Chapter Three
Jacinta
When the limo pulls into the driveway, the silence in the car is heavy. Nobody has had much to say since we received our summons to the estate. Dad hadn't even bothered to call us; we got a group text message from Cecelia requesting our appearance for lunch.
But as we start the long trek up the driveway, Oliver’s shout breaks the tense silence, grabbing our attention. He rips his sunglasses off his face like he can't believe what he’s seeing and slams his finger down on the window control next to him. As the tinted glass goes down, we can all see his Aston Martin screaming toward us.
“What the fuck? Someone stole my fucking car!” he shouts, but it slows down as it reaches us, the window lowering.
It’s like we’re all suddenly going in slow motion as we pass one another. Harlow’s wicked grin appears, followed by a wink, and she blows a kiss to Oliver before time speeds up again.
Huh, if I wasn’t determined to hate the bitch, I’d be impressed. Taking Oli’s car is certainly one way to figuratively kick him in the nuts. Maybe I should feel bad for the guy. I mean, he barely did anything except keep his silence, but the possessive part of me that doesn’t want to share her brothers or put her family at risk is loving any little wedge that gets driven between them and my new “sister.” Could I have given her a chance when Dad first told us about her? No. Absolutely not. The world has a very harsh way of correcting my mistakes, and others have paid a very dear price for my inability to make wise decisions about who to trust.
The limo is silent again, but this time it’s a stunned silence, until Kai starts to chuckle.
“Well, it looks like Dad’s not going to forgive anyone so easily this time.” He’s slouched back, looking far too unconcerned, but then again, Kai’s always loved his freedom and adrenaline rushes more than he’s ever lovedthings. Unless Dad plans to lock him in the house until he gives Harlow a fair chance, there’s really not much that he can take from my most carefree brother. Plus, it’s not like Dad would even have to fight that hard to win him over. I love Kai the same as all my other brothers, but he doesn’t have that bite to him that some of the rest of us do. I know my strongest ally won’t be found in him.
My gaze moves from him to Holden and Thomas who both have frowns on their faces, likely trying to figure out what Dad might have in store for them. Neither of them has been particularly vocal about the new arrival, both sitting back and allowing the rest of us to do what we’ve wanted. From them, my eyes find my two brothers who have actively been helping me try to get rid of the interloping bitch. Both Jaxon and Declan look as furious as Oliver, like giving Oliver’s car to her has offended them as much as it’s upset him, and I smile to myself.At least I still have three on my side.
Harlow's reaction to the spectacular billboard’s unveiling was delicious, and I thought that we’d seen the last of her, but the subsequent fallout was more than I had anticipated. After Dad kicked us out, we’d had a family meeting, and Kai was the first to attack me.
“You can leave me out of it. I like the girl. She has a backbone, and who are we to say she doesn't get a chance? In the past, it’s been women or men trying to get at us to get a piece of the pie, but she’s not doing that. She’s here to get to know Dad, and she deserves that chance, just as much if not more than we did when he adopted us.”
“Bullshit, like she wouldn’t take the money if she was offered it,” Declan grumbled from his place on the sofa.
“But shewasoffered it, and you saw how offended she seemed when Dad tried to give her one of the company credit cards. She was horrified.” Thomas’ quiet words had me rolling my eyes. The softie was so easily fooled, never learning his lesson even though both he and almost the company had been a victim of that naivete in the past.
“Jesus, it’s lucky you guys have me, or you would have all been conned by the first woman to welcome your cocks into their warm pussy. It was an act. What better way to make it seem like she isn't here for the money?” I explained to them all, but Holden shook his head.
“I don't know about that. She did seem genuinely surprised.” He shrugged, his eyes flashing with annoyance.“I’d like to get to know her a bit better so that I can make my own judgment.” I couldn’t stop myself from bristling at the combination of his words and that look on his face. Generally, Holden and I were on the same page when it came to protecting our family, so it was a bit of a surprise to know he was changing his tune. Granted, he hadn’t helped much with the billboard, but sitting back and letting me keep us safe made my life much easier than him going out there and giving the bitch a chance!
“Hey, you didn't say anything when I first told you about this plan.”
“Yeah, but you were all family first, rah, rah, rah, and I didn’t want to let you down. But to be honest, I hate how angry Dad is at us, and I don't want to upset him or Nana and Poppy anymore. You remember how grateful I was when Dad took us in.” His eyes go to Oliver, our brother pretending not to hear him. Which was pretty much the norm between those two. One would reach out, albeit tiny glances or steps toward having some kind of connection, and the other would shy away. “I just don’t want to rock the boat anymore.”
“Arrghh!” The scream easily filled the limo despite how spacious it was. “Well, I’m not giving up, and I’m watching her as closely as possible. I want you all to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Has your PI reported anything yet, Declan?” I asked my oldest brother, and he shook his head.
“No, nothing yet, but I’ll make a note to call him as soon as I can get a chance. We need all the ammunition we can get about her and her mother.”
Oliver’s next words had me snorting. “I’m with Kai. Leave me out of it as well. Harlow and I have a connection, no matter how unexpected it might be. There’s something different about her, and I’d like to get to know her a little better. Not just for Dad or Nana or Poppy, but for myself.”
“Bullshit, the only connection you feel is the one that’s ruled by your cock,” I snarled at him before gauging my other brothers’ reactions. Declan nodded his head in agreement, and so did Jaxon, but I could also see the doubt in his eyes. I knew he felt something for her. He couldn't shut up about the beautiful girl he’d met when he’d been in Connecticut. He’d had a sparkle I hadn't seen for a while, and the fool was already making plans to go back to see if he could find her again.
The faintest whisper of regret touched my heart, but it was quickly overshadowed by jealousy. Sharing Dad was one thing. Although I’d always been the only girl, it wasn’t like I’d ever really had Dad to myself. But sharing Jaxon? My twin had always been my strongest ally, the one I could count on when Nana, Poppy, or Dad, even through no fault of their own, just didn’t have the time for me. I couldn’t lose both DadandJaxon; something within me would break if that ever happened.
I took a sharp breath, trying to center myself and get some semblance of control over my expression. My brothers were never fooled by the ice princess exterior, but I could cover up some of the anxious, twisted mess that was inside of me while I waited for Jaxon to speak. My brother had leaned forward, his mouth parted like he wanted to talk but was weighing his words carefully.
“He’s not wrong. Thereissomething about her that just draws you in. I was ready to try to find her next time I was back at the club in Hartford. You know me, I don't go back for seconds.”
Again, I snorted, needing to convince him that there’s nothing he needs from her, needing to hide the fact that on the inside, I was just that same scared little girl he’d always needed to protect. “That’s only because you got interrupted before you got firsts. It’s the one that got away syndrome.” He frowned but didn’t deny the accusation.
“I guess it doesn't matter anyway. She’s not wanted, and she needs to go,” he finished, but Kai growled at him.
“You three are the only ones who really don't want her here. Maybe you need to take a good look at why. If we didn't have money, would you be reacting like this?”
We went around in circles for a while, but for the first time in years, we were a family divided.
I’d done a lot of soul searching over the last few days, especially with the news of being put on suspension from the company. A tiny part of me is saying that maybe I was too harsh and I should get to know her. Especially since we have a lot of the same interests, and I might be able to admit I like how fiery she is. But then that insecure side tells me that she’s going to replace me in the hearts of the most important people in my life, and, well, that tiny part that wants to get to know her, the one that almost longs to have a sister, gets smothered.
