Page 201 of The Sinner's Bargain

“I can do different poking and prodding,” Thoran teased.

“Ugh, my innocent ears,” Malcolm groaned, moving to stand a further distance from us.

“No more bed. Can we go to the office? I miss the books and my favorite seat, and I can have some tea and finally hear how you found me,” I shot a glance towards Malcolm, “and what happened to Jarrett.”

The two men still weren’t friends, but they seemed to have come to a tenuous agreement that they would be civil, at least around me. It was a small step, but I appreciated their attempts.

Thoran agreed, hauling me all the way down the hall with Cyrus and Malcolm following silently behind.

A fire was already lit in the hearth and a fresh, steaming tray of tea with my favorite banana, chocolate muffins sat on the coffee table.

I looked up at Thoran who quirked his lips. “I had a feeling you’d want to come here.”

I kissed him. Hard.

God, I loved this man.

He sat me down on the sofa and filled a cup with my favorite rose scented tea, but I pushed to my feet when he tried to hand me the cup. Smiling at his confusion, I nudged him down into the armchair and crawled up into his lap.

“I said my favorite seat.”

Thoran grinned and laced his arms around me as I snuggled into his chest and took my drink.

“Are they always this disgusting?” Malcolm muttered to Cyrus.

Cyrus sighed. “Worse.”

I shot the pair an amused grin and motioned Malcolm over.

“Tell me everything,” I said as he grudgingly moved forward to take the spot. “What happened after I saw you last?”

Malcolm snorted, flopping back. “Well, all hell broke loose. Mom and Dad were at some auction dinner when they were informed you were not in the car anymore. Mom was livid. I’ve never seen her so angry. A lot of things got broken that night. Dad just sat there like his entire world was over. They kept asking if I knew where you were. Honestly believed I would tell them. Brixton arrived the next morning and that’s when the shit really hit the fan.”

I listened with my chilled fingers stiff around my teacup. Thoran stroked my back over the soft material of my sweater. The warmth of his palm soothed me like the tea never could.

“Mom and Dad had tied everything they had to this wedding. I had no idea. That was the deal they made with Brixton. Everything they owned was placed on collateral until you walked down the aisle. A sinner’s bargain. That’s what it’s called, apparently. When you didn’t...” he trailed off with a little shrug. “He took everything. The house. The cars. The business.”

I winced. “I’m so sorry, Malcolm.”

An eyebrow lifted on my brother’s face. “For what?”

“That was your inheritance. You were supposed to—”

Malcolm scoffed. “I hated all that investment crap. I never wanted to take over the family business. Besides, I already knew shit would go south quickly the second Brixton didn’t get you. I knew he’d take Mom and Dad to the cleaners to pay back the money he’d given them.” He gave me a little smirk. “I didn’t just ensure your safety, little sister. I started my own ... business, I guess you can call it.”

I stared at the man I knew ... thought I knew better than myself.

“You never said—”

Malcolm winced a little and shot Thoran a quick, sheepish side-eye. “It’s ... not entirely conventional, and you always worried too much, and you had enough on your plate.”

“Gray,” Thoran corrected, not accusing. Amused.

Malcolm puffed out his cheeks and wrinkled his nose. “Unconventional.”

The two shared a smirk I really didn’t like, nor did I understand.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

---