Page 10 of Key Change

Dilemma raced across Hayden’s face. Did he continue to harass his brother or slink away having been corrected? His eyes hardened as he made his choice.

“You don’t have to protecthim.” Hayden spat the last word.

“Him is standing right here,” Anthony said.

“And I am quite capable of making my own choices, Hayden.” Cillian said with a glare which from experience had very little effect on Hayden. Would Hayden threaten him, remind him that, with a few words, he had the power to ruin his reputation and career?

Hayden didn’t want to date him. Nor was it professional jealousy. It was all about control and making people jump when he snapped. He liked to pull the strings, and Cillian was choking on them.

“You don’t know him like I do.” Hayden took a few steps closer as he pointed at Anthony. “He’s bad news.”

Cillian glanced at Anthony. One of the brothers was bad news, but it wasn’t Anthony. He gave Hayden another attempt at getting out politely. “Are you ready for me to play? Is that why you came looking for me?”

Hayden’s attention snapped to Cillian. “Yes. Get ready. I’ll deal with him.”

CHAPTER

FIVE

Anthony’s fingers curled.He’d learned how to fight, and in prison he learned even more dirty tricks than his brother. He’d needed to learn, so he wasn’t destroyed by those who liked to break the new arrivals, the new toys. Just because he’d given up sex while locked up, didn’t mean everyone had, and sometimes “No” was best served with a fist.

As much as he wanted to watch Cillian’s ass as he walked away, he kept his gaze on his brother.

“He’s too good for you. You’re nothing, but you swanned in like you were something. You shouldn’t even be here.” Hayden took another step forward.

“I’ve paid the price. I can move on.” Anthony kept his voice level.

Hayden shook his head. “You think these people will forget?”

Anthony was sure Hayden wouldn’t let them. “I don’t care what they think.”

He cared what Cillian thought, and he didn’t seem to give a damn. But he would when the party invitations stopped and the contacts stopped calling. Anthony needed to prove himself and get onto the first rung of a long climb up. He’d never been scared of falling before, but he’d found out how much that could hurt.

Hayden balled his fists. “You’ve always cared.”

That proved how little his brother understood him. He’d always done what he’d wanted for himself, not for others. His success had been because he wanted it, not because he was trying to impress anyone.

“You always tried to outdo me to suck up Dad’s praise.” Hayden’s face contorted into a mask of hate.

Anthony remained relaxed and didn’t move. If he did, Hayden would lash out. If it came to blows, Anthony was certain he’d win, but Hayden would play the victim and involve the cops. And Anthony already knew how the cops would view him. They’d see his record and even though he’d done time for a white-collar crime, he was still branded a criminal.

He didn’t want Cillian to see that.

Or his sister.

He needed to care what other people thought because he needed friends and allies to help him succeed on the outside, putting his life back together and forging a future.

In that heartbeat, he wanted to rise up and rub Hayden’s face in his success. He’d enjoy that the same way Hayden enjoyed Anthony’s fall. All he needed was to find success.

His plan required …a job. That was the first step.

Hayden lifted his fists. “Come on.”

“No,” Anthony replied, flexing his hands at his sides. His blood burned with lust and tension and the need to defend himself, but the moment he lifted his fists, he’d lost.

Hayden laughed and spittle landed on Anthony’s face. “You’re scared of me.”

“I’m not scared, but you should be. You’ve had ten years to get ahead. To make sure I’d never catch up.” He leaned in a fraction and kept his voice low. “Watch your rearview mirror; watch me gain speed. I’ll overtake you. When I turn forty, it’ll be my shindig in the papers.”

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