Page 77 of Sweet Sin

“You’re imagining things,” I say.

“I’ve known you a long time, Falcon. I know what your face says.”

“Do you?” I scoff. “We’ve been separated for the last eight years, Leif. You don’t know what the fuck I went through, and I don’t know what the fuck you went through. I think it’s safe to say that we’re not the same people we once were.”

“Yeah, sure. We’ll go with that. For now, at least. Anyway, Scarlett is living at home with Mom and Dad.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She hates it, since she’s twenty-nine years old and all. But she got laid off from her job as a paralegal. The firm was downsizing.”

“Money trouble?”

“I don’t think so. Not as long as she’s living with Mom and Dad. She’s a smart girl. She’ll find her way.”

Yeah.

She’ll find her way all right. By way of my littlest brother, who’s gotten into some bad shit again.

“Have you talked to her lately?”

“Yeah. Kelly and I stayed with Mom and Dad when we first came out, while our house was being built.”

“You got a house built that quickly?”

“Money talks, but no. Kelly inherited a ton of money from her psycho father. So we’re having it built on the family’s property, but we did stay with Mom and Dad for a few nights. We’re set up in town right now, in a short-term rental.”

“I see.” I draw in a breath. “Have you seen Eagle?”

“Once. He came to the house to see Scarlett when Kelly and I were still living there. That was a month or so ago.”

“They’re not…involved, are they?”

“I don’t think so. Scarlett didn’t say anything like that.”

I nod.

“Why do you ask?”

“You don’t know? My little brother’s had a crush on your sister for years.”

“Really? She’s four years older than he is.”

“She is, and she’s also hot as hell.”

Leif scowls at me. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”

I take the tennis ball from Sydney’s mouth and throw it into the front yard for her. “Be that as it may. She’s hot as all get out, and I think my brother’s doing some stupid shit at her bidding.”

“Hold on.” Leif goes rigid. “Scarlett wouldn’t do anything wrong.”

“Wouldn’t she?” I toss Sydney’s ball again. “How well do you know your sister?”

“I know her well enough, for sure. You watch your mouth, Fal.”

I rise and scoop up Sammy who’s chewing on a shrub. “Leif, I would’ve said the same thing about my brother. And I can’t tell you any more than that. But he let me down.”

“When you left—”

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