Page 69 of The Rebel Billionaire

Aiden took the last sip of his coffee and crossed the room to put the mug in my sink. "I already did," he said. "I told him to back off of Charlie—and you—if he comes by again. I'm sorry about that. We all love William, but he's a relic. He wants the girls married and having babies while they do what their menfolk tell them. He can't quite absorb that the world has moved on. He’s so obsessed with telling us what he thinks our parents would say that I think he forgets he used to argue with them all the time about this stuff. Hemeanswell."

"He might mean well, but he's a jackass," I said. I was beginning to understand William Davis's role in all of their lives, but that didn't mean I was gonna let him upset Charlie. Aidennodded.

"If he comes by again, let me know. I'll see what I can do, though he doesn't listen to me any more than he used to listen to my dad. Just nods his head and then goes on giving me the same speech healwaysdoes."

"Yeah?" I asked, suddenly curious. "What does he giveyoushit about? I thought you were the king of thefamily."

"I am," Aiden agreed with a glint of laughter in his eyes. "But apparently, I never should've divorced my first wife—who was a raging bitch, as Charlie will be happy to tell you—and it's high time I found a new wife and started breeding the next generation of the Winters family. He recommended I find someone who will do what she's told and represent the family appropriately. He threatened to bring me a list ofcandidates."

"Jesus, that's sucks," I said, openly laughingathim.

"Believe me, I know. It's only gotten worse since Vance and Maggie got engaged. Maggie is old Atlanta and William is over the moon that Vance—whom he's given lecture upon lecture about the art, the tattoos, and the long hair—managed to snag Magnolia Henry. He thinks she's redeeming him. Yet I'm still single. And after all his resistance to Abigail, he's throwing her in myface,too."

Imitating William's patrician voice, Aiden said, "I fail to understand how Jacob and Vance have managed to find appropriate women and you are still single. You're letting down the Winters family name,Aiden."

"I'm seeing that Charlie might have it easy," I admitted. Aiden's expression turned serious in aflash.

"Regardless, I don't want him bothering her. If he does, I'll have another word with him. She's got enough going on right now. She doesn't need extra stress from William over things that don't matteranyway."

I followed him to the door. "We'll keep you posted if anythingchanges."

"I'd sleep better if I knew I was in the loop,"Aidensaid.

I nodded. I didn't have a baby sister, but I'd had a younger brother and I got what he wassaying.

"I'll talk to Charlie about it," I said. "I don't like that note. And I don't want her scared. If anything else happens, we'll letyouknow."

I watched him jog down the steps and get in his Aston Martin. That visit hadn't gone the way I'd expected. Understatement. I hadn't expected to feel a kinship with Aiden Winters, of all people. It was there all the same. I knew where his head was. I'd been the older brother trying to keep his familytogether.

I didn't have generations of tradition weighing me down, but I'd felt the same love, love weighted with responsibility. The same need to protect. I'd mostly failed my own family, while Aiden was still trying tosavehis.

It didn't hurt that he wasn't an asshole. It was hard to dislike a man who loved his baby sister the way Aiden lovedCharlie.

I wasn't looking forward to telling Charlie about his visit. She wouldn't like that Aiden had come by behind her back, and she definitely wouldn't like having a bodyguard. She was going to have to deal with it. I locked the door and went back to my laptop. If I was going to clear my schedule for Charlie, I had to get thisjobdone.

While my laptop woke up, I sent her a quick text to check in. I'd feel better if I had confirmation that she was still safely behind the gates and the security. I'd given Aiden a hard time, but we were on thesamepage.

I didn't like her out there on her own, and I wouldn’t, until we caught whoever was after her and put himbehindbars.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

CHARLIE

Lucas was drivingmy car when he pulled into the circular drive at Winters House. My sedan wasn't small, but Lucas's tall frame filled the driver's seat so thoroughly I was certain he had to beuncomfortable.

I thought about offering to drive back, then changed my mind. I didn't have to ask to know that Lucas was one of those men who didn't like anyone else to drive the vehicle hewasin.

I hadn't spent my life surrounded by overbearing men without learning to pick my battles. I didn't wait for him to knock before opening thefrontdoor.

"Hey," I said. "Thanks for coming to get me. Sorry I tooksolong."

Lucas bent his head, his lips gliding across mine in a kiss that held more affection than passion. "No problem," he said. "I had a job I was trying to wrap up,anyway."

"Did you get it done?" I asked, linking my arm through his as he led me down the steps. Looking back over my shoulder at the door I'd left half open, I said, "Oh, wait. I have some stuff for the house in the front hall. I shouldgrabit."

"You can get in the car. I'll get yourstuff."

Lucas opened the passenger door and stood over me as I sat and fastened my seatbelt. It's not that I didn't appreciate his protectiveness, but he seemed edgier than usual, his eyes scanning the courtyard and the closed gate, alert for anythreat.