“I’m not in a huff.”

“You are,” he said, pointing his finger into my shoulder. “You’re all in a tizzy because I wondered what Lee sees in you, but you didn’t wait to let me finish. I think it’s the hair. He’s always had a thing for gingers, though his last girlfriend, Tammy, had a dye job, that weird plum colour.”

His mention of an ex-girlfriend caught my interest, and I slid my gaze to him.

Trevor’s grin widened. “Oh, now she’s curious.”

“Shut up.”

He nudged me. “All ya gotta do is ask, Constable. They don’t call me ‘old blabbermouth’ for nothing.”

I gave him a tiny smile. There was something about Trevor that was so playful and child-like that I couldn’t seem to help being charmed by him, even if he had just broken several laws in the space of about three minutes. I was off duty, after all.

“So, tell me, then,” I urged him.

“What do you want to know?”

“How long have they been broken up?”

“About six months. Lee called it quits when she started asking for too much stuff, wanted him to buy her a house, a new car. I mean, the brazen-faced cheek of it!” he exclaimed, and I laughed. “Seriously, though, Tammy wasn’t too bright, didn’t realise that the minute you start flashing the cash, people begin to take notice.” Trevor eyed me meaningfully, and I didn’t need him to explain further. My gut twisted as I was given yet more evidence of Lee and his family’s criminality. “Anyway, Lee’s been all ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma’am’ ever since. Well, until you came on the scene, that is.”

“I’m not sure you should be telling me this.”

“What you gonna do, arrest me?” he asked jokingly, though there was a bite to his words. He still hadn’t forgiven me for Liam, not by a long shot.

“Believe it or not, I only want what’s best for you and your brothers, and though it goes completely against everything I stand for, I care a great deal for Lee, more than I should.”

Trevor eyed me, a quiet descending between us. I turned my head and stared out the window at all the blackness whizzing by.

The silence was only broken when Trevor asked cheekily, “So, does this mean I can start calling you sis?”

I shook my head at him, unable to hold back a chuckle. “Piss off.”

At the next stop we got off, chatting on the walk to the venue where Reya was performing, and, surprisingly, Trevor bought me a drink when we got there. It was a couple of minutes before she was supposed to be on stage, and my unlikely companion was on his phone again. It was starting to irritate me.

“Who are you texting so furiously?” I asked.

Trevor chuckled. “I’ve never heard texting described as furious before. Do my fingers look angry or something?”

“Answer the question.”

“It’s Lee. He wanted to know where we are.”

“Oh?”

“He also told me he’d break my balls if I try coming on to you. I told him you weren’t my type.”

“My disappointment is palpable,” I deadpanned.

Trevor held his phone up to snap a picture. “Say cheese.”

“What are you doing?”

“Lee asked for a pic,” he answered simply, focusing on his phone. “He says he likes your dress. Wants to know what you’re all dolled up for.”

“Tell him it’s because I’m meeting a man,” I replied sassily.

Trevor widened his gaze but continued tapping on his phone. “If you say so.”

I sipped on my drink and waited for Lee’s response. Trevor chuckled. “He says he almost forgot you two had a booty call set for tonight, but he appreciates your effort.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Sure.”

“It is,” I exclaimed. “Anything that went on between me and your brother is over.”

“Well, alrighty, then. So, what’s on tonight? Anything good?”

“Reya’s performing. Remember my friend you met at the nightclub?”

“Chesty Laroo? No shit.”

“If you call her that to her face, I’ll punch you in the testicles.”

Trevor threw his hands in the air. “Hey, ease up. Though it might surprise you to discover, she’s not my type, either. I just said all that stuff about her the other night to piss you off.”

“Are you gay?”

“Nooooo.”

“Well, you seemed to like her at the club.”

“That’s because I’m a shameless flirt,” he said, batting his long lashes. I had to admit, they were pretty enviable. “I can’t help it. Don’t get me wrong, I’d give her a go for a night, but I’m not sure I’d be a returning customer, if you get me.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“I’m just honest. People can’t handle honesty these days. But anyway, I was talking to her because I have a gig I think she’ll be good for.”

“What kind of gig?”

“A ‘none of your bidniz’ kind of gig.”

I levelled him with a deathly stare. “Whatever you’re up to, don’t you dare even think about involving my friend. Reya’s had a rough enough time of it already.”

“Oh, yeah, what happened to her?”

Lifting my martini glass, I threw his own line back at him. “None of your bidniz.”