Page 432 of The Tempted

He ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends as he took a step closer and pierced me with a cold stare.

That shit didn’t work with me. I wasn’t some street thug who he could scare with one look. I was his goddamn sister. I was his blood. I knew him better than most people did and that look, it meant nothing. I could stare right back at him, give him the same look because I learned from the best. I learned from him.

I learned a lot from my brother.

I learned not to ask questions.

I learned to stand by the people you care about even when the things they do are unethical.

I learned to defend myself because he went away for three years, leaving me to fight my own battles.

I learned how to fight for what I wanted because he never gave up on what he wanted.

I bet he’s sorry he taught me how to be a strong woman.

“He asked me to do this, Lauren,” he said hoarsely. “He asked me to take you away from here and to be the one who watches over you and the baby.”

I shook my head.

“You’re lying,” I whispered, the words settling in causing my eyes to fill with uncertain tears. I stared at him, waiting for something, some kind of sign he was just blowing smoke at me to get me to go with him but it never came.

“He’s not coming home, Lauren.”

“No, stop it,” I demanded, wiping away the tears that fell down my cheeks. Stupid hormones! I took a deep breath, trying to collect myself before I looked back at my brother. “Riggs wants me to move out? He wants to pawn me off on you? Because there is some bullshit problem with his club. That’s what you’re telling me?”

He didn’t answer me.

“Fine, then you’re going to take me to wherever he is, and he’s going to have to tell me with his own mouth.”

“Lauren, you don’t want that,” he said.

“No, what I don’t want is my brother coming here to collect me like I’m some piece of baggage,” I croaked, as my voice cracked and the tears fell again. “So, if Riggs wants me gone, then he will have to look me in the eye and tell me himself. He will have to be man enough to break my heart this time.”

I turned around, grabbed my purse from the counter and started for the door. Anthony remained where he was, just staring at me.

“Now!” I demanded.

“Don’t do this,” he pleaded one final time.

“I didn’t do shit,” I hissed as I opened the door.

He sighed heavily before walking toward the door, pausing in front of me and taking my hand in his. I glanced down at our joined hands before lifting my eyes back to his. He squeezed my hand as his eyes silently apologized for his words.

Something was wrong all right.

And my heart wouldn’t survive it.

Anthony brought me into his arms and held me as I cried against his chest. I prayed for it to be a lie, but in the back of my mind I feared that it was the truth.

Kitten and Tiger were the lie.

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