“I’ll figure out a way,” Chad replies. “Will you?”
I let a grin loose on my lips. “I have the perfect distraction. The perfect weapon.”
He arches a brow.
“Bree is moving in with me. I’m going over to my parents’ place now to grab some of her stuff.”
Chad chuckles. “Does yourfiancéeknow?”
“Not my fiancée yet, and no. I’m planning to surprise her.” I can’t contain my grin. Julia is going to lose her shit, but she can’t do anything about it. My father has already approved the move, and his word is law.
Bree and Julia are well-acquainted thanks to Luminary social events and the quarterly meetings at HQ. They loathe one another, and I can’t wait to see the sparks flying. It took next to nothing to convince my sister. She wanted out of our parents’ house, and she has an added incentive to hate Julia now—Ash.
* * *
“Maybe you should answer that,” Bree says when my cell buzzes again with another call from our big bad brother.
“Nah. He’ll only put me in a bad mood, and I want nothing to take away from this moment.” I am pretty sure I know why Baz is calling, and I’m determined to avoid him for as long as I can. Steering my Range Rover into the parking space beside Julia’s pink Porsche 911, I notice my sister staring at it and shaking her head.
“Will you smuggle me out of the country and help to hide my ass if I accidentally-on-purpose murder her in her sleep?” Bree smirks as she climbs out of the passenger seat, glancing up at the row of townhomes.
This entire gated community belongs to The Luminaries. The sole purpose in building these townhomes was to house students from the Luminary and master families and occasionally—as in Ash’s case—children of respected experts. I suspect luck was on Pamela and Doug’s side when they requested one of the properties for their only daughter. If it was any other year, the place would be full, and there would’ve been no room for her.
This year, my brother and some other luminaries who are seniors chose to live in a new apartment development right beside campus. It was built by Carter Construction, the multibillion-dollar business owned by the Greed & Gluttony Luminary.
Knight Carter and Toby Salinger live in the other two houses on this side of the street with various friends and family members. Across the way, only two of the four houses are occupied by extended family members attached to the Salinger and Manford lines.
I roar laughing as I get out. It’s going to be fun having Bree around. As kids, we were thick as thieves and always getting up to mischief together. Rounding the car, I open the trunk to retrieve her bags. “I solemnly swear to protect your murderous ass, but you should probably refrain from taking it that far. If murder was an option, I’d have slit her throat while she slept the first night we moved in.”
“Is it bad my fingers already itch with a craving to key her car?” Bree scowls at the sports car like it has personally affronted her. “Who the fuck orders an iconic car in pink? And it’s such a nauseating shade too. It offends me to no end.”
I chuckle again. “No wonder Ash likes you. You’re like peas in a pod.”
“I already liked her before I knew who she was to you. Now, I fucking love her.” Bree bands her arm around mine as I set the last of her bags on the ground. “I’m going to help you get your girl back. We’re going to find a way to permanently get rid of Julia, even if I have to resort to murdering her in her sleep. I’d make the ultimate sacrifice for you, little brother.”
“Your violent offer is tempting, but I’m not sacrificing my sister for that whiny bitch. We’ll find another way.”
“Come on.” Bree snatches up the two smaller bags. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
“Honey, I’m home,” I call out, chuckling to myself as I usher Bree into the house I share with Julia. I’m salivating at the impending fireworks as we deposit my sister’s bags on the porcelain floor in the hallway.
“I’m up here, darling,” Julia screams from upstairs.
“Darling? Really?” Bree scrunches her nose in disgust.
“She’s a crazy bitch.” I gesture at my sister to follow me up the stairs. “Almost as crazy as that fucker Ares Haynes. He’s Ash’s stepbrother, and he lives next door,” I add in case she isn’t aware.
“Oh, I know all about him and his aversion to clothes.”
I can’t help chuckling. I hate the prick, but it’s funny as fuck. Chad is about to lose it big-time. Tonight’s nocturnal activities will be good for him. He needs to let off some steam.
We reach the top of the stairs, and Julia shouts, “In here!” from the direction of my master suite, and I’m instantly on high alert.
That bitch has no right to go anywhere near my room. I stomp along the corridor, preparing to rip her a new one as Bree follows a few steps behind me
The instant I enter my bedroom, I slam to a screeching halt. Julia is lying naked on my bed, propped up on several cushions, save for a pair of high heels on her feet. Brash red lipstick coats her lips as she smiles at me with a come-hither look in her eye. Parting her legs wider, to give me a proper view, she purrs, “We need a do-over, darling. This morning was a complete misunderstanding. Let’s bury the hatchet and start things as we mean to go on. I’m adventurous in bed, and I know how to please my man. You can fuck me anyway you want, stud. I’m down with most kinks. Trust me,” she adds, licking her lips. “You won’t be disappointed.”
“Did everything I said earlier go in one ear and out the other?” I ask, purposely shielding Bree.
