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“Hey.” Without thinking, he closed the distance between them, needing to see what caused pain to flood her face. She looked a few shades paler than she had a few seconds ago. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Not Ransom.” She shook her head incredulously. “Neo Godfrey.” Her gaze sliced through him, expression murderous and terrified.
What in the actual fuck?
“Wanna explain why that makes you look like you’re going to vomit or execute me on the spot?”
She straightened, though she still looked as though she was going to be physically ill. “I think you should leave.”
“I’m here for my brother,” he ground out. “Who are you?”
“For the first time in thirteen years.” Her eyes welled, and she shook her head. “Go wait in the kitchen. I will not say what I must say to you in front of Jacob.” She turned her back and went to Jacob, murmuring to him. Neo silently moved across the room.
“I’m going to turn on a movie while I talk to this person. Everything will be okay. I’ll never let anyone harm you.” She ran her hand over his dark hair. The action was so nurturing, so maternal a brush of envy stroked through him. Never, not once had he received the caring touch of a mother figure. He was grateful to this woman, whoever she was, for treating Jacob with tenderness. He’d known Jacob had significant medical issues, but he hadn’t thought much about what that meant. His only focus had been getting to his brother. Now, standing mere feet from him, there was a pang in his heart. Life could be so unfair. He might not know Jacob, but he was still grieving for his brother. He should know the feel of his sneakers pounding on the pavement as he played with friends. Should know the freedom of crossing the room to get a toy he wanted. He was so small, muscles stiff, body leaning slightly toward the right. There was a bib around his neck and a pillow supporting his head.
“I’d never harm my own flesh and blood.” He stalked forward, hands at his sides, doing his best not to look imposing, which was damn tough at six feet six inches. “Jacob.” He sank to the floor beside the boy’s wheelchair. He wasn’t exactly sure how Jacob communicated, but he figured he’d want to be treated like anyone else his age. “I always wanted a brother, and it guts me that for the past thirteen years, I’ve had one who I knew nothing about. I’m so sorry. So incredibly sorry.” There was a burn behind his lids, and Jacob turned his head to study him. “If I had known, I’d never have left you with our mother. I would’ve wanted you with me. Jacob, I’m Neo. I’m your brother.”
Green eyes, so much like his own, lit with interest. Jacob studied his face, sizing him up. He could respect that. Then a smile broke over his face, and it shocked him more than an unexpected punch to the gut. The softness reflected in his brother’s eyes was staggering. Fucking beautiful. With one smile, the kid welcomed him and invited him in.
So much expression in one glance, in the depths of those bottle-green eyes that communicated more than words ever could. Jacob’s response encouraged him to continue. “I don’t know who this lady is pulling out all the stops to make you laugh, to care for you, but I hope she knows I’m grateful.” He glanced up from his crouch on the floor to find her staring at him. Another blow to the gut. His lungs were stripped of oxygen. Unlike Jacob, there was no acceptance on her face, but fuck if it wasn’t the most gorgeous face he’d ever seen. For some inexplicable reason, he wanted her to want to know him, too.
“I’ll speak to you in the kitchen.” The woman gestured toward the hallway, and Jacob chuckled—a laugh that came from deep in his belly and made him want to grin ear to ear.
“You think it’s funny when she’s bossy? Or maybe it’s because you know she’s gonna give me an ass-kicking.” More giggles. Something warm and soft spread in his chest.
She stomped into the other room, muttering about using curse words in front of a teenager.
“Okay, Jacob, be right back. Now that I know you exist, I’ll always come back. Always.” He stalked into the other room, noticing a pile of boxes in the hall in various stages of being shipped out. Jacob’s nurse must have an online business or a side hustle of some sort. The apartment was tiny, so it didn’t take long to find the proportionately small kitchen.
The woman had a kettle on the stove, and her back turned to him. He tried not to notice how well she filled out those yoga pants, but his gaze kept drawing down at all the perfection in front of him.
He cleared his throat, and she spun around. “You know my name, but I still don’t know yours.”
She glanced away as though contemplating how much to tell him. Working for his mother couldn’t have been easy, and that alone gave him patience. “Brynn Yarrow. I’ve been your brother’s nurse for the past five years.”
“I owe you a debt that can never be repaid. When I tell you I didn’t know of his existence, I swear it on everything I am. It guts me he’s been displaced because of our mother’s irresponsibility. That he had to move out of the manor.”
Brynn tilted her head. “We were never in the manor.” Her back was against the cheap laminate counter.
“Come again?” His gut twisted and he took a step closer.
She straightened, pushing her shoulders back. “We were in the carriage house.”
“You’re telling me that bitch put her own son outside the manor?” He clenched and unclenched his hands.
“She was constantly entertaining.” Brynn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Trust me when I tell you we preferred to be away from the parties and visitors. I didn’t think it was safe for Jacob with people waltzing in and out at all hours of the night.”
“And that’s exactly the kind of statement a mother should make, yet I guarantee the thought never crossed her mind. She was never any kind of mother.” No wonder Brynn looked like she’d swallowed acid when she’d placed him. Soon she’d know the kind of man he was. He may not have much capacity for emotion or warmth, but he lived by a moral code. He was a man who didn’t break promises. One who was honorable. He’d have to earn her trust, and rightfully so after she’d had to work for his cold, spoiled mother. “Safe or not, it was wrong not to have you and Jacob in the house. And then the estate sells to pay her debts, and she moves you into this shithole apartment.” He shook his head. They’d be out of here this evening if he had his way. “This neighborhood is not safe. The building completely unsecured. The fire detector is out of order in the corridor. Everything about this makes me sick to my stomach.” Brynn’s cheeks flamed, and he instantly wished he could rephrase his statement.
The expression on her face was one of shame. This couldn’t be her apartment, could it? He needed to sort this cluster and fast, without insulting the angel who’d been caring for his brother. Especially if he was going to convince her to come back with him to Virginia.
Chapter Two
Brynn turned to fix her tea. The steam whistling through the kettle was a blessed distraction from the shame coursing through her, no matter how she tried to shove it down. Wealthy she was not, but she’d done her best with the circumstances she’d been given. Finding an affordable apartment once Mrs. Godfrey sold the house and disappeared hadn’t been easy. There were no illusions that this place was a wholesome environment for Jacob to grow up in, but she ignored that in exchange for a roof over their heads. This place was all she could afford with her savings. Paychecks had stopped months ago, but there was no way she’d leave Jacob, who was more son than patient. Now it was all for nothing because his brother was filling up the kitchen, claiming to want to be in his life. Her temples throbbed, and the urge to take Jacob and run was overwhelming.
“Brynn.” For the first time since entering the apartment, Neo sounded unsure. Not once had his voice sounded uncertain since he’d stepped into the residence. Not when he’d barged in and said he was here for his brother. Not when he’d knelt down and apologized to Jacob with pain and regret radiating in his eyes. Now, though, he’d sensed her humiliation. She’d never been someone who could hide behind a poker face. “Shit. Please talk to me. Explain what’s been going on.”
She busied herself, reaching into the cabinet for tea bags and placing them in mugs. The kettle was heavy in her trembling hands. Fragrant steam hit the air. Lemon. Lavender. Earth. Breathe. She turned with one mug and found Neo standing right behind her. Breathing was difficult with him towering over her, filling her space and nostrils with his crisp, clean scent. His hard stare softened as he looked from the ceramic cup and then at her before surprise washed over his face. Some of the tension stiffening her shoulders ebbed. Neo had the same mother as Jacob did. That likely meant he hadn’t received much care unless a nanny or other caretaker had been part of his life.
