Page 70 of Wild Scottish Beauty

“Let me…” Andrew gasped. I dropped him, and he gasped for breath. “For feck’s sake.”

I didn’t respond, waiting while he caught his breath, my fists ready if he launchedhimself at me.

“I owe people money,” Andrew finally admitted, his hands on his knees.

“Why? I thought your business was super successful.”

“In theory. I have some debts.”

“Gambling?”

Andrew didn’t have to say it. My brother was the ultimate risktaker, always chasing a dopamine hit, and gambling was one way he fulfilled that need.

“Some.” Andrew shrugged, straightening and crossing his arms over his chest. “But these guys…they’re bad news.”

“I don’t care.”

“Bloody hell, you’ve gone cold.”

“I stopped caring about you when you broke Mum’s heart.”

Andrew had the decency to wince, his eyes not meeting mine.

“How much to keep you from ever asking them for money again?”

“I don’t know.”Andrew shrugged, his gaze dancing around the yard, refusing to land on mine.

“If you don’t answer now, I’ll up it to–how much for you to neverevercontact them again?”

“What? Come on, Ramsay.” Andrew’s eyes met mine in shock.

“This is the last time I’ll ask. How much for you to never ask them for money again? Not for a loan. Not for a gift. Not for a donation. Nevereveranything to do with money or investments or anything shady. When you comehere, it’s as a son visiting his parents only. You won’t so much as accept a Christmas gift from them.” My hand came up, pressing him back into the wall again. “How much?”

“One hundred and fifty. Two hundred if you’ve got it.” Andrew’s voice dripped with shame. I closed my eyes, furious that he’d gotten himself, and now me, into this situation.

Again.

“You’ll sign something. Agreeing to our terms. If you break them, you sign your businesses over to me.”

“That’s …”

I pressed my thumb to his Adam’s apple, pushing hard enough that Andrew coughed.

“I’m not asking you to pay me back. Your payment is to leave them the hell alone. They’re good people, Andrew. How they raised a piece of shite like you, I don’t know.”

Yeah, it was mean. But I didn’t care. I protected those I loved at all costs. Even if it was against another so-called member of the family.

“Understood.”

“I’ll get the paperwork drawn up.”

With that, I left him standing there, his head down.

As far as I was concerned, he was no brother of mine.

I was done pretending I cared emotionally.

The stupid shite had gone too fecking far. “One hundred and fifty. Two hundred if you’ve got it.”Of course, I’ve got the fucking money, but I hate that I have to give it to the clarty bastard.

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