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“Her mother’s worried about her.”
My lips quirk. “And you’re the superhero here to pretend to save her while saving yourself? How’d that superhero routine work for you in the past?”
“There’s nothing here for you.”
“We both know that’s not true. We both know that’s never been true.”
“You don’t need the money. You want what no bastard deserves and you’re using her and her ridiculous paranoia. She’s your damn stepsister and you’re fucking her, you sick fuck.”
I smirk, unaffected by the ridiculous remark meant to get under my skin. He stopped getting under my skin about a year into this family. The problem for him is that’s when I started getting under his skin. “Harper and I aren’t blood,” I say, “but we are, and we both know that’s why she doesn’t scare you, but I do.” I step closer to him, damn near bringing us toe to toe. “And youshouldbe afraid because we also both know you’re hiding something. One last thing we both know—I’m good at finding out your secrets.” It’s a reference to a shared past that he can’t run from, a past I don’t want to run from. But then why would I? I’d fast-tracked to law school and joined him there. He hated my success. He’d wanted an edge. He even fucked our law professor to try to win her over and destroy me. He almost succeeded.
“I could have ended you.”
“You should have done it while you could because that ship has sailed. Walk away, Eric. You don’t know what pot you’re stirring.”
“But I will.”
“I don’t care about your fortune or the Bennett Empire behind you. Walk deeper into this and you might not walk away in one piece.”
“Are you seriously threatening me?”
“I don’t need to threaten you. I’m stating a fact. Consider this a brotherly warning. The only one you’ll receive. Get away from her before you take her down with you and all of us for that matter.” He pokes a finger at my chest and that’s one thing Isaac doesn’t do. He doesn’t get physical. It’s uncharacteristic and I read palpable panic in him. “Go home now,” he bites out but he doesn’t move. He stands there, glares at me, but in the depth of his eyes, I see fear, the kind of fear I’ve seen in men’s eyes seconds before they ended up dead. He turns and walks down the stairs, leaving every instinct I own saying this is bigger than I thought it was. Isaac is into something he can’t get out of and it’s time I meet with my father and find out if he’s in it, too.
I walk to the railing to ensure Isaac leaves, a muscle in my jaw ticking as I watch him shut himself inside his silver BMW. My grip tightens on the wood beneath my palms with a mental replay of his words:I’m here for Harper. Get away from her before you take her down with you and all of us for that matter.Isaac backs out of the driveway and I don’t move until he’s out of sight, my certainty absolute that Harper is now ten feet deep in something that smells dirty and dangerous.
I turn back toward the house, an icy gust of wind rushing over me. It’s nothing compared to the cold I’ve experienced in the past, during those years in the SEALs, and in too many ways, the year of my mother’s death, ending in her suicide. Gigi had been the last one to see her, the last Kingston to taunt her. Nothing about that has ever felt right to me, which is exactly why Harper’s alignment with Gigi will never be a comfortable one. I’ve accepted her reasoning, but her fucking Isaac and then me in whatever order that I might have occurred, would not be.
I’m about to open the door, but at the same moment it flies open and Harper is standing there. “What happened?” she asks.
I advance on her, shut the door and lock it and then turn her to press her against it. “Did you fuck him?”
“No,” she says. “I didn’t fuck him. He tried. I turned him down. He’s treated me like shit ever since.”
“Then why protect him?”
“Protect him?” she asks, her tone incredulous. “I didn’t protect him. I protected me and you. He's vicious. He lashes out. He competes with you and I'm not interested in being a pawn. And come on, Eric, you didn’t want me to be a pawn to Gigi. But you’re okay with using us to taunt him?”
“If he’s uneasy, he makes mistakes. I’ll catch him making those mistakes. I’ll get you out of this.”
“It’s more than that and you know it. You want to hurt this family.”
“Yes. I do. And I could have a thousand times over. Wanting and doing are two different things.”
“Why didn’t you?”
I look skyward, that question one I’ve asked myself over and over and come back to one place. I look at her and go there now. “Because my mother didn’t want that. She protected them when they destroyed her. It was all in the letter she left me when she died. Which is exactly why I eventually left for the SEALs. I could have ruined Isaac. I wanted to. The temptation was too great. I had to leave. Every time I’m here, I have to leave. That’s why I don’t come here, but I came for you.” My eyes meet hers, burn into hers. “The idea of you fucking him and fucking me kills me.”
“I told you—no, I was never with Isaac.” Her hand settles on my chest, that small touch burning through my body,sheburns through me. “I didn’t fuck him. I never wanted to fuck him and he hates me for it. Like you hate me.Princess.Already I’m her again and I can’t be her.” She shoves on my chest and tries to move away. I catch her to me, and she pushes harder. “Let go.”
Let go.
I should. I could. I’d be smart to do just that, but that’s not going to happen. I’m not letting her go. I’m not going to walk away, and that might end up being the worst thing that ever happened to this family.
I tangle fingers into her hair and stare down at her. “I don’t hate you. I’m obsessed with you.”
“You can still hate me and be obsessed with me.”
I kiss her, my tongue licking and exploring, looking for lies that I don’t find. There’s just a moment of resistance, then her sweet, soft submission, her soft curves melting against mine, her desire moaning from her lips. I want her submission. I want her desire. I want more than I should when I know I’m headed down a deep, dark rabbit hole, but Isaac was wrong. I won’t be the death of her, but she might be the death of him because she’s why I’m staying. She’s why my mother’s letter can’t save him this time.
