AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m a fucking bastard, but I had one purpose—protecting my baby sister.
And I just screwed it up with flying colors.
“Listen, T, it’s not…”
“I knew it,” she says in a calm tone.
“Knew what?”
“You’re hiding things from me.”
“I’m not hiding anything. It’s just work. There’s really nothing you should worry about.”
“But it’s affecting you. I can see the hardness forming on your face, Knox.”
“I’m fine.”
“I said that, too, and we both know how that ended up.”
“I’m a criminal defense attorney, T. I’ve handled worse than this.”
“Worse, yes, but not that exact subject.”
“Didn’t you tell me to defend those who are as defenseless as we were?”
“Not if it triggers you, not if it takes away your humanity and steals you from me.”
“Who’s stealing who?” a male voice calls from her end before Ronan, her husband, appears by her side. He’s shirtless and carrying a half-naked Remington in his arms. They’re both wearing towels and their hair is wet. Is that shampoo on Remi’s head?
“Daddy…” My nephew claps, then points at me. “Uncle Nokth…”
That’s what I am to my three-year-old nephew—a gibberish of consonants and vowels.
“Hey, there, buddy.” I smile at him, thankful for their interruption. If they hadn’t shown up, the conversation with Teal would’ve veered into disastrous territory.
“Hey, Uncle Nokth!” He claps again. “Daddy made me a bath.”
“That’s right. Who’s your favorite?” Ronan gives him a fist and he bumps it, giggling uncontrollably.
“Daddy!”
“Okay, go change now and let me talk to your uncle Knox.” Teal kisses her son’s cheek.
“Not until we clear this whole thing up.” Ronan leans forward. He passed almost all of his genes to Remi, from the brown eye color to the straight aristocratic nose that he himself inherited from his earl father. “Are you going to steal my wife, Knox? Because Remi and I won’t allow it.”
“Won’t allow it,” Remi repeats, mimicking his father’s frown.
“No way. In fact, I have work to do, so you can take her back.”
“Knox, don’t you dare!” Teal objects.
“Bye, Remi.”
“Bye, Uncle Nokth!!”
My smile drops as soon as I disconnect.
I attempt to get my head occupied with work, but after an hour or so of reading a case file, it’s impossible to ward off the tension that’s building in my shoulders.
