Page 49 of Hidden Heir

One bullet and Brooke’s troubles would be over. That’s all it would take. One bullet and her useless sack of shit brother would be six feet under.

“I have to get out of here, I can’t do this.” Ant starts pacing about like a caged animal.

“Don’t be stupid,” Brooke snaps. “You think you’ll get help out there or is it drugs you’re really after?” Ant stays silent. “For fuck sake, Ant. You’re so close to getting clean. Why can’t you just do this for me?”

“It’s a disease, Brooke, and you’re killing me by keeping me here.”

The rest of the argument fades away as an incoming call from my father steals my attention. I answer it, pressing the phone to my ear as I swivel around to stare out over the estate gardens now cloaked in darkness.

“Father.”

“What the hell are you playing at, you fool?”

My gut tightens. “Excuse me?”

“Tell me, Leonity, why I just received a call from Ronan Murphy.”

Shit. The Irish Captain. “I have no idea.”

“Don’t play dumb with me, boy. You know as well as I do that it’s bad news when the Murphys are on the move. They’ve crawled out of the woodwork to come for us. What the hell did you do?”

I drum my fingers lightly on my thigh. “I have done nothing. They, on the other hand, have some internal strife that they’re struggling to handle.”

“Is the truth simply fiction to you?” My father grunts sharply. “He told me that we’re harboring someone who has insulted the Irish to the point that there’s now a kill order out on them. Imagine my surprise when that little whore’s name popped up when I asked who it was.”

“Why did he call you?” Irritation begins to heat up under my skin. “You’re retired.”

“Clearly, he felt he could get more sense out of me than you. What are you playing at, Leonity? This woman is not one of ours. It’s not like she’s someone you paid for, so why are you risking so much of whatI’vebuilt? The Murphys are not worth the trouble so hand her over. Son, you have to do what’s best for the family.”

My eyes track a patrol of guards as they move through the gardens and I hum softly in acknowledgement. “The Irish lost some drugs and are blaming a low-level dealer. In fact, it was a smaller family, the Conti’s, that started this mess. So if the Murphys want a solution, they can look closer to home.”

“Son, you know it doesn’t work that way. You know?—”

I end the call because I spot my door opening in the window’s reflection. Brooke storms in.

“Are you busy?”

I set my phone down and turn to face her. “For you? No.”

“I’m so… ugh, I just want to scream!” She drags her hands down her face. “I’m so damn angry and frustrated, and I don’t know what to do.”

Pushing slightly away from the desk, I tap my thigh and invite her to sit. “Talk to me.”

Brooke strides over and drops into my lap, then sags back against my chest and heaves a deep sigh. “Ant. He says the coldest things. Accuses me of not caring about him and part of me thinks he’s right. I look at him and I don’t see my brother anymore. I think he’s lost for good, and all my attempts to reach him have just been feeding the monster that took his place. But then he talks about his disease and his lack of control. I always end up feeling so guilty.”

“Don’t feel guilty.” I press my lips to the side of her neck.

“Ok, I won’t because it’s that easy,” Brooke mutters. “Let me just switch off my feelings.”

I chuckle softly and kiss up to her hairline. “He’s an asshole and you’ve given him way more than he deserves. He’s family, I understand, but everyone has a limit.”

“He’s all I have,” Brooke says dismally.

“Not true.” As I kiss around to her jaw, I slide one hand up her quivering thigh and under her skirt to the soft heat of her inner thighs. “You have me.”

“Do I?”

I slide my hand higher and cup her heat only to find that she strolled in here without any panties on. “Of course you do. I told you that the day you came here. Your brother, on the other hand…” I can’t think of anything nice to say so I let my words trail off. I cup her jaw with my other hand and coax her to face me. As soon as she does, I kiss her.

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