“You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Then let me go.”
“No.”
I gritted my teeth.
“W-wait! I’m not dressed.” I eyed the opened front door. He sighed and yanked off the trench coat hanging on the hook next to the door and wrapped me up in it. I fought every move, but he wouldn’t be stopped. He dragged me all the way outside, and down his pebbled driveway to his car.
He opened the passenger side, stuffed me into the seat and leaned down. “I will tie you up if you try running.”
I crossed my arms. He jumped in, starting the car. I stewed.
“Don’t be angry.” It’d been a few minutes into the drive, and I could feel him shoot me furtive looks.
“You lied to me.” I couldn’t have stopped the words if I wanted, they bubbled over like poison. “You were my first kiss, and I’m not stupid. Of course I’m not yours. Do you know how much it aches knowing that?” I hiccupped out a cry. “But to see your lover in the flesh? To hear her call you hers?”
His hands squeezed around the steering wheel.
“You’re the last one and the only one that matters.”
“Don’t give me that bull to pacify me.” I seethed. “It doesn’t matter anymore. You lied to me, Mr. Astor, you never cared for me.”
He went silent.
“I haven’t seen her in weeks?—”
“You had me sendherflowers,” I cried.
“Judy has always been in charge of that without my input, she must have thought?—”
“But I asked you,” I whispered, and he went quiet. “I asked you if you were a thing and you lied.” His jawline bunched.
“We will discuss it once we get back, okay little bunny?” he said softly.
I didn’t answer, just looked out into the dark night, tears dripping off my chin.
He wovethrough a pathway leading upwards until finally we went over a hill and came out of the foliage. A large mansion stretched high into the night sky. A large main section sat in the middle, with extensions to the side. A fountain bubbled in front of the house, smack in the middle of the circled cement drive.
“Where are we?” I’d finally stopped crying but now I sounded congested.
“My family’s estate.” He parked behind a low sports car and another Mercedes.
“What?!” I exclaimed.
“Let’s go.” God no. I was not getting out of this car. He stopped a few feet from the house when he saw I wasn’t following behind him. He stormed back to my door, and I gripped the handle to keep it closed, but ultimately, he opened it. He scooped me out of the car with ease. I shoved against his shoulder, kicking my legs, trying to get down and away from him.
He strode up the ten steps to the chestnut doors with elaborate glass designs cut out in the middle, and gently set me on my feet. He swatted my butt. “Behave.”
I seethed but kept my mouth shut as he gripped my wrist to guide me inside. An ornate chandelier hung smack in the middle of the entrance and the staircase to the left spiraled upwards. I gawked as he guided me to the rounded alcove beside the base of the staircase. Four pairs of eyes rounded toward me upon our entrance. Samuel forced me into the empty seat.
Caine’s eyebrow twitched, but that was his only reaction.
“Why is she here?” One of the brothers I hadn’t met yet rumbled. His voice was deep and his gaze sharp. He and Samuel were the largest of the bunch, but this gruff one had more of a bearlike quality.
“She’s the one I told you he was going mad for, Theo,” a sandy haired man said, lifting his glass containing gold liquid. “He wouldn’t stop calling me.”
“Shut your mouth, Baron.” Samuel snapped. The fourth male snorted, sprawled across the couch in a very feline manner.
