I immediately let go of Sara’s hands, the trance broken.
“So who was—” Sloane immediately clocked us, or rather me, on top of Sara. “You know what? I’m starving.” Sloane grabbed Jules, whose mouth dropped open with a grin before they both abruptly spun around.
Underneath me, Sara still hadn’t moved, she was still juststaring at me, and I swallowed hard as I rocked back and hauled her up off the ground in one quick motion.
“Told you I’d catch you.” I said, the blood still roaring in my ears as I quickly let go, but when she swayed, my hand shot right back out to steady her, realizing she hadn’t found her footing. As I gripped her, Sara just stared up at me with a look I couldn’t quite make sense of. “We should probably head back.” I offered, heart hammering so wildly against my chest, I wondered if she could hear it.
Her mouth opened and closed before she nodded just once and then finally stepped back.
As we headed back towards the house, she walked slightly ahead of me, giving me a perfect view of her leaf-covered backside.
I tried not to look, but it didn’t matter—I didn’t know if I’d ever get the feeling of her lying underneath me out of my mind.Didn’t know if I wanted to.
CHAPTER 9
Over My Dead Body
CARTER
“Carter, I’d like a word with you.” Brad Devereux, Sara’s father, called from the doorway.
“Of course.” I reluctantly followed Brad into his office and took a seat in the leather chair across from his desk, realizing it was an ambush. Richard Sinclair and Samuel Mortarulo were seated on the leather couch off to the side, smoking cigars and sipping amber drinks.
I’d sat in here many times before, and while I was wildly grateful to the Devereux family for keeping an eye on me after my parents had died, I wasn’t that uncertain teenager anymore, hadn’t been for a long while now.
I knew Brad meant well, but I didn’t come back for these pressure-filled conversations. If anything, I’d come back for personal reasons, and the smell of Sara’s spiced apple cobbler wafting through the house was certainly one of them.
Brad lit up a cigar before motioning to the box, offering me one, but I shook my head and settled into the plush leather chair with my old-fashioned still in hand.
“Have you considered The Society’s offer?” He asked, and I realized we were getting straightto it today.
Of course, I had seen the stack of letters that had somehow mysteriously appeared on my kitchen counter when I’d come home. How or who had left them there, I wasn’t entirely sure because the security cameras didn’t log anyone entering or exiting. Violating didn’t even begin to cover it.
“I’m still thinking it over.” I lied, watching him and the other men carefully. Even now, I could sense Brad was in deep, just like my father had been, and it made me uneasy. At this point, he was just another voice badgering me to come back to Briar Rose, and it wasn’t much better than any of my father’s friends, haranguing me to do the same.
He nodded. “I understand you’re going through a phase right now, Carter, but I can assure you, your father would have wanted you to follow in his footsteps, especially in joining the organization.”
I cringed at the comparison. I loved my father, I truly did, but I wasn’t all that confident I was anything like him. In fact, I really hoped I wasn’t. “Well, he’s not here anymore, so unfortunately he doesn’t get a say.” I said, cramming all my emotions back down as politely as I could.
Brad sat forward, and the tension in the room increased as something frustrated, or maybe even panicked, flashed across his expression. “Carter, I’ve hesitated to say this until now, but there are agreements that were made long before you took over the estate. Do you understand?” That was a new piece of information.
“What agreements?” I asked warily.
Brad’s gaze shifted to Samuel, almost as if he were looking for permission. “Your father was right in the middle of some very important work with the organization, and we’ve all been very patient over the years, waiting for you to continue what he started.”
“Brad, I have a career.” I countered skeptically, “Aside from maintaining the estate itself, I’m not interested in settling down in Briar Rose. I’m sorry, it’s just not in the cards for me anymore.”
“I’ve already spoken with The Society Director and they’ve agreed to make an exception. They will allow you to join, even if you’re only here part time.” Desperation saturated his request under the unyielding timber of his tone.
“You’re not hearing me.”
Brad put his hand up. “If you’re going to refuse, then I would implore you to turn the estate over tome,so that I can uphold the agreements your father made.” Was he serious? There was no way in hell that was happening. “There are requirements that must be met to uphold your family name. Your membership is long overdue, and The Society is growing restless. They’ve beenverypatient over the years, letting you run rampant, and I fear that patience is running thin.”
I was stunned, actually couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “You know I’m not going to do that.” I scoffed as he indifferently puffed his cigar again. “Brad, why don’t we just cut the bullshit because I’m honestly pretty sick of this cloak and dagger nonsense with the three of you. Maybe if you tell me about theseagreementsyou’re referring to, we can figure something out, but frankly, I’ve had just about enough of this.”
“Son, the details are completely irrelevant, and whether you like it or not, you’re a cornerstone of the Briar Rose community, so youwilluphold this longstanding tradition.”
I shook my head, growing more frustrated by the minute. One of the few people who’d stood by my side in all this was suddenly turning on me, and in that moment, I realized he’d never been on my side to begin with.
