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“Who is Nina?” Peter asks.
“The girl I grew up with. The only woman I’ve ever loved.”
“What girl? There’s a girl? You love her? Woah, woah, woah. Let’s think about this for a second.” Tim rubs his temples and begins to pace.
I watch him go back and forth, sighing at his theatrics. Peter’s head visibly turns left and right watching his brother think himself to death.
Tired of waiting for him to get his thoughts together, I open the letter from my Uncle Dash, rolling my eyes when I see him offering me two million to give up the rights to the sanctuary and the account my inheritance is on.
I’d rather that money stay frozen forever than give him anything. Over my dead body will he get anything from me.
But he brought Nina into the mix and even though I haven’t talked to her in years, I think about her every day. I miss her. There hasn’t been another woman in my life. There never will be, but if I have to go home to protect her from my uncle, I will.
“Nina is the girl you love. Why haven’t we heard about her?” Tim asks, finally pulling himself free from his thoughts.
I open the will Dash gave me and look up to meet Tim’s eyes. “You didn’t ask. Besides, she is no one’s business but mine.”
Peter puckers his lips and raises his brows. “Sounds serious.”
“It isn’t serious. If it were serious, he’d be with her. He obviously loves us more, right?” Tim leans his elbow on the counter and gives his best side smirk as if he knows the answers to everything.
“I love you guys, but I won’t love anybody or anything more than Nina.”
“Ouch.” Tim hits his chest with his hand. “The pain. The anguish.”
“The hurt,” Peter adds to his brother’s theatrics.
I roll my eyes. “You two are family, but she’s… she’s more.”
Tim sighs.
I know that sound. He isn’t happy and it isn’t because of Nina but because for the first time in years, I’m considering going home. I haven’t said it, but I don’t need to. He knows me better by now.
I open the will, reading the typical things I already know.
The sanctuary is mine, the wealth is mine once I sign the documents, Dad’s house, car, everything is mine. My eyes roam over and over the document, wondering what the hell Dash is going on about. I’ve read this will a hundred times and there’s no— wait.
My eyes stumble over the fine print at the bottom of the page, something I’ve never noticed before, and I can’t help but wonder if this is the original or if Dash tampered with it. That kind of behavior wouldn’t surprise me.
My heart thumps heavily in my chest and sweat begins to build on my forehead when I reread the sentence.
“Account and Pride Sanctuary must be claimed within ten years of death or inheritance will fall to the next of kin…”
“No, no, no.” I reread it over and over again, making sure this isn’t a dream. I couldn’t have missed this. That isn’t like me. I don’t miss details.
“What?” Tim questions, becoming serious.
Pete is behind him, peering over his shoulder. Both men are gravitating closer to the counter until they are leaning so far, their shadows cast on the paper I’m reading.
I jump from the chair and slam my hand so hard on the desk, that the part connecting to the wall breaks off.
“Hey, woah. Simon, calm down. Talk to me.”
I run my fingers through my hair, pure panic imprisoning my soul. “I fucked up. I fucked everything up.”
Tim comes around the desk and grabs me by the arms. “What did you fuck up and how can we fix it?”
“We can’t.” I stare up at the ceiling, breathing in and out, fighting the urge to kill my uncle. “It’s too late. I’ve ruined everything. That town won’t forgive me.” I slump in the seat, rubbing a hand over my face. “Not that they would now.”
