Page 46 of Fallen Legacy

“So, if I want to work as a lap dancer?” she asks me, grinning.

I growl and pull her against me. “Funny.”

She smiles and looks out at the view. “Two weeks, huh?”

I can’t gauge her thoughts and I’ve got pretty good at reading her. This is not the reaction I am expecting, and it has thrown me slightly.

“You’re not going to scream and shout?”

“What’s the point?” she scoffs. “It’s not like it will change the situation. My destiny was set in motion the minute Wilbur discovered I existed.”

I don’t enjoy seeing her like this. I want her fire and her anger. She meets my eyes when I cup her head. “I know I’m a bastard. You have every right to hate me, Scar. We both know it, but I think you and I, we’ll be good together.”

“Well, I guess we’ll find out.” She places her hands on my chest. “Can you promise me one thing?”

“Name it,” I tell her without hesitation. I’ll give her the fucking moon if she wants it. This tiny little scarlet-haired beauty has me wrapped around her finger.

“That you won’t keep me away from Damon.”

I swallow. That fucker has wormed his way into my girl’s heart. I know she doesn’t feel for him that way, but it still stings like a fucker to know that she needs him in her life.

“You’re asking a lot there, Scar,” I admit with a sigh. “How about I promise to try?”

She smiles at me, and it makes my dead heart stutter in my chest. “I’ll take that. It’s a start.”

ELIZA

“You sure about this?” Silver asks me as we both sit in his car, staring up at the four gated houses at the top of the cliff.

“No, but it doesn’t change that I have to go back there,” I say with a weary sigh.

He reaches over the centre of the car and wraps his hand over mine. “It’ll be okay, princess. You ever need me, I’m just a call away. I don’t care who this fucker thinks he is.”

I smile at my friend’s loyalty. “I don’t deserve you.”

“You do,” he insists. “You pull people in, princess, and they become addicted to your fire and your big heart.”

“Don’t,” I protest, shaking my head. “You’ll make me cry and I am done with crying.” I squeeze his hand. “Thank you for everything.”

“Anytime, princess,” he replies with a lazy smile. “Now, walk in there with your head held high.”

Nodding, I take a steadying breath and open the car door and climb out. I stride forward with more confidence than I feel. Before I can reach for the door handle, it swings open, and Kit stands before me with a beaming smile on his face.

“Welcome home, sis,” he greets, beckoning me inside.

This place is not my home, but I plaster on a smile and, with one brief look at Silver, I step into the Alderman mansion. As Kit closes the door to the outside world, I feel my freedom slip further away. I wish my dad was here to tell me what to do.

“Ah, lass, it’s lovely to see you.” Edith comes bustling into the hallway and pulls me into a warm hug. Her rosewood scent surrounds me and eases my worries. She steps back and cups my cheek with her palm. “We’ve missed you, haven’t we Kit?”

“Like a hole in the head,” Kit jokes, ducking when I reach to clip him round the ear.

“You’re not too big for me to pull you down a peg or two little brother.”

He chuckles and winks at me as he throws an affectionate arm around me. “I think it’s you that’s the little one now.”

Wilbur’s study door opens, and the merriment quickly evaporates. I stiffen under Kit’s arm.

“Wilbur,” I say with a bob of my head.

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