Page 106 of Break My Heart

My father and the life I walked away from for a reason.

“I wasn’t trained for any of this. Albert was.” I look down as I remember the good things about my brother that weren’t entwined with being a Hawthorne. “I remember that he liked history. He loved the bloody estate, traditions, and every single ridiculous ceremony he had to attend. My brother knew all the family trees and titles. He was treated like he mattered.”

Christin’s arm tightens. Lewis visibly swallows.

“I will never know why he reassured me and told me not to worry about Father and then stayed silent during that last meal.” I sniffle, feeling too many emotions collide at once. “Albert would encourage me to go off with my nannies. He said he would handle Father. I used to think that was because he was protecting me.”

My chest caves in as I double over in pain. “I’ll never know now that he’s gone.”

I press both hands over my face as the memories unfold. Albert teaching me to ride a bicycle. Sneaking me treats and stepping in front of me when our father got impossible. “Why did we let each other go?”

Christin’s warmth seeps through me. I recognize her scent as she guides me toward the couch. Once she gets me to sit, all I can focus on is the way her thumb brushes slowly over my knuckles.

Not trying to fix anything, simply letting me know she’s there. Just as I’m about to open my mouth to thank her for being here, Dario’s phone rings.

And all hell breaks loose.

Dario is swearing loudly before declaring, “No!”

All our heads swivel to look at him. He takes his mobile away from his ear and places it on speakerphone so everyone can hear. “You’re now on speakerphone, George.”

“Dario,” George Williams, Apex Orion’s international lawyer, tries to placate the room. “After the loss of his brother, now is not the time to burden Lord⁠—”

“Don’t you dare call me that,” I hiss.

“I’m sorry, my…Leo.”

“Listen to me.” Dario’s voice is so sharp it should sever the connection. “He. Doesn’t. Want. The. Title. You’re smart, George. Why can’t you understand that?”

Lewis asks, “Is there a legal path Leo can refute under?”

Christin’s head whips around so fast that her hair slaps me in the face. She surges to her feet. I blink at the abruptness of her movements, but she’s already on a mission, sliding her mobile from her pocket.

Still, I ask, “What is it?”

She doesn’t respond.

Dario frowns. Lewis’s shoulders go rigid. I stare at her while she waits for her call to connect. When it does, her words leave me flabbergasted. “Leanne? Yeah. I’ll let him know. Listen, I need a favor.” There’s a pause before she chuckles darkly. “I need to know the name of the lawyers who handled West Moore’s estate.”

My lips part. Dario and Lewis still. I’m wondering if George is even breathing, because everyone in the world knows West Moore—software billionaire worth an obscene amount of money and the public speculation around his heirs that broke the internet.

Christin snaps her fingers at Dario to hand her something to write with. She jots some notes before saying a heartfelt, “Thank you.”

Once she hangs up, she faces me before declaring, “My boss is calling to make an introduction to the team that handled West Moore’s probate. Apparently, they have a partner specializing in aristocratic inheritance law.”

George immediately bristles. “We’re more than capable⁠—”

“No,” Christin says calmly. “You represent Apex Orion’s best interests. I need someone who will represent Leo’s.”

Christ, I love her.

She hands the paper to me. “Leanne said give her a few minutes before we contact them.”

Dario immediately snatches up his mobile and advises George that we’re putting him on hold.

Ten minutes later, another voice joins the call. Older and very clearly educated at Oxford, he says crisply, “Lord Raleigh, I am very sorry for your family’s loss.”

“Don’t call me that.”