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His hand comes to the small of my back and a pleasant shiver runs through me. I like him touching me. I wonder if he wants to pick me up again, but he can’t with Zeke there.
The paving slabs aren’t too harsh on my feet anyway, so I manage to make it to Zeke’s path without incident.
Zeke unlocks the front door and steps inside the hallway. He waits for Ryan to make sure we’re safely inside before he dismisses him.
Ryan gives me his eyes again. “I’m glad you’re okay, Miss Fraser,” he says, his voice dropping low and soft.
“Thank you.” I watch as he leaves, before I follow my brother into their living room.
Bailey is on her feet as I enter. She throws her arms around me, hugging me close. The way she hugs me makes tears prick in my eyes. It’s the way Charlotte should embrace me, but never does.
I love Zeke’s wife.
I have from the moment they married, but right now I’m drawing on her strength, needing it to get through what happened tonight.
“Do you want a coffee? A tea?”
I shake my head. “I just want to clean up and sleep,” I say.
Zeke’s phone rings. He glances down at the screen. “I’ve got to take this. Spare room’s yours, Aurelia. Make yourself at home.”
He leaves and I turn back to Bailey.
“I’m sorry you went through this,” Bailey says. “You shouldn’t have to.” Sariah and Luke, Kane and Elena—their marriages were all arranged and worked out well.
But I don’t see myself with a sixty-year-old man.
I recently turned nineteen.
I’m not looking to be a trophy wife to anyone.
And there is the small matter of having feelings for someone else.
“She’s always been pushy, but she’s getting desperate lately. She’s worried about the blowback from Kane killing Elena’s brother-in-law.”
“The mayor’s son?”
I nod. “Clearly she thinks she can fight fire with fire.”
Bailey takes my hand in hers. “Your brothers won’t allow her to force you into anything. They needed for her to make a move before they could step in.”
“I’m tired,” I say.
“I’ve set up the room for you and laid out some of my clothes for you. They should fit.”
“Thank you.”
I head into the hallway, toward the stairs. I hear Zeke’s angry voice as I shut the door to the living room behind me.
“…fuck she is! You overstepped. She isn’t going anywhere near you or Anthony. You come for her, and we’ll have a fucking problem.”
Is he talking to Charlotte?
I close my eyes for a brief moment before continuing to the stairs. I need to get out of here. I need a second to breathe.
I pass Bailey’s daughters’ rooms and go to the spare room at the end of the landing.
As soon as the door is closed, I sag against it. People see my wealth, the posh dresses, and the perfectly put together persona and assume I’m lucky, that I have it all. They don’t see the dark underbelly of the world I exist in.
