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“Rob moved on a long time ago. In record time, really.”
“Until he found out you were with his brother.”
“He doesn’t know.”
Xander lets out a low whistle. “You’re playing with fire.”
“How many ways are there to say ditto?”
“And my situation almost turned out badly too. I’m warning you from experience.”
“Just keep this between us.”
“I’m not making any promises. Frankly, I think the parents deserve to know. Should know, really. You know my feelings about Dad, but in this case, you might need extra security, and if anyone can get it for you, it’s him.”
“I don’t want to have my father running to my rescue like I’m some overgrown daddy’s girl. I especially don’t want the patronizing lecture I’ll get about moving home.” I shake my head firmly.
“It’s not about what you want right now. It’s about what’s going to keep you safe.”
“You can’t be serious!”
“I’m serious as fuck, Bea. This whole situation is fucked up. And you not telling me? You’ve had problems like this before. You know better. Please tell me you’ve told other people you work with. Madison knows? I can’t believe she isn’t intervening on your behalf.”
“Madison has her hands full with Quentin and his career right now. Not to mention, she’s got family drama of her own brewing. I can’t ask her to be carrying water for me, too, right now.”
“You haven’t told your best friend—your business partner—that you have a potential stalker? Bea, this is insane. I can’t believe Rawlings is playing along with this either. Does he have any fucking integrity or give a fuck about you at all?”
“He cares, Xander. He’s doing more than he should already.”
“We’ll see about that.” My brother charges out of the room a moment later, and I chase after him. I love him to the moon and back, but thanks to our father’s frequent absences and the fact that I’ve been the quiet one in the family, he always thinks he has to protect me.
“Xander!” I whisper shout his name, trailing a few steps behind him. “Alexander…” I chase after him to catch up, but he ignores me, his long legs outpacing mine, and I try one last attempt. “Alexander Xavier!”
It’s like I don’t exist. His eyes are scanning the room for Cooper, and when they land on him, he makes a beeline there. I can’t stop him before words are exchanged, and my brother nods for the door to the patio. I hurry after them into the night, thankful that a lot of the guests have already left for the evening otherwise I’m sure they’d have questions about our game of musical rooms.
“I’m going to give you all of about one minute to tell me what you’re doing to keep my sister safe. Because from everything I know now, it sounds like you’re just using her vulnerability as an excuse to take advantage of her.”
Cooper’s face flashes with a look of surprise before he regains control and shakes his head.
“Your sister is in my house so I can keep her safe. I’m as worried about her as you are.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“You shouldn’t. I want her in my house so I know exactly where she is and so I know I’m there if she needs me. I don’t want to pass that responsibility off to anyone else.”
“Part of that responsibility should have been encouraging her to tell the rest of her family and friends so we could all protect her.”
“I have encouraged her to tell you all. But at the end of the day, she’s an adult, and I respect her ability to make decisions for herself. If she didn’t want to tell you, I assume she had her reasons. Some of which are probably this over-the-top reaction you’re having right now. You think this helps her? You yelling at me and threatening me when, at the end of the day, we both just want the same thing?”
“My reaction is because I already know how your family treats her. Where she is as a priority when the list gets made in the Rawlings household.”
“Xander!” I want to throttle him right now, but he doesn’t even bother to look in my direction.
“I’m not my brother. Beatrix and my daughter are my only priorities.”
“Your brother’s ex-girlfriend is your priority. Interesting. Why is that?” Xander presses, and I feel the second embarrassment shooting through my veins.
“I imagine you already know the answer to that given that your best friend’s wife was yours.”
