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They’re well matched. Same height, built about the same. Jericho’s angrier, though. But Ezekiel, in his casual manner, leans toward his brother in a way that says he’s not afraid of him.
“Relax, brother. She’s yours,” Ezekiel finally says.
“Remember it.”
A moment passes between them, and I wonder at this exchange. It’s charged, wrought with tension, and my mind wanders to Angelique’s mother.
“I never forgot it. I don’t forget much, in fact.” Ezekiel turns to me. Smiles. “What I said stands, Isabelle.”
He leaves before I have to respond, thank goodness because I have no idea what I’d say.
Jericho comes to stand behind my chair and in response, every hair on my body rises on end.
“What did he say?”
“I don’t remember.”
“No?”
I keep my eyes on the table and shake my head.
He leans down, bringing his face to the crook of my neck, sending a shudder down my spine.
“Did he touch you?” he asks, words a whisper.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” My voice is a squeak.
“Because you’re mine. Do you understand that Isabelle?”
I turn my head just enough to see his eyes.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He turns his face, closes his mouth over my pulse. When he draws away, I shiver. “Because if anyone touches you, I will cut off their hands.”
I gasp and he pulls back. I look at him, shocked at his words, at the violence of them.
“Finish eating and then go put on your bikini,” he says. “I want you at the pool.”
“He didn’t mean anything.”
“Didn’t he?” He reaches over me to snag a piece of bacon from one of the serving dishes. “You don’t know our history, Isabelle. You just stay away from him.”
“We have lemonade!” Angelique announces from around the corner and holds up a thermos.
Jericho doesn’t take his eyes from mine. “Good. I’m thirsty,” he says. He sticks the bacon into his mouth, picks up my napkin to wipe his fingers and drops it on the table before turning to his daughter and walking out of the dining room like a whole different man. Not the one who just threatened to cut off his brother’s hands. Not the one who did what he did to me last night.
The sight of it leaves me wondering which of them is the real Jericho St. James.
37
Isabelle
