Page 42 of A Forgotten Promise

“What the fuck?” Cal comes from somewhere and barrels into me as I speak to Larissa.

My assistant moves the chair like he could hurt her through the heightened counter of her desk. Or she just wants a better view of the drama. Knowing her, it’s the latter.

I step away from my seething partner and lean against the counter. “What do you need, Caleb?”

“You went out with Saar,” he barks, and grabs my lapels. “I swear to God—”

“Get your hands off me. Your sister is a grownup. She can spend her time however she wants.”

After the semi-uncomfortable dinner last night, I drove her home in silence, and she fell asleep in the car. Like an open mouth, full-on drooling, out-of-it kind of a snooze.

I parked in front of the building where she currently lives with her friend for another forty minutes before I woke her up.

She looked like she needed the rest. Even with her jaw slack, she was beautiful. It was probably my only chance to see her like that. And I enjoyed seeing her so peaceful.

What I don’t like is her neighborhood. To her protest and chagrin, I walked her to the door of her apartment. It’s a small shoebox of a place, barely big enough for one person, let alone two.

I need to investigate just how dire her financial situation is. Something doesn’t add up here.

“Haven’t you hurt her enough?” Cal’s nostrils flare, spitting the words into my face.

I remain calm. Unmoved. At least, physically. I want to punch his face for daring to attack me in the middle of our office. I want to push him away, but I also know that leaning into his wrath would only make him feel justified.

“I’d never hurt her,” I enunciate into his face. “Unless she asks for it,” I add, only because I’m an asshole. And I’ve been having a shitty year, and I want to spread the feeling. I’m that generous.

“My sister is off limits.” He drops my lapels and shakes his shoulders, his hateful gaze boring into me.

“Again, van den Linden, she’s an adult with a functioning brain. I didn’t force her to dine with me. I did, however, enjoy it. And she did, too. Especially the dessert.” Yes, I’m definitely an asshole.

The only thing either of us enjoyed was verbal sparring—I know I did—and the proximity to the end of the evening. The sooner, the better.

The comment sets him off again. “Don’t you fucking…” He clenches his fist, his knuckles whitening before he draws his arm back.

A mess of dreadlocks flashes behind him, and Roxy grabs his arm. She practically hangs from his biceps with her two hands before she pushes us to my office.

Banging the door closed, she puts her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with the two of you?” To say she looks pissed would be a gross understatement.

I put my hands into my pockets and glare at Cal. “You were all for my fake marriage.” I shrug, and Roxy gasps.

Caleb lurches forward, and this time, the fucker punches me. I stagger backward, the metallic taste of blood spurring me into action.

“Idiots,” Roxy shrieks as I return the punch, the shock of contact with his jaw reverberating down my arm.

Fuck, that hurts. And it feels good. I guess I can add brawling to my current list of unreasonable behavior.

Cal swears and launches at me, but strong arms jerk me away from him. I pant like I’ve just finished a 10K run, and it takes me a moment to recognize Xander is holding Cal. I try to shake off the hands holding me back.

“Stop it, you eejit.” Declan’s words penetrate through my adrenaline-infused mind.

My brother lets go, but steps in front of me. He glares at me while I try to figure out how to get out of this like a winner.

Or at least not like a completeeejit. That word pulled me out of the fog. My father used it a lot.

Declan raises his eyebrows, unimpressed. That’s the problem with older brothers. Especially the ones you respect. They can put you in your place without a word.

But there is another problem with older brothers. Especially the overbearing ones who try to steal their sister’s autonomy.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Roxy hisses, keeping her voice down like we could leave this office and pretend in front of our employees that nothing happened.

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