Page 24 of Defy

“She’s sleeping,” was all I said, and then I shifted and strolled to my wet bar.

“Get her up. I want to see if she is okay with my own eyes.”

I pour a glass of soda for me and a finger of whisky for Lucian.

I never drank. I never acquired a taste for it or desired it. Having a sick fuck alcoholic of a father who abused his wife and children too much while under the influence could do that to a person. But who was I to keep others from their preferred choice of beverage as long as they indulged responsibly?

Plus, this jackass was the only one who came here anyway, so his preferred drink was the one I kept in stock.

Bringing the glass to him, I said. “I’m not waking Sophia up, so fuck off with your demands. I don’t give a shit who you are.”

“She needs to be with her family.”

I was her fucking family now.

“Exactly, where would that be?” I glared at him. “You mean at your parents’ house? A place where your mother can degrade her and blame her for ruining your sainted sister’s wedding. And your father can pretend she is the reason for all the misfortune in the family instead of the fact a vendetta against him put her in jail?”

“I’ll take her to my place. She will be safe there.”

“No, she stays here. With me.”

“She’s my sister. You don’t have any claim over her.”

That statement had me smirking, which immediately got his back up. “Is that so?”

He knew damn well what kind of relationship I had with Sophia.

“Don’t fucking use her.”

“I will punch you in the face if you say that again. Why did you send her to the greenhouse if you believed that bullshit about me?”

“You’re keeping me from her.”

“I am responsible for her. Sophia needs rest. That is the priority over your peace of mind.”

“I should put a bullet in your head.”

“It’s your prerogative. Then you’ll have to find a new facilities director for clean-up projects and disposal.”

“Everyone is replaceable. Accidents happen all the time.”

“Hmm. A lot of murders happen around the Morellis. No wonder they want to make an example out of Sophia.” I clenched my fingers around the tumbler in my hand. “This whole thing is a sloppy mess.”

“What do you know? And how did you get her out?”

“I know she’s innocent.” I glared at him. “And I know a dumbass did the job and decided to frame her.”

“Well, that leaves me out.” Lucian's bland tone eased some of my irritation with him. “Though we wouldn’t be in this situation if I had done it. I wouldn’t leave a body behind for anyone to find.”

“Since I’m part of your clean-up crew, I wish you had done the deed.”

“You aren’t part of anyone’s crew. You’re useful only when you want to step in.” Anger radiated from Lucian. “You should have handled Randolph the right way from the beginning. This is what happens when you decide to warn a motherfucker instead of removing them from the scenario.”

“The nuclear option isn’t always the best.”

“In this case, it was.”

“The priority is to find out who framed Sophia, not ruminate about the past.”

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