“No one would blame me.”
“Because I’m so scary, huh.”
“No. Because you broke into my home.” How had he broken in, anyway? Nicholas had a state-of-the-art security system.
Well, he used to have one. He was fucking calling the company right after he figured out what was going on here.
He wasn’t able to gauge any weapons in the other man’s big hands, other than the spoon he was holding. Gingerly, Nicholas placed his knife on the counter. “If you were hungry, you could have knocked on the door.”
“You would have invited me in for cornflakes?”
“Sure.”
Jackson took a bite of cereal, crunching louder than necessary. “Liar.”
Nicholas’s gaze narrowed. “I didn’t realize you were in town.”
“Got in last night. Comfy couch you have, by the way.”
“You slept on my couch?” Who the hellwasthis guy?
“Wanted to make sure I caught you this morning. I gotta head out soon.”
“Most people call and make an appointment.”
“You wouldn’t have agreed to see me.”
“Then you knock.”
“You wouldn’t have answered.”
“Then you would have gotten the hint,” Nicholas bit off. “That’s how society works.”
“Never been very good at all that social stuff.” Jackson bared his teeth. “Not like you.”
Nicholas gave up. “What are you doing here?”
Another grunt. Nicholas’s eyes narrowed. “So you came over here to what? Sleep on my couch, silently eat my breakfast foods, and brood? Wild take on Goldilocks, Jackson.”
Jackson took another bite, seemingly unfazed.
“Have you seen Livvy or your mother yet?”
Jackson picked up the bowl, and loudly slurped the milk. Nicholas gritted his teeth, well aware this was a deliberate rudeness. The man had been raised in the same social circle as Nicholas. Tani would have swatted him for such impoliteness, just like Maria.
Jackson finally put the bowl down and stared at him. Christ, he looked like his brother, only a leaner, rougher version of the man. Not even the milk mustache on his face detracted from his generally vicious appearance. “The more important question is, haveyouseen my sister?”
“None of your fucking business.”
The chair screeched as Jackson shoved it back across the expensive tile floor. “I think it is.”
Nicholas tensed, rocking up on the balls of his feet. Jackson had the air of someone who had never heard of fighting fair, but they had enough badblood between them that Nicholas couldn’t say throwing a punch or two would be entirely unwelcome. “You’re mistaken.”
“You haven’t seen her?”
“No. You’re mistaken as to anything I do being your business.”
A muscle in Jackson’s cheek twitched. “It’s my business when you fuck with my sister. I’m here to tell you to stay away from her.”
