Page 135 of Violet

“Wanted, past tense. Responsibilities exist. Something you need to keep under your hat. You know my sister wants a big family, and I don’t know what the fuck your plan is there, but you have to man up. She’s not an Emporia girl. Those people will eat her alive and you know it.”

“Violet and I have talked. And it’s between us so don’t go sticking your nose in.”

“I don’t want to know about your sex life with my sister.” He shudders like he bit into something incredibly bitter. “It’s a violation on every level. Just…if you hurt her, I will kill you, understand? Vi is special. They all are, but Vi’s…”

He flounders, and I get it. The three eldest have a special bond. Especial him and Violet. But he sees her as delicate and breakable, and I think she’s a lot stronger than that.

Just like her quietness hides a lot of depth, and her willingness and drive to please houses not just a slight kink, but shadows over her keen observation and bluntness and humor.

She’s the full package, and she’s more than he’s willing to see.

Fuck, I sound like I have it bad.

“We talked, that’s it. Pages aligned.” That’s true, now. And if I had to twist the truth a little, take some matters into my hands then…

“And Emporia?”

I sigh. We haven’t discussed that yet. Heath and I have spent half the day chatting and finishing some of the fixes I wanted on the ground floor. It’s still her playground, but it should be solid before she plays.

Instead of answering him immediately, I pour us each a drink. He snatches it, and eyes me with dislike that can only come from a place of brotherly love. A violent place that has resentment and all kinds of other things in there.

Anyone but Violet and this would be an open, honest, normal conversation.

Now I have to spend time stepping around landmines.

“This isn’t my home, Heath.”

“But it’s hers.”

“I live in Emporia.” I take a sip and rub the back of my neck. “Look, I could spend time between both places, and yeah, okay, I’m doing that, as you know I’m fixing this up as a home for us.”

“We.Weare doing that. And a holiday home? A visit for a week each year home? A stop by when you might feel like it home? Or a dump Vi here while you do fuck knows elsewhere home?”

He’s dangerously close to meeting my fist.

“I’m not cheating on Violet, and I’m not about to. So if you even put those ideas in her head, I’ll…”

“What? Hit me? Bring it the fuck on.” He downs his drink.

I thrust the bottle at him. “I like my mate. I don’t want her upset if I kill her stupid brother.”

“So what are you gonna do? You can’t take her away from her family.”

The wordswhy notplay at the edges, but I keep them tucked inside. “I’m not planning to, but do you want her to just be like all the other Omegas here?”

“I’m not?—”

“You don’t have a say in our lives, Heath. I’m a successful actor. I’m trying to shift to a more serious career which means more selective roles, behind the scenes shit, things that Iwantto do rather than just go with the money-making flow.” I look at him. “Don’t you think Violet deserves to find herself?”

He studies me for a long time then pours a large drink, shaking his head. “You’re heading out of here, aren’t you?”

“Clea called early this morning.”

Heath finds the bottle label suddenly interesting, and I say, “Maybe she’s why you don’t want us to go? Are you scared?”

He scoffs. “We had sex. She didn’t threaten me. And is she my type, yeah, to a point. But she’s definitely a woman who doesn’t want anything serious. I don’t have room for that. The ‘to a point,’ before you say it, comes into play over the fact I’m here and she’s there. I can’t go there. Family.”

“Well.” That’s…a lot of information. And Clea was just as cagey. Maybe?—

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