"It's part of a bigger business."
Her lips curl up. "You didn't buy the whole thing from what Dad says, just the flailing startup. His words."
Fuck my father, anyway.
"You have the room you usually use. You know where everything is. So, go do something with your time that doesn't involve me, stop giving me shit, or I will take you right back to Dad."
She winces. "Ouch. Calm down, big bro." Then Lyndall sighs. "I miss the days when I could give you shit, and you'd take it."
"It's called placating a small brat."
She scowls. "We'd hang out all the time."
"It felt like all the time because you were a kid. And I hadn't told Dad I wasn't following in his footsteps." I get up,go to her, taking the photos as I ruffle her hair. "And you as a kid were easier to take shit from. You're a teenager and a scary one."
"I'm not scary."
"Uh-huh. Pretty, precocious, and talented. And you might just take off for real. Honestly, you're showing me glimpses of grown-up Lyndall." Then I groan. "You're growing up too fast. I dread the day when you discover boys."
She laughs. "I'm not a baby. I even have a boyfriend."
My blood pressure shoots up high. "You're at boarding school."
"The worst place. All the girls have boyfriends or girlfriends."
"You're a baby." I growl the words.
"I'm sixteen."
"Fifteen."
"The same thing."
"What's his name? How old is he? I'm going to kill him."
Her eyes flash. "See, I get that you're joking, but it is not funny, considering our family is regularly in the business of killing people. Besides, I'm sixt?—"
She catches my glower.
"I'm hardly a kid anymore."
"Don't I know it. Now, go do G-rated fun, which means TV or books, and no boyfriends on my watch."
Lyndall goes to speak back but considers me and nods, scampering off to the living room.
I look at my glass.
I'm going to need a double or four.
Fuck.
The house is quiet, and I can't hear the TV or music from Lyndall's room. She is probably asleep.
I hope she is asleep.
I gather my things and head downstairs, locking the door behind me. I know what I want to do, and if Cade finds out, he will either give me hell or freak out since this is our workspace.
But my laptop is not secure, not even with my passwords and security measures. I don't think Lyndall is near my skill level, but you never know. Kids these days...
