suzette is still in my apartment.’
    ‘That’s another of your good deeds that’s blown up in your face. I don’t think she’s ever moving out of there.’
    ‘You could talk to her.’
    ‘Oh no, that’s your mess. All your mess,’ Blaser said. ‘I’m not kicking Suzie out. She’s paying rent on time every month and you won’t hear me arguing with that.’
    Blaser did have enough on his plate. He owned and managed not only the strip club but an auto garage too. He also managed the apartment complex where he lived, where Suzette lived in Ruger's apartment. Ruger had made the offer to let Suzette stay in his place as a temporary solution and he’d done it under heightened circumstances. Being a nice guy wasn’t meant to cost him his home.
    ‘Are Dax and Ivy home?’ They lived in the same apartment complex.
    Blaser nodded as he wiped down the bar. ‘Got in last night and they’re not the sort of couple to let you crash at their place either.’
    ‘What about Bri? You could talk to her.’
    ‘About what? She and Suzette aren’t that close, if you want someone to talk Suzette into moving out then Lyssa’s your girl.’
    ‘No, you could talk to Bri about staying with you until this is over. Come on, bro, I need to stash Layla somewhere. She can't stay with Mom indefinitely.’
    ‘I’d love to have Bri in my place full-time,’ Blaser said. ‘But you know what Lyssa says about rushing her.’
    The captivity that Bri had endured after being taken by Victor’s gang had traumatised her. Rather it was the rape that she had been subjected to which had made her wary, and Ruger understood that. His brother had been patient with the woman he loved and while everyone knew that they were having sex, Bri still wasn’t quite ready to integrate her life with Blaser’s round-the-clock.
    Ruger didn’t know what else to suggest. All ten apartments in the complex that Blaser managed were one bedroom, so he couldn’t even ask anyone to put Layla up because there was no room for a houseguest.
    ‘You know that Mom won’t complain,’ Blaser said, tossing a bar towel over his shoulder. ‘She’ll look after Layla better than any of the rest of us could. She’ll have the girl fed and pampered every hour of the day.’
    ‘I’m not sure if it’s Layla I’m worried about or Mom.’
    ‘Mom? Why would you worry about her?’
    ‘Layla likes to speak her mind and she doesn’t pull her punches.’
    Blaser’s lips quirked. ‘Is that so?’
    ‘Yeah,’ Ruger said, taking a deep breath and picking at the label on his bottle. ‘She just opens her mouth and lets out the sass, and she’s not shy about telling someone when they’re out of line. She voices her opinion about what Jansen’s doing and she calls me out on my behaviour too, like she has the right to comment on our lives.
    ‘Last night, we were in this motel, and she gave me grief because I made a stupid joke about porn. I mean, come on, it was a joke, and it’s not like she doesn’t have enough sass to go around. The girl is really quick-witted and makes fun of me, but I don’t think she likes it when I give it back to her and—‘
    Lifting his focus from the bar, Ruger was surprised to see Blaser rubbing a hand over his mouth, doing a terrible job of hiding his amusement. ‘What’s the matter with you?’ Ruger asked.
    ‘Nothing,’ Blaser said, quickly clearing his face. ‘I guess you’ll have to stay with Mom while this is going on too.’
    ‘Stay with Mom? No way, I couldn’t move back in