Page 28 of Gilded Kisses

He carries the weight of the past and his current problems well. I can at least help with one of his issues. “Like you did, cousin? When your dad went to prison, you stepped up. You don’t have to carry the weight of this family alone. You have me. Belle, Sapphire. The Savages.”

A fog of worry and regret lingers over him, like the cloud of cigar smoke billowing up from a nearby tray.

Trouble is never far behind for a man in his position. He comes to stand in front of me, and his height has me tilting my head up. The man is dangerous to everyone except those he loves. I’m thankful to be among those he doesn’t want to see dead.

It is tempting to tell him about my father, the years of abuse and the love I lost when my godfathers walked away from me. But Harlon has enough problems of his own to handle. All I need is this job and I can slowly resolve most of my issues.

It’s growing late in the afternoon. A bank of monitors along the far wall shows several members arriving in the discrete underground parking for late-night meetings and deals. Instead of the place quieting down and emptying, it’s only growingbusier by the minute. Club members come and go at all hours, but the majority don’t show until sundown. It’s part of the whole underworld mystique. Crime by night seems to be their thing and mine.

“Come on, Harlon. Don’t make me beg on my knees.”

All Harlon has to do is give his kiss of approval and I could be on the third level—AKA the dark floor—sealing my place in my family’s business and my freedom.

Harlon’s hands come to rest on my shoulders. “I gave you the greeter job because it kept you out of trouble and we could all watch over you. I made your father a promise. Don’t push your luck and have your father yank your chain so short you can’t walk outside your house again.”

Burn.

“What happened with Mirsha, Luther and Viper left him burned. You’re lucky he hasn’t clipped your wings entirely.”

“Please, drive the blade a little deeper, cousin.”

Silence.

“How much do you know, anyway?”

Harlon doesn’t mean to hurt me, but it doesn’t change the outcome of his words slicing into me.

“And what promise are you talking about, anyway?”

He answers one question, but not the other. “It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.”

Ominous warning much? Cold ice skitters up my spine. This man. If I didn’t lovesomemembers of my family, I couldkill them all some days. Okay, not really, but damn, I wish wearing my emotions and a soft heart were not my two major weaknesses.

He tips my chin up, and it’s really hard to keep defeat from stealing over my expression.

I step away from him and take a second to gather my words. “Fine. Keep your secrets, but do I look like someone who will stay on a chain forever, Harlon?” My voice turns colder with every syllable, but nothing seems to stir him from the deadpan stare.

“I am not willing to put you in danger. You are too important. The answer is no.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “What danger? What makes me more valuable than Sapphire or Belle? Or even Polaris?”

For a second the tightno room for negotiationexpression that holds my cousin’s face in a perpetual scowl softens. Wait. I might actually have a chance here.

And then that hope dies a swift, bloody death.

He slashes a hand in the air between us, and that hard look on his face returns. Whatever had him second-guessing his firm refusal is now gone.

“I’ve given you my ultimate decision.”

Brutal.

My heart turns to lead and drops to the floor like a spent bullet. Now what? I could be petty and interject that he’s only the head now because his daddy went to prison. It would be a low blow and I am not heartless.

I pick another line of attack. “Fuck you and all the men trying to hammer me into some place you think I should fit. You don’t want to consider me? Fine. You’re not my only option.”

Lies, laughs a manic voice in my head.

A smirk tugs at the older man’s face. “You’re going to need that chip on your shoulder. Guard it well, along with your fighting spirit. You’re gonna need that too, little cousin.”

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