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I thought about him all day no matter how I tried to distract myself. I barely slept because when I did, I dreamed of him. After two weeks without him, I was strung out, drinking too much, sleeping too little, and fueling myself with coffee and anger.
I was contemplating all the people I needed to yell at before the morning was up when my father summoned me, saying we needed to talk. Great. Another lecture. Just what I needed. Part of me wanted to walk away and leave all the responsibilities weighing on me behind.
When I reached my parents’ house, I noted Lance’s car in the driveway and frowned. Maybe I wasn’t in for a lecture after all. Maybe this was a meeting about some new problem that had arisen, but if that were the case, I would already know about it.
Antoine greeted me, took my coat, and told me my father was waiting in his office. He wasn’t alone. Lance was there along with Corbin and Marjorie. This was a goddamned intervention. I should have seen it coming.
“I know what you’re trying to do here, but I’m not going to—”
“Sit down, son,” my father growled. “Don’t speak again until I say it’s your turn.”
I clenched my fists and pressed my lips together, but I did as he said.
“I’m tired of you walking around here looking like you’ve lost everything to your worst enemy. We beat the Landrys—as I knew we would—but you’d never know it by the way you’re acting. I’m well aware of how much we spoiled Corbin”—my youngest brother huffed, but our father waved him off—“but you’ve never acted like such a brat.”
His words felt like slaps.
“Pop, I—”
“I’m not finished. I know you have your reasons for feeling like you do, but you’re not doing a damn thing about it, and we’re all tired of you taking your anger out on us. I gave you the position you’re in because I thought you knew how to lead, but you’re neglecting everything.”
I was hurt by his accusation but also furious. “I’ve been working all day and most of the night. I haven’t been neglecting any—”
“You’re going through the motions, but all you’re doing is sending out orders, ones you haven’t even thought through. You’re not making anyone want to follow you, not since the night with the Landrys.”
Marjorie interrupted then. “Remington, darling, we’re tired of seeing you so hurt and sad.”
“Just go fucking talk to him,” Lance said.
Marjorie narrowed her eyes at him. “Language.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He attempted to look contrite, but Tony jumped on his shoulder and chattered as if in agreement with what he’d said.
I was not taking relationship advice from a monkey.
Corbin met my gaze, and I couldn’t remember him ever looking so serious.
“Like I told you that night I hung out with him. He cares about you.”
I slammed my hand down on the arm of my chair. “If he cares about me, then why the fuck did he leave?”
“Do not use that language in front of Marjorie,” my father barked.
I jumped and looked at her. “Excuse me.”
“That’s all right.”
“Henri left because he heard what we said, not because he doesn’t care,” Lance said.
“He wouldn’t listen to an explanation.”
“Would you have?” Corbin asked. “If you were mad and hurt and feeling vulnerable, would you listen?”
“Are you listening now?” Lance asked.
They were coming for me like a pack of angry wolves. I could stand up to wolves. I’d stood up to men who were far more dangerous, but this was my family, the people who knew me best, the people I shared my secrets with. I’d thought I could share secrets with Henri. I shared more with him than I had with my brothers, but he’d walked away.
Marjorie laid a hand on my knee. “He needs you.”
“Go tell him. Make him listen,” Corbin insisted.
The rest of them nodded.
Shit. They were right. I was miserable without him, and that wasn’t going to change. I always went after what I wanted. Why should this be any different? I would give him a choice about coming back with me, but I wasn’t going to give him a choice about listening. Not anymore. “All right. I’ll go see him.”
“Now?” Corbin asked. When did he get so demanding? Maybe I really hadn’t realized how much he’d grown up.
“Tonight. He’s got a temp job at a florist today.”
“How do you know that?” Lance had an obnoxious smirk on his face.
“Because I’ve had someone following him to make sure he was safe and that he didn’t…” I stopped. I’d never told them the real story of how we’d met, and I wasn’t going to do that now. If Henri wanted to tell them one day, that was fine, but it was his story to tell.
“Tonight then,” Pop said. “As soon as he’s finished with work.”
