Page 45 of Tower

The thought hadn’t occurred to him, and now that it had, there was no fucking way she was leaving with her mother until Peter had every damn question answered to his satisfaction.

“I’m sure it’s not the case,” Hunter said when Peter didn’t remark. “I’ll give my uncle your response.”

“Remind him that I protect what’s mine, and until her mother returns and Azalea decides otherwise, the girl is mine.” Peter kept his tone firm and didn’t bat an eye as he ground his glare into Hunter.

“I will,” Hunter said with a nod. Peter had no quarrel with him. He had the same struggle Ash and Peter had with Samuel. Blood made them family and created a loyalty that couldn’t be broken. Until Hunter could take over as the head of his family, little would change.

“And tell your wife we all said hello.” Peter broke out of his tense demeanor as he pulled the door open for Hunter. “She’s welcome to come by anytime to visit. I know a few of the girls have mentioned wanting to see her.”

“She’s not setting foot in the Annex ever again,” Hunter said with finality. “But if you’d let them meet in the gardens or the main house, I’ll bring her over once all this mess with Bellatrix is over.”

“That would be fine.” Peter nodded. “A little afraid she’d miss the place if she went inside?” he teased.

Hunter’s jaw tensed. “No. Afraid I’ll remember she used to work there and have to kill you for letting another man touch her.”

Peter laughed. “I was one of those men, you realize.” Jaelynn didn’t take to rules any easier than most of the girls when they first arrived at the Annex. He’d had the job of disciplining her on more than one occasion.

Hunter deadpanned. “I’ve done an extremely good job at blocking that part of her life out of my mind. Don’t make me regret that.”

“Okay, okay.” Peter slapped him on the back. He knew when to break the teasing, and Hunter’s murderous glare gave the cue it was time to stop.

Peter stepped out into the hall with Hunter. A man, not much older than himself, walked up to them, with Johnny right behind him.

“Damien. This is Peter Titon. Peter, this is Damien. He’s my right hand.”

Damien’s hair was cropped excessively short, but Peter could still easily make out the stark blond coloring. And his eyes. He knew those eyes.

Shaking himself out of his suspicions, he took Damien’s outreached hand and shook it. “Did Johnny give you the tour?” he asked nodding toward the doors leading to the playrooms.

“Yeah, he did. I’ve never been to one of your catalogue parties, but I wouldn’t mind an invite.” He grinned. “Since Hunter’s not utilizing your services any longer.”

Peter couldn’t help but stare. The resemblance was too clear, too uncanny.

“Yeah, I’m sure we can do that.” Johnny spoke when Peter continued to remain silent.

“Great.” Damien gave Johnny a puzzled look but nodded all the same.

Hunter cut off the staring contest and said his goodbyes.

Peter made the right movements, shook hands, nodded, said the appropriate goodbyes, but his mind was already swirling.

Once they were gone, Johnny brought him out of his thoughts. “You saw that, right?”

“The resemblance?”

“Yeah. That can’t be a coincidence, right? I mean how many people have that color hair?”

Peter agreed. Not many from his suspicion. “Where’s Azalea?”

“In your room. She took your laptop up there. I figured since you let her on it in the office, it was okay.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Have you found anything on her mother? Any deals she may have had with Samuel?”

Johnny shifted his weight. “No. But his coding is so old, it could be right there, and I wouldn’t know.”

“Yeah.” Just another way his uncle kept such tight control.

“What about this Damien. Did you get a last name?”

---