“We know,” Donovan says. “We’ve both been with her too.”
The admission hangs in the air. We’ve danced around this all week, but now it’s out in the open.
“So what are we doing?” Kai asks. “Because I’m not backing off. I want her.”
“We all want her,” I say. “But does she understand what that means?”
Donovan drums his fingers on the armrest. “She should have figured that out by now. She’s smart.”
“Knowing and experiencing are different things.” I stand and move to the window. Snow is still falling, adding to the already impressive accumulation. “We need to be clear with her about what we’re offering.”
“You mean tell her she’s ours now?” Kai grins.
“I mean tell her what the arrangement is. Give her the choice.” I turn back to face them. “If she’s with one of us, she’s with all of us. That’s how this works. She needs to know that before this goes any further.”
Donovan nods slowly. “Agreed. No more dancing around it.”
“I’m fine with that.” Kai’s still grinning. “Though for the record, I think she already knows. She’s just waiting for one of us to say it out loud.”
He might be right. Samantha’s observant. But assuming she understands and making sure she understands are two different things.
“There’s something else,” Kai says, and his tone shifts slightly. “I might have watched the security footage.”
I go very still. “Excuse me?”
“The cameras in the hallways. Private wing.” He’s not even trying to look apologetic. “I saw you and Samantha in your office. A few days ago.”
Donovan’s jaw tightens. “You watched our father have sex on surveillance cameras?”
“Just enough to confirm what I suspected.” Kai holds up his hands. “I wasn’t going to sit around wondering if something happened. I needed to know.”
“You’re a pervert,” I say flatly.
“I’m thorough.”
“You’re lucky you’re family.” Donovan’s voice is cold. “You know what happens to people who snoop around this house looking at things they shouldn’t see.”
The temperature in the room drops.
Kai’s grin falters slightly, but he doesn’t back down. “Come on. I’m not some outsider digging for dirt. I’m your brother. Your son. I was just curious.”
“Curious people get themselves into trouble.” I move back to my desk, hands flat on the surface. “You remember Tom? The security contractor who got too interested in our private business?”
Kai’s expression shifts. “Dad?—”
“He started asking questions. Watching footage he shouldn’t have been watching. Trying to piece together information about our operations.” I hold his gaze. “We haven’t seen Tom in three years.”
“Jesus,” Donovan mutters.
“He’s lucky,” I continue. “Some people don’t get to just disappear. Some people get found in pieces.”
Kai swallows hard. “Point taken.”
“Good.” I straighten. “You’re family, so you get a pass. But remember that privacy exists for a reason. Even between us.”
“Understood.” He looks chastened now. “I won’t do it again.”
“See that you don’t.” I glance at Donovan. “And you? Any confessions?”
