Page 63 of Discord
“If he so much as touched you—”
“He didn’t touch me,” I replied sharply.
Brandon narrowed his eyes and found a loophole in my answer. “Did you touch him?” The angry voice turned a few heads in our direction.
I rolled my eyes, tugging at his hand. “Can we please speak without an audience?”
Brandon gave me a contemptuous look but otherwise held his tongue. With a curt nod, he led me to the elevators. He didn’t say another word as we took it to his apartment, though the grip on my arm remained ironclad. He practically hauled me out the elevator—the grip never wavering—and pushed me inside his apartment.
A knot tightened in my stomach. I hadn’t seen Brandon in weeks, and instead of a hug, I had been welcomed by accosting words. First words out of his mouth as he closed the apartment door, “Did you touch him?”
I wanted to throw something at him, preferably something heavy. But upon catching sight of his murderous mien, I realized it might be easier to explain rather than help Brandon hide Chris’ body.
“No,” I snapped. “I met with him because I wanted advice. Also, he is my friend and I intend to keep it that way.”
Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. “Like hell.”
I felt dreary. “Trust me when I tell you, Chris isn’t interested in me.”
Maybe I should disclose Chris’ preference in partners. Then again, he never confirmed it with me, and that’s how rumors were started. Brandon would just have to get over it.
“And if anyone owes an explanation, it’s you. Where the hell have you been?”
For a moment, he was quiet. Then he spoke with heavy resignation in his voice. “California.”
“Why?”
He looked at a point over my shoulders. “I was selling back the shares.”
“You mean the shares you bought behind Milo’s back?”
He confirmed it with a curt nod. “I didn’t want to see you or speak to you until I made it right.”
My heart fluttered. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I couldn’t speak for a few beats. “Make it right?” I finally asked in a whisper.
“I went to California and sold everything after I read your email. It was…” he paused as if searching for the right words.
“The guarantee you needed?” I finished the sentence, eyes brimming with hope. I had poured my heart out in that email, outlining my lifelong obsession. Did he finally understand the extent of my feelings? “You want to be with me despite everything you read?” I couldn’t help but ask.
He huffed like I was being ridiculous. “Yeah, Bunny. I fucking want to be with you.”
Relief cascaded through my body, though it was short-lived. Brandon just gave up his only safety net and was left defenseless.
After meeting Asher, I understood Brandon’s reasons for taking out insurance against Milo. Brandon was doing it to protect himself. If he had become the majority owner, Milo couldn’t kick him out of the company as he did with Asher. Milo was indisputably protective. He ruined Asher for disregarding his rules. He was ready to punish Chris Allen for only attempting to hurt me, and Chris was only a child back then. Brandon was the grown man Milo would undoubtedly accuse of taking advantage of his little sister.
What might he do to Brandon?
The pressure lay heavily over my chest becauseIput him in this compromising position. I didn’t want him to betray my brother, but I also hated leaving Brandon so vulnerable. It was an impossible situation. “I’m sorry. I know he’ll destroy you for this.”
“Better than being without you,” he readily whispered back. The sincerity in his voice wasn’t smothered by his usual arrogance.
It was torturous how much I ached for this man. I wanted everything with him. My life. My future. My every waking moment. I forced my legs to move, hands reaching out and placing flat over his chest. He made a rough sound in his throat and pulled me close.
“Fuck, I missed you,” he said gruffly, burying his face in my hair.
I breathed him in. “I missed you, too. I was so angry when I didn’t hear from you. I ended up calling Carmen.”
Brandon leaned back to cup my face. “Oh yeah? What did she have to say?”
