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“Just stop,” he bites out, leaning forward and pinning me with a fierce glare. “You’re not going to fix me or anyone in this family. We don’t need fixing. What we need is privacy. People like you can fuck right off.”
I stifle a frustrated sigh. “If that were the case, your father wouldn’t have hired me. Clearly,he’sworried about his family.”Especially you.Of course I hold that part in. “I’m sorry you see me as a threat.”
At this, he chuffs. Was that a laugh?
“Threat? Please, little boy. I could break you without even trying.”
His cruel words cause me to tense up. Memories of Sean creep in around me, making it difficult to breathe. He always said he wanted to break me—that it’s what gets him off. My lip trembles, but I bite down on it. I refuse to let this man upset me.
“Don’t speak to me that way,” I choke out, somehow managing to lift my chin with false bravado. “I won’t let you scare me off.”
He blinks behind the mask, studying me intently. “You want me to talk? Maybe you should talk first. What makes a ‘qualified’ therapist take a job with a family like ours? Money? Curiosity?”
Desperation.
“Whether you choose to believe it or not, I care about people. Supporting others is a passion of mine. Your father approached me, Jude, not the other way around. He came to me and made a compelling offer.” At exactly the right time. “Yes, the money is good. I’m not going to lie to you about that. He’s even discussed a bonus for making headway with certain family members. But it’s not all about that. Helping people is something I deeply value.”
He doesn’t answer, so I keep babbling, deciding to give him a nugget of myself even though he doesn’t deserve it.
“I do this job because I wish someone had helped me back when I was a child. Helped my dad with his alcoholism.” I absently rub at my wrist that used to forever be bruised from when Dad would snatch me up by it. “Let me try and help you. Please.”
The room falls silent and my skin prickles with unease. Then, slowly, Jude rises to his feet, towering over me. He’s much bigger than my father ever was. It’s true what he’d said moments ago. He could break me without trying. I’m no match for the godlike man.
But I can help.
I want to help.
“I’m going to find out who youreallyare, Prince,” Jude murmurs, voice gritty but soft. “And then you’ll be out of here. Don’t get too comfortable.”
With those words, he turns on his heel and stalks out of the room. The chilly atmosphere warms several degrees now that he’s no longer here. I glance at the clock and sigh. He lasted a whole ten minutes. Since I won’t see Spencer until after lunch, I head back over to my room at Callum’s.
Nathan and Jamie are nowhere to be found. Dempsey and Gemma are at school. Rather than hunting Nathan down to say goodbye, I slip out without a word. The air is chilly outside and whips at my face. I squint against the sunshine, looking for any sign of Jude. Even though his house is quite a jaunty walk, he’s already disappeared, which means he might’ve run there.
The thought of big, scary Jude running away from little ol’ me is comical. I find myself grinning despite the stressful meeting I just had. Once I make my way into Callum’s house, my smile widens to see my cat taking up residence in Willa’s lap.
“Oh, hey,” Willa chirps with a sheepish smile. “He was whining to be let out of your room. I felt bad.” She bites on her bottom lip as her cheeks turn pink. “I hope that was okay.”
Willa is different than anyone in this family. She’s quiet and sweet. I already like her the best of everyone.
“Nah, it’s cool,” I say as I plop down on the other end of the couch and scratch behind my sassy feline’s ears. “He’s good at getting his way.”
Funky’s tail swishes happily and he purrs as if to agree.
“How did your meeting go with Jude?” Willa asks, features turning sad.
I lean back against the sofa and stare up at the ceiling. “It was fine. I see Spencer later after lunch.”
She studies me, intently searching my gaze as if she can find out how it really went, but I keep my features impassive, not giving anything away.
“So you’re free until then?” she asks.
“I am. Why? Do you want to talk or need help with something?”
“Actually, I was about to go to a doctor’s appointment and wouldn’t mind the company. Normally, Callum goes with me, but he’s been knee-deep in work. I know he doesn’t want me to go by myself, but if you went with me, he could stay and work without feeling guilty.”
Leaving the compound and possibly running into Sean is unnerving. If he sees my car, things could get bad.
“We can take Callum’s car. He has heated seats.” She regards me with widened eyes and a pleading tone. “I’ll even buy you a fun coffee drink on the way back.”
