AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask.
Xander crosses his arms over his chest, levelling me with a hard stare.
“You came to the hospital to see me, but when I woke up, you were gone. Kat said you went back into hiding because you still feel guilty. But it’s been weeks, Gray. Why are you avoiding everyone?”
“Because I feel like avoiding everyone. Why do you care?”
He rolls his eyes. “You can’t keep doing this shit. Especially not now. I get it, you fucked up. I was pissed, too. Then I almost died, so I’m going to be a saint and forgive you, but you have to apologize. To Katerina, to Nate, hell, even to our father. Be a man and take responsibility for your actions instead of hiding like a coward.”
My fists clench but I don’t say a word. Xander continues.
“I’m leaving the company for good.”
“I heard.”
“You heard?” he grits out. “Then what the hell are you still doing here? Go home. Get back to D.C. You finally have a chance to get what you really want.”
“What I want is for you to leave me alone.”
Xander takes in a deep breath. “I’m trying here, Gray. I’m really trying.”
“You’re pissing me off, big brother. I have no idea what you want for me, and frankly, this shit is getting old. I get it. You’re the better man and I’m the fucking screw-up. I’ve made my peace with it. And there’s no way in hell I’m going to go back there and get the company simply because the chosen heir decided he doesn’t want it anymore. I’m not fucking pathetic.”
“Actually, you kind of are.”
My fists clench. “Do you seriously want a punch in the face?”
“No, I want you to wake the hell up. No one is handing you anything, especially not Father. I’m not giving you the company. You’re still going to have to work hard to earn it.”
“I’m not interested.”
“That’s bullshit,” Xander snaps. “Alright, fine. I’m not forcing you to go back to D.C. But you’re coming to dinner at our place tomorrow night and you’re going to apologize to Katerina and my son for the part you played in the hell we had to go through. You owe us that much. The only reason you’re not fucking dead is because you’re related to me and Katerina doesn’t hurt members of her family.”
“What an amazing girlfriend you have there,” I drawl.
Katerina Mincetti is the head of an organized crime syndicate—the Don of a mafia family in New York—and my brother fell in love with her. It’s crazy, but you only need to spend a couple of minutes with the two of them to realize they’re practically soulmates. The universe tried to tear them apart and they found their way back to each other. It’s such a heartwarmingly sweet story, I get a toothache sometimes just thinking about it.
“Actually, fiancée. I proposed two weeks ago,” Xander corrects.
My eyebrows flick up in surprise. “Damn, really? Good of you, Xan. Let’s hope she doesn’t disappear on your wedding day.”
And that does it. Xander’s control snaps in an instant. I’ve always had a unique ability when it comes to poking at people and pissing them off.
He grabs a fistful of my shirt, pulling me closer. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Graham? Seriously, why do you have to be such a dick?
I push him off me and straighten my shirt. “It was just a joke. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”
“It wasn’t funny.”
He’s right. It wasn’t. I know that better than anyone. He and Katerina have a complicated history, involving them meeting and falling in love when they were in college. She hid who she really was and when the truth came out, she disappeared for a couple of months, only to reappear with a baby. Then she disappeared again and Xander was tasked with raising their son alone for ten years. Until she returned to their lives again recently.
Xander’s right. He really is a saint. I have no idea how he was able to forgive her. But he did, and I have to respect his decisions. My brother’s a better man than I’ll ever be.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” I say, my jaw clenched. “Sorry.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and nods. “Okay, good. Keep that energy for the dinner tomorrow night.”
I sigh. “You’re annoying, you know that?”
