Page 10 of Moonlit Thorns

I turn to my left and look at my youngest brother. The one we all tried to protect from the horrors that were inflicted in this place. “I have no idea what she’s like, Nero. Nor do I care.”

“Is she hot?” Sid asks.

My head whips in his direction. “Don’t even think about it. She’s not here to serve anyone but me. I don’t need her riding any Voss dick that comes her way, thinking that gives her a free pass to skirt her duty to me.”

“Interesting…”

I scowl at Sid. “What?”

He shoves a large bite of his scone into his mouth and gives me an innocent look. Well about as innocent as he can manage.

“She’s practically a child compared to me. You’d do well to remember that too.”

“Speaking of women, I started dating one I think might have promise,” Nero says, changing the subject before Sid and I get into it.

At thirty, it wouldn’t be unheard of for Nero to want to settle down with someone, maybe start a family, but my protective instincts flare to life. Even before our father left this earth eighteen years ago, it always felt like my duty to protect my brothers. Nero especially.

“Who is it? What do you know about her?” I ask, spreading honey on my toast.

“Uh-oh, you’ve switched on Ash’s overbearing big brother mode,” Sid says and shoves another chunk of scone into his mouth when I glare at him.

“Her name is Maude Johnson, and she lives a few counties away. Before you say anything, we met unexpectedly when her tire blew out on one of the county roads, and I stopped to see if I could help.”

“Such a Prince Charming,” Sid says with no small amount of sarcasm.

“How do you know she didn’t target you?” I ask before taking a bite of my toast.

Nero rolls his eyes, always thinking the best of people.

I’m right to ask though. When you grow up a billionaire’s son, you spend your entire life vetting whether women want you for your money and power or just for your dick. Which is part of the reason I stick to fucking women now, not dating them.

“She didn’t target me. Did you hear what I said? She had a flat tire.”

When he says shit like that, I wonder if maybe the three of us sheltered Nero too much.

“Just be careful,” I say, knowing I’ll be ordering a background check on this woman at some point today.

The sound of a throat clearing has me looking across the room. Marcel stands straight as a ruler, hands behind his back. “Miss Boudreaux is here for you, sir.”

“Put her in my office. I’ll be there shortly.” My fingers tingle with anticipation. It’s been a long, long time since there’s been anyone new in Midnight Manor.

I take my time finishing my honey toast and getting the latest update from Sid with regard to the EPA situation. He’s the lawyer in the family and assures me that the team of lawyers at Voss Enterprises are on it.

“Let me know if and when Kol needs to get involved.” I glance at Sid from under my brows, and he nods.

Suffice to say, those cocksuckers at the EPA don’t want Kol involved.

I push away from the table, discarding my napkin beside my plate.

“Have fun with your new pet.” Sid chuckles. It would probably sound good-natured to anyone else, but I hear the cutting edge under the surface.

I grin at my brothers. “Oh, I plan to.”

Poor Anabelle Boudreaux isn’t prepared for the likes of me. Gone is the cushy life provided to her by her father with borrowed money. She’s about to wish she could give me the estate and call off our deal, but once she’s signed on the dotted line… she’s mine.

Chapter

Five

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