The Girl With Diamonds (Midtown Brotherhood Book 2) Read Free

zone spreading to the practice facility.”
    Austin sat down on the edge of his bed, trying to rein in the panic and unease that hid behind the massive headache. “I need to go to the bar. I have to find that girl.”
    “Look—I know this is hard on your ego.”
    “It isn’t about my damn ego. She could have that same picture you took. I don’t want to go back to us spending our mornings double checking the tabloids before we leave the house.”
    Henrik winced. The memories of his wild child days were still too close to home.
    “And what if we find her? What if someone knows her name? What then, Austin?”
    “I don’t know.” He threw his hands out. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.”
    Henrik walked over and sat down on the bed beside him, his elbows on his knees. He stared at the wall, his teeth running over his bottom lip. “Okay.”
    “Okay?”
    Henrik sighed, rubbing his hands down his face. “How can I tell you no? You carried me home from the bar so many times I can’t count. If it’ll make you feel better to ask around, then we will.”
    Austin nodded. “Thanks.”
    Henrik stood and walked toward the door. “At least sleep off your hangover first. I’m not carrying your wobbly ass to the bar.”
    Austin held up his hand. “Hey—wait a second.”
    Henrik stopped and leaned against the doorframe.
    Austin shot him his best pleading look. “Let’s not tell my sister about this. I don’t want her to worry.”
    “Sure.” Henrik nodded and took a step out the door, but then he stopped. “Before you pass out again, you might want to consider a shower. You’re making your entire apartment smell like tequila and stupid.”
    Austin pulled himself to his feet. “It must smell familiar.”
    Henrik smiled. The tension started to slowly fade, but the heartache and memories of what could happen would never go away. Not now. This kind of mistake could change his whole world.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
     
    MAGNOLIA’S BAD DAY
     
    Coffee stain on the boob of her dress shirt. A six inch run on the knee of her favorite tights. If that wasn’t enough, Magnolia dropped her last contact into the black hole of her bathroom floor. The roar of maddening annoyance that erupted out of her would have brought a grizzly bear to its knees.
    She really shouldn’t have laughed at Troy for dropping that plate of doughnuts during the intern luncheon, because karma was kicking her ass today.
    Alternating between cursing and screaming like a pissed off banshee, Magnolia removed her other contact and grabbed her glasses from the shelf. Of all the days for her luck to go south, it had to be the first day of her interview rotation. The one day she needed to look presentable, and at least appear as if she had her shit together, she would show up a total hot mess.
    She stuck a blueberry bagel in her mouth, then ripped off the ruined tights. She replaced them with a pair of polka dotted pantyhose. Not exactly professional. The design had a sex appeal that wasn’t appropriate for an on-air interview. She paired them with a plain black pencil skirt, and exchanged her coffee soaked shirt for a simple midnight sweater in hope of toning it down.
    Magnolia took a quick glance in the mirror. If she was going to a funeral at a night club, she totally nailed it.
    She snatched the antique diamond necklace her grandmother had given her from the tiny, pink velvet jewelry box on her night stand as the timer on her cell buzzed. It was her safety net to make sure she left on schedule. The subway to Madison Square Garden would be packed tonight. Any night the Rangers played sent the city into chaos. It was imperative she leave on time. She put her necklace on, stuffed her bagel back in her mouth, grabbed her backpack, and hit the door running.
    Her bare feet hit the cold concrete outside her door. Shoes. She actually forgot her shoes. That was a first. Her heels lay in wait inside her backpack, but she needed something more