Page 24 of The Silence of Monsters

Alistair frowned and opened his mouth to argue about the thinly veiled threat. I was used to Win and his people threatening me into getting their way. I’d learned that to circumvent the pressure, it was best to pretend that you weren’t afraid of your opponent.

“If I ‘make you’ cause a scene to keep me here, Lady Halliday will have your boss’s head. And then he’ll have yours. If you make the ‘kid’ leave, I’m going with him. Tell Chester I said he can suck it up. Family is family. He should know that better than anyone else.”

Rocco and I had a tense staring contest. I could see him weigh the pros and cons of hauling Alistair away. He must’ve decided I wasn’t worried about embarrassing myself or Win and beat a hasty retreat. I shook my head at his broad back and faced a timid Alistair.

“I don’t know why you’re so determined to have a relationship with Win. He’s more trouble than he’s worth. And he comes with his very own Wicked Witch.” I poked him in the arm playfully and noticed the wistful look in his eyes. The gray gaze was lighter and brighter than Win’s. Unlike his older brother, he couldn’t weaponize his stare. It made the difference in their upbringing obvious. “Your family loves you. I don’t understand why you’re beating your head against a brick wall to get something from a Halliday. They can barely tolerate each other. I’m not sure they know what love is.”

Alistair gave me a lopsided smile and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pinstriped pants. He was dressed in a custom suit that was more stylish than a lot of the others in the room. It only took a glance to know this kid didn’t come from old money. He was new money through and through. He stood out in an entirely different way than I did.

“I don’t know why I want to be acknowledged by him so badly, either. I owe him a lot for stepping up when my sister was sick. I admire his business acumen and the way he handles himself. When I went into design, I did so because it was the best way to stay adjacent to the Halliday’s business. Win buys and develops properties. I make those assets beautiful. In my heart, I’ve always wanted to partner with him on a major project. I won’t ever get the opportunity to know my real father. I guess in my mind, Win is the closest I’ll get to understanding what I may have missed.” He poked me back and forced a smile to dispel the gloomy mood. “And it’s fun to get him worked up. The sound an iceberg makes when it cracks isn’t something everyone gets to hear.”

It was an interesting comparison. I was all too familiar with that particular sound when it came to Win.

“Don’t hold your breath waiting for Win to come around. He’s stubborn. And more importantly, he’s still grieving the loss of his other brother. He never talks about it, but he adored Archie. I’m not sure he has room in his itty-bitty heart for another brother just yet.”

He was furious when Archie had come back home with his tail between his legs. I always got the sense that Win wanted his brother to keep his wife and daughter as far away from the Cove as possible. Even though he missed him and was alone to carry out Colette’s bidding, he didn’t want Archie to succumb to the pressure of being a Halliday. He wouldn’t wish that fate on his half-brother even if he didn’t acknowledge him or their relationship. “You’re a decent man, Alistair. Take the money and run.”

He gave me a look out of the corner of his eye. “Is that what you’re going to do?”

I blinked because I rarely remembered that I would be a wealthy woman once my marriage with Win was dead and buried. “I’m not exactly the running type. I’ll slowly stroll away. Or ride away on the cool bike I just bought.” My situation was different because I’d never managed to get the Hallidays fully out of my life. I had a lingering fear I would still be involved with Win even after our deal was done. Until Winnie was old enough to make major life decisions on her own, I was stuck with him. “And I don’t know if I’ll take the money. I don’t want Win to have anything he can hold over me for the rest of my life. You should give me a raise and a promotion when the time is right.”

I was only kidding, but Alistair nodded and told me, “I plan on it. I didn’t know you had a background in antiques and collectibles. We’re always looking for authentic, one-of-a-kind pieces for our clients. You can work for my sourcing and acquisitions department when you have the availability.”

“I’m not qualified for a salaried position like that.” I repeated what I told Win when he thought he could get me through the back door at one of the exclusive auction houses. “I don’t have the education or contacts that a career like that would require.”

“You have real-life experience in handling customers and evaluating objects. Plus, you’re likable, and you seamlessly fit into any situation. You make people feel comfortable. You seem trustworthy at first glance. You’re disarmingly honest. You possess a lot of qualities that cannot be taught. They have to be earned through experience, Channing. That’s why I hired you.”

I couldn’t believe this kid was nearly a decade younger than me. He sounded like he’d lived a thousand lives. He sounded very different than Win. One was arrogant and told me he would make a place for me if it was what I wanted. The other was encouraging and assured me I could find a place that was mine, because I’d earned it.

I gave him a stunned look. I disclosed none of my previous employment when I went to work for him. All I shared was that we had a common enemy, and if he hired me, it would benefit both of us and infuriate Colette. I had no intention of using Alistair to secure a legitimate job in the future.

There was thunderous applause as Win and his mother stepped off the stage. People immediately surrounded them. Colette was holding onto her son’s sleeve to keep him by her side, but it was a futile effort. It only took a moment for Rocco to help Win navigate the crowd until he was standing in front of me and his half-brother.

He glared at Alistair and reached for my hand. I wanted to avoid his hold because I was still emotionally unsteady over what happened in the bathroom, but he didn’t give me a choice. He tugged me to his side and muttered, “Let’s go.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Part of me wanted to be contrary and make his exit difficult. Only, I was done with the dog and pony show. And I was acutely aware that my underwear was still in the bathroom trash can, just waiting for someone a tad too curious to stumble across.

“Stay clear of Colette. Don’t tangle with her without backup.” I gave Alistair a wave goodbye and let Win drag me out of the fancy hotel. When we got outside, my skin prickled against the chill and the breeze tossed my hair around my face. I was fairly sure I’d never been in more of a state of disarray than I was tonight. I wondered if it was obvious to everyone who looked at me that I’d had Win’s hands all up under my basic black dress. It felt like I was wearing my lapse in judgment loud and clear.

“Why are you so nice to DeVere? I thought you had a predisposition to dislike anyone who came from money.” Win pulled open the door to the limo before the driver could and stuffed me inside. I nearly knocked my head on the doorjamb and growled at him in protest as he followed.

“Alistair didn’t come from money. He inherited it. He grew up in a very sitcom-like family. He didn’t face any tumultuous waves of judgment until he got tangled up with the Hallidays. I understand how that feels. We get along so well because we’re just trying to ride out the same storm.” I shoved my tangled hair out of my face and glared at him. “You sound jealous.”

The words were mocking because I couldn’t fathom that scenario.

I stopped breathing when he responded, “I am.”

I wasn’t sure how to process his honesty. Did I dare believe him?

I leaned my forehead against the window and let the cool glass combat the heat rising in my cheeks.

“There isn’t a reason to be jealous, Chester. Alistair feels like my little brother. Which is exactly how he wants you to see him. If you think we’re too close, or that I’m too kind, you only have yourself to blame. He sees me as a substitute for you.”

“We’re back to Chester? What do I have to do to get you to call me Win again?” He sounded like he was at the end of his rope. It was rare to see him so exasperated.

I laughed, and it fogged the window. “Since the only time we don’t argue is when our mouths are busy doing something else, I’ll call you Win when you make me forget you’ve always been Chester.”

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