“Don’t let your power go to your head, sister dear.Someone might just have to knock you off that pedestal for your own damned good.”
The anger on Miles’s face was impossible to ignore and the knowledge that their relationship had come to this made her sick to her stomach.It hurt to know she was still the outcast when it came to family love.She reached out to him.
“I’m not trying to play God, Miles.You’re my brother.I care for you very much, but don’t you see?You’re wasting the best years of your life,.”
He slapped her hand away and then grabbed her by the arm, yanking her sharply until she came close to crying aloud.
“You’re going to be sorry for this,” he said softly.“You’re going to be very, very sorry.”
He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Casey reeling from the venom in his voice.But his triumphant exit ended four steps outside the library door.Ryder had him by the arm and shoved up against the wall before he had time to call out for help.Miles had seen plenty of angry men in his life, but he’d never been afraid until now.
Ryder slammed his hand in the middle of Miles’s chest, pinning him in place.“You son of a bitch.If I ever hear you talk to your sister again like that, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
“It’s none of your business,” Miles said, and felt shame that his voice was shaking.
“That’s where you’re wrong.Whether any of you like it or not, she’s my wife.What happens to her is my business.And I’m telling you now, so you’ll be forewarned, if anything ever happens to Casey, I’m coming after you first.”
So great was his fear that if Ryder hadn’t been holding him up; Miles would have been on the floor.
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said,” Ryder replied softly.“You better hope to God she doesn’t have any enemies, because from this day forward, I hold you responsible for her welfare.”
Miles’s eyes bulged.“I would never wish Casey any real harm.I was just mad, that’s all.Hell’s fire, man, she’s my sister.”
“Then start acting like her brother.”
Miles went limp as all the anger slid out of his heart.Truth hurt.“Let me go.”
Ryder didn’t move—didn’t speak—and didn’t turn him loose.
Miles saw himself mirrored in Ryder’s eyes and didn’t like what he saw.
“I didn’t mean what I said to her.And I suppose in a way she’s right.”
Ryder turned him loose, but refused to move back.“Remember what I said.She hurts—you bleed.”
Miles took off down the hall as if the devil were at his heels.By the time he got back to the pool, he’d convinced himself that putting his education to work was not only going to happen, but that it could have its benefits.
Ryder watched Miles until he was out of the house, and then stepped inside the library.Casey was at the window, staring out onto the lawn overlooking the back of the estate.
“Casey?”
She spun, and Ryder wished he’d given in to the urge and punched Miles right in the face before they’d had their little talk.She looked so hurt.So lost.So alone.
“I heard some of what you said to Miles.”
Ryder could tell there was something serious on her mind.He waited for her to continue.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I am forever grateful for your presence in my life.”
He wanted to hold her.He settled for a brief smile instead.“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he drawled.“I’d come near saying that I’m the lucky one.Besides, we Justice men don’t take kindly to anyone messing with our women.”
Casey swallowed a sigh.If only she was his woman in the ways that counted.“So, are you telling me that there’s more than one of you that’s been turned loose on the world out there?”
The smile slid off his face and she knew she’d said the wrong thing.“I’m not who matters,” he said shortly.“I don’t think Miles will give you any more trouble, but if he does, you know where I’ll be.”
He walked out and she had the strangest sensation that he’d just walked out of her life, rather than out of the room.In fact, the thought was so strong that she actually followed him through the house, then stood in the doorway and watched until he entered their apartment.
