Page 5 of Tempted

“What is this? Are we running a business here, or a refuge for women? I do not know what it is with you boys, but every time you meet a lass, somehow, yet another team of security and investigative personnel is required.”

Caleb,braveCaleb, decides that now is the time to break his silence. “Da, we figured that after this goon came after us last night, that you would demand more security be put on this. If that's not what you want, that we can call the whole damn thing off.”

“You are the last person that should be speaking out of turn, lad. You yourself have brought on enough trouble for this family.”

Caleb,stupidCaleb, rises. “If I recall, da, we haveyouto thank for that. Given that you were the one that wished for me and Laney to marry, whether we wanted to or not.”

Uncle Dougall pauses, a smirk sits across his lips, the same smirk that he uses when he's about to explode. “Who was the fool that was donating money to a drug abusing whore?”

Caleb snickers, dragging a hand down his face, shaking his head. “Remember who that lass was, da. If it had not been for her, we would not have your beloved grandchild, Peg.”

Dougall quickly grasps his head peering around the room for his next victim. His gaze lands on Ethan. Ethan lifts a finger, glancing at his da. “You say a word against Freya, and I'll remind you how she saved said grandchild from her kidnappers.”

Growing frustrated, Dougall turns his gaze back to me. “You have more to say to me, lad? Did you get what you wanted out of her?”

I feel my fist balling up. This pleases him. When Uncle Dougall is out for blood, he doesn't rest until he gets it. That is, unless my Auntie enters the room. Her timing is more impeccable than mine, evidently. The moment Dougall sees his fair maiden wife, his face immediately softens.

Declan, likely feeling left out, takes a stab at me. “Based on that sour puss of yours, I'd say that Malcolm struck out. Did you even make it to your house, lad?” He taunts me.

Caleb jumps on this dogpile, too. “Aye. He fucked it up.”

My gaze darts to his. “You’ll keep your fucking mouth shut if you know what's good for you.”

My threat falls on deaf ears. “What did you do, huh. Did she shut you down when you put the moves on her, man?”

I decide that I’ve had enough fighting for today, and Uncle Dougall has grown bored of us, since he couldn’t draw blood, so he and Auntie have left the room. “Steph stole evidence from the scene.” I inform, changing the subject.

All eyes are on me. “What do you mean, evidence?” Declan asks. “He smothered her from what I understand.”

I shrug. “She wouldn’t say. That’s when she kicked me out. I knew that she was hiding something in her purse, but she wouldn’t tell me.”

“She’s stringing you along, Malcolm.” Caleb states.

“I don’t see why she’d have a reason to.” I state. “I’m the one that offered for her to stay with me. Hell, I even offered to stay with her instead, as an alternate.”

“And she didn’t want to?” Declan is confused. “Maybe she doesn’t really like you after all.”

Ethan waves. “Na, she likes the lad well enough. Did you see her face light up when she found out that he likes her?”

Declan’s neck cranes at his brother. “Do you know nothing about the lasses, brother? Flattery will get you everywhere, man. She was probably just feeling her chest puff out. Sure, she wasn’t put off by it, but maybe she really doesn’t like him.”

I’m growing irritated. “Will you stop talking about me like I’m not here!”

Caleb ignores me. “Well, if she kicked him out, what the fuck do you think that means, idiot.”

I exhale sharply. “It’s because I called her out. Before that, her eyes were telling me that she wanted me.”

Ethan chuckles. “Bullshit. If she wanted you, she’d have had you by now, cousin. No offense, but I’ve heard through the grapevine that Steph isn’t exactly shy with the mates.”

The way he says this isn’t to insult her. It’s more to corroborate his point, so I don’t take it offensively. And just as he says this, Steph and Colton Ford walk by. I raise a brow, lowering my voice. “What...the fuck? Why is she here?”

“Sheisan engineer.” Caleb states, rising, watching the two of them as they pass by the open boardroom door and pass it. He nods hello to both of them, but otherwise acts impassive.

“Yeah, but her granny just fucking died!” I hiss. “And what is Colton doing here?”

That’s when da approaches from the hub area. “I have a meeting with Colton Ford. That’s why he’s here.”

“And why is Steph here?” I ask under my breath, as though they’ll hear us, even though it sounds like they’ve gone into one of the other meeting rooms.

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