Second Debt

My blood boiled at the latest leak online about our private affairs. I’d been watching him, just waiting for him to do something stupid.

That little shit-stirrer has gone too far this time.

“I have to make a call.”

Jasmine shrugged. “I don’t mind. Do what you need to do.”

Gritting my teeth, I dialled the number and placed the phone against my ear. I did my best not to crush the device in my fingers. I was angry. Fucking pissed. If I had time to drive to London and tell him in person, I would. Only, I would invariably end up using my fists—not my voice.

“Hello?”

My heart thundered viciously.

“Hello, Vaughn.”

“Uh, hi…who’s this?”

I laughed coldly. “As if you don’t know who this is. Listen, whatever you’re doing, stop it. This is the only friendly warning you’ll get. She’s ours now. Not yours. And you can’t win against us so don’t even fucking try. Got it?”

Deafening silence came down the line.

“Last warning, Mr. Weaver. Tell the press to mind their own business and put a gag on whatever bullshit you’re spreading.”

Harsh breathing filled my ear. “Listen here, you arsewipe. Nila is my sister. I love her more than fucking anything, and I will get her back. She’s not happy with you. If you think I’m going to sit back and let her be subjected to you maniacs, you’re completely fucking nuts. Soon, everyone will know what you’ve done. Soon, every law enforcer and newspaper will understand how sick and twisted you are. And then you’ll be ruined, and we will have won. Go suck on that, fuckface. Don’t call me again.”

He hung up.

I threw my phone across the room.

“Shit!”

Not only did I have to deal with my own fucking weaknesses, but now I had to find a way to stop Nila’s brother from destroying everything, too. Christ, this day couldn’t get any worse.

Jasmine looked at my phone as it bounced against the wall. “Well…I’m guessing that didn’t go as you wanted.”

“He’s determined to kill himself.”

“And take both our families’ reputations down with him.”

I nodded. “Exactly. He has to be stopped.”

I didn’t relish the thought of killing Nila’s brother, but what else could I do? He couldn’t be permitted to steal what was mine. He couldn’t ruin what I’d found. And he definitely couldn’t take the one thing that I needed to make it to my thirtieth birthday.

“Don’t be too hard on him. We took his mother and his sister. He’s allowed to be—”

“He thinks having a dead mother grants him compensation?”

Jasmine’s face fell. “No, of course not. Just like we don’t expect anything after what happened to ours.”

Colossal pain howled in my chest. Memories of a woman who looked so like Jasmine filled my mind. I never let myself think about her because that one incident had scarred me for life. It didn’t make me who I was, but it had taught me death and pain and horror—things I’d never be free of.

“Kite…”

I swallowed my agonising memories, glaring at my sister. “I know, Jaz. We agreed not to bring up that day.”

She nodded. “You came in here to find peace, yet you brought anger and pain instead. Let it go.”

I sighed, hanging my head in my hands. “I’m trying. Just…give me some space.”

She shook her head. “If you wanted space, you would’ve taken Wings for a ride. Don’t bullshit me, brother. It’s getting worse for you, isn’t it? All of this…it’s too much.” She put her empty glass down, leaning forward in her chair. Her cherub cheeks were flushed from the roaring fire that a servant had set in the white marble fireplace. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”

I choked. “Excuse me?”

She reclined, shoving aside all thoughts of our mother and focusing once again on my damn issues. “You heard me.” Waving a hand in my direction, she added, “You’re the worst I’ve seen you since you were fifteen. You’re stressed and angry. You’re hurting, brother.” Her voice softened with worry. “It’s been a long time, Jethro, and I hate to see you in pain. But I think…I think you finally need to learn to control it, rather than bury it. It’s not helping anymore.”

My heart thumped in horror at the thought of being denied freedom from the horrendous disease I battled. If Jasmine couldn’t grant a reprieve, how could I get through the next ten months and finally take my place as heir?

It’s so fucking close. I’ll make it. I have to make it.

“You know that isn’t possible, Jaz.”

“You don’t have a choice. It’s eating you alive, and unless you face it, you’re going to massacre your feet or lose your mind. Either way, both aren’t healthy and both will only bring disaster.”

I shoved away the food, no longer hungry. “Then what the fuck do you propose I do?”

Jasmine narrowed her eyes, conclusions and solutions already formed in her gaze. She looked at me as if all of this had an answer. Which it didn’t.

After a moment, she murmured, “Use her.”

I froze. Blood roared in my veins. “You know I can’t do that. I’m risking everything by letting her get this close to me.” I bent forward, resting my head in my hands. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing anymore.”