Hard Fought (A Stepbrother Warriors Novel)(46)

"And...I've been getting some letters. I've always gotten threats, but these are more specific, and mentioning Burke and Dad...Now I'm sorry I didn't mention them before, but I didn't want anyone to worry."

"Ray wouldn't do something like this! He wouldn't put you in danger," Anne argues. I watch as a storm of emotions flits across her face as she struggles to understand this new information about the man to whom she's engaged. "You don't see him like I do. When we're alone, he's so tender, so loving, and proud of his children, both of you!"

"Mom, no one is arguing he doesn't love you," Carter says gently. "But he has put his children in danger. And you, and your children."

"What exactly do you expect me to do here?" Anne counters. "There's a story, some letters, and a tape, and a man who reaches behind him for something we can't see. What do you expect me to do?"

I clear my throat. "Well, we thought if we could all talk to him together, tell him we don't feel safe, maybe he would reconsider the deal. With a substantial payoff, maybe the cartel would—"

"No. I won't be any part of this. I can't believe you would all turn against him. After all he's done for you. Carter, he saved your life, for god's sake!" she says, turning to her eldest.

"I didn't ask him to do that," Carter replies, his jaw clenching. "And he's never let me forget it."

"Bree, this beautiful house, space and time for you to write in—" she counters, turning to her daughter.

"Mom, I know you've had tough times before, but you made it through then. We did it together, and we could do it again. Golden handcuffs are still handcuffs," Bree whispers.

Anne rears back as though she's been slapped. Her face contorts with emotion, and she storms out of the room. I see Jack smiling proudly at Bree before he looks up at me.

"So, Lex, what now?" he asks. I shift uncomfortably and turn to Carter.

"What do you think?"

"I think you already know what to do," he points out. I take a deep breath.

"We should all go to him together. Maybe with Jack there, that'll be enough. But we have to do it tonight so that we catch him off balance," I decide.





Chapter Thirty



I stare out the back window of my bedroom onto the ocean. The water is only visible in spots next to fishing lights where the beams bounce off the flickering waves. Things are coming to a head, and I can't help but feel there won't be any turning back after tonight. There's a quiet knock at my door and I jump.

"Come in," I call, pulling the throw blanket a little tighter around my shoulders. I smile as I see Carter enter. He walks slowly into the room and leans on the wall next to me, crossing his thick arms over his chest.

"I don't know if this means much...but I'm proud of you."

Tears spring to my eyes. "It means a lot, actually."

"And maybe your father will back out of the deal," he adds. "I think Jack's opinion of him means a lot, and he won't want to seem diminished in his eyes."

"Maybe," I consider. "God, how did this become my life? Remember when I was just worried about paying for school? It does seem especially cruel that he wouldn't give me money for tuition when I know now that he was putting my life in danger for millions of dollars," I add with a bitter laugh.

"You'll go back to school," Carter says.

"Yeah?"

"Yup. You could start in the summer semester. Just a couple classes to dip your toe in, maybe get a part-time job to help pay for it."

"That sounds nice. Getting out of class in the late afternoon, in the sweltering heat, and going home to make dinner. And you'd be there, I think."

"I would already have dinner made, actually."

I break out into a silly grin. "You would?"

"Oh, absolutely. I'm pretty handy in the kitchen. And then after dinner, you could do your homework, while I watch some TV, and then we'll get into our bed—"

"So we're already living together at this point?" I ask, raising my eyebrows.

"Well, to save money on rent..." he replies, light dancing in his green eyes.

"We're taking things slow, remember?" I murmur, leaning into him. I inhale his scent, and every nerve ending in my body lights up. He bends his head forward and softly brushes his lips against mine. My mouth opens and our tongues slip together as his arms wrap around my waist. My hands wrap behind his neck and my fingers dig through his hair. I break off with a giggle. "This is really poor timing."

"You're right," he says, taking a deep, steadying breath. "You just have quite an effect on me. It's not that I'm trying to speed things up—"