Page 9 of Alpha's Forbidden Bond

He raised a brow. “The boonies?”

“That’s what the Silverleaf locals call our compound,” said Mikeal. “I’ve heard them say it a few times when I used to take night classes at the college.”

“They have a nickname for our compound?” Andreas looked even madder than before. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this? We’re not the brunt of anyone’s jokes.”

This whole interaction struck me as odd, and I had to say, I wasn’t very impressed with Mikeal’s brother. He was rude and demanding, and even if he did have stunning eyes and strong arms, I couldn’t wait to be back in my car and driving away from him.

“Look,” I said. “It’s not an insult or anything. The boonies is just an affectionate term for this area. It’s remote. There are all these trees, and people get lost because the roads aren’t really marked. Plus, it’s not like you or your family has ever properly introduced themselves to anyone in Silverleaf, so we don’t have another name for it. If you wanted to give me your last name, I could start trying to get people to call it ‘the blank property,’ like how my parents’ land used to be called ‘the Pearl property.’ Would that make you feel better?”

The man must’ve picked up on my sarcasm because he snarled at me. “We have a sign out by the main road telling people to keep out. Did you just ignore that on your way in?”

“I didn’t see it.”

Or really, I didn’t read it….

He shook his head. “Of course you didn’t.” He looked down at Mikeal, who had gotten the spare tire on the car and was tightening the bolts back in place. “When you’re done with that, make sure this woman leaves the property right away, and then come find me in the house. I need to talk to you.”

“Whatever,” grumbled Mikeal.

“Is that a yes?”

Mikeal only responded with a slight movement of his head, and apparently, that was good enough for his brother. Andreas offered me nothing in the way of a goodbye. Instead, he turned his back to us and headed back towards the house. I waited until I thought he was out of earshot and then released a breathy laugh.

“Isn’t he just a ray of sunshine.”

“He’s not always in a bad mood like that,” Mikeal said. “But when he is, he can be a total jackass.”

“So I see. What’s got him in such a bad mood, I wonder?”

Mikeal laughed as he got to his feet to inspect his handy work. “I think it probably has something to do with him marrying a girl he just met and who he has no feelings for.” He slid his hands in his pockets as I stared at him wide-eyed. “But who knows? It could also be something else entirely. My brother’s weird like that.”

“Hold on, back up. Did you say he’s marrying someone he just met?” Now, I was really starting to think this place was a cult. “Like, it’s an arranged marriage?”

“Something similar.”

Mikeal didn’t elaborate, but I was desperate to know more.

“What does that mean?”

“It’s not so much arranged,” he said. “It’s more like a political marriage.” He waved a hand in the air. “But I’ve said too much already. My brother really doesn’t want me talking about this kind of stuff.”

“He can’t hear us though.”

Mikeal laughed. “You’d be surprised at how well he can hear.”

I really had no idea how to take that. It didn’t matter how good his brother’s hearing was. He was all the way back in the house with the door closed. There was no way he knew what we were saying. “I’m not trying to pry. I guess I was just curious. I think everyone in town is a little curious about what goes on out here.”

For the first time since we started talking, Mikeal looked at me with some wariness. I hoped I hadn’t offended him.

“We’re just private,” he said after a moment. “I don’t see why everyone in Silverleaf has to make such a big deal out of that.”

“You know something, you’re right. There’s no reason for the people in town to be so concerned about y’all out here. You don’t cause any trouble.” And if you’re running a cult, at least nobody’s pet goats have gone missing. “And apparently, you’re the kind of folks who help out a stranger when she’s stranded on the side of the road, so there’s that as well.”

He smiled. “There is that. Anyway, I think you’re good to go.” He gave the spare a light kick just to be sure. “Make sure to get a new tire put on as soon as you can. Is there any reason you want to hang onto the busted one?”

“Not unless you want me to get it out of here.”

“Nah, that’s okay,” he said. “I’ll throw it away in the dumpster for ‘ya. It’s pretty heavy, and there’s no reason for you to get your hands dirty when mine are already trashed.” He nodded politely. “Good luck with the book delivery.”

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