Page 103 of As the World Falls

“If he came snooping around, he’d have a bullet in his chest the minute he set foot on my property.”

Tobias blinks twice at me. “Another good reason I let him come. He’s harmless, James. What’s the problem?”

I run a hand through my hair in frustration. “I just don’t like the guy.”

Tobias’s brows furrow as he looks more intently at me. “When have you met him?”

I look at him again, feeling suddenly on the spot. “I’ve…heard things.”

“Like what?”

I actually growl in frustration. “It’s nothing. Never mind.”

Tobias’s eyes crinkle together. “You seem high-strung today. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I just have a lot of work to catch up on.”

“I’ll grab Lance and head out then. Let me know if you need me to take on some of the workload,” he says, heading toward the patio.

“Let me grab him,” I suggest. “Can you make sure security is updated on the new protocols now that your sister is staying here? It’ll check a box off my list.”

“Got it,” Tobias answers. “Tell Lance I’ll meet him at the car.”

“Sure thing,” I chime before turning in the direction of the patio, my expression dropping into one of contempt as I stride toward it.

I momentarily stop at the glass double doors that lead outside to watch them. They were sitting on the furniture facing each other, seemingly just talking. Her hair was still in her braid from earlier, but I noticed some stray pieces breaking free, creating the messier look on her that I loved.

He leans closer to her, and my hand is already on the door handle. He reaches his hands out and takes hers in his, and I don’t know what they're saying, but I barge through the door and walk out onto the patio, interrupting them.

“Visitations are over,” I snap.

Cecilia looks over her shoulder at me, her mouth forming an angry frown. “What is this a prison?”

Lance looks from me to her again. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay at my place? I don’t understand why you didn’t ask in the first place.”

She pulls her hands from his, and I nearly sigh in relief. “Because it would be awkward after everything.” I take a step forward, interested in that little tidbit. After everything, what? What the hell happened between them? She stands up now, and he follows suit. “I’ll be fine here. It’s only for a week or two.”

Lance nods, although he looks disappointed, and then his glare fixes on me. “If you don’t mind, some privacy would be nice.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” I respond, holding the door open for him. “Get out of my house.”

“James!” Cecilia shouts.

“My patience is wearing thin here,” I say, waiting for him to leave.

“You know, I don’t like how aggressive you are around Lia. I’m uncomfortable leaving her here with you,” he remarks, walking up to me.

I sigh in boredom. “I don’t like you at all, and to be honest, you can think I’m aggressive all you want, but it’s my home she chose to stay at, isn’t it?”

“Seriously, James,” Cecilia groans tiredly, touching two fingers to her forehead.

He turns around and faces her again. “Come home with me. Please. Don’t stay here with this guy.”

What feels like acid churns in my stomach, and it takes everything in me not to snatch him up by his throat. Cecilia’s painful eyes bounce from him, then to me, and back to him. “I…I can’t. I’m sorry, but I need to stay here.”

“You’re kidding? You’d rather stay here with him over me?” he snaps.

“Lance, please…” she pleads. “Don’t make it like this. You always make things into something it’s not.”

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