“Practically threw his gun at me to get down on the floor with my sister,” Sullivan grunts.
I keep stock still. Any movement I make, anything I say, will risk my composure cracking. Because the mere mention of her and the floor brings me right back to that moment I pushed inside her for the first time on the gym mat.
The minute I knew there was no fucking going back. That I had to have her no matter what.
And the blood on my dick after was the confirmation I’d known all along.
Sinclair belongs with me.
She always has. She always will.
“You’re a sucker for punishment taking on my sister. She pulls some shit,” Sullivan says.
“Don’t fucking speak about her like that,” I warn on instinct.
Sullivan glances at me with growing respect as though I passed some secret test he’s set me. Then he smirks at me and tips his chin. “Good luck. You’ll need it.”
“Welcome to the family.” Mal leans back in his seat, chuckling like he could sit here all day, drinking this in. His eyes travel to Sterling’s, and they exchange a look of amusement.
And beneath it is complete solidarity.
These are the Beauforts.
They’re one of the country’s most powerful, influential families.
And regardless of blood, now they’re mine. But even though Mal might have been the first one to say it, Sterling made it known that first day, when he gave Lizzie and Dixie the new start they needed.
When he helped out my family and grew his own, all at the same time. Because no matter what else could have happened after that day. I would always have been grateful to him, connected to him.
“Now get the hell out of here.” Sterling smirks.
I nod. “Yes, sir.”
“Excuse me?” He lifts a lone brow and my lips curl.
“Yes,Boss,” I reply.
“I expect you in bright and early tomorrow, Denver. Don’t think you’ll get special privileges just because my daughter likes you,” he says.
I can’t help myself.
I take my first real deep breath since I stepped over the threshold into his office.
“Lovesme,” I correct.
He holds my eyes, his glittering.
“Yeah… damn well loves you. Now get the hell out of my office.” He flicks his fingers at me, chuckling.
“Yes, Boss,” I say again, doing exactly as he says.
45
SINCLAIR
The knockingat my door doesn’t register to begin with. I place my smoothie cup down on the kitchen counter to answer it. Monty flies past me, almost knocking me over.
“It’ll be Sullivan,” I tell him with a sigh. It’s been heartbreaking seeing him race to the door every time someone calls. He’s always pleased to see whoever it is, but I know he’s hoping it’s Denver. And since I found my necklace on my pillow three days ago, a small part of me has still held out hope that it could him too.
