Page 83 of Love on the Brain

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Page 83 of Love on the Brain

Tobias groans in frustration, and I cross my arms over my chest, leaning against the back seat of his car. “I will go to your apartment and get your things. Get out of the car.”

“No. Take me home.”

“You’re leaving me no choice here.”

“I’m not giving you one. I appreciate the honesty, but I highly doubt a public politician is going to off me.” At least, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell myself ever since they brought the details of Mayor Fireux’s involvement with Dante to my attention.

Tobias looks up at the sky like he’s sending up a prayer, then curses under his breath before ducking into the car, ripping me from the vehicle, and tossing me over his shoulder. “Tobias!!” I thrash against him. “Put me down. Put me down right now, you beast.” He moved easily to the mansion's front doors as if my beating on his back were playful pokes. It was weird, my brother being so filled out and meaty now. I obviously preferred it tothe sickly frail shape he used to have, but at this very moment, I wasn’t impressed.

“Lovely. It’s about time,” James grumbles as we meet his side. He opens the doors, letting Tobias walk inside, still holding me against my will.

James walks in behind us, and I scowl at him. He grins back at me. “Welcome home,” he mouths quietly.

Anger floods me, and I kick hard in my fit, my foot meeting Tobias’s knee, making him drop me as his leg momentarily gives out. I fall straight to the hard granite floor, my tailbone feeling as though it shatters against it. “Son of a bitch,” I mutter in pain.

“Fuck me,” Tobias groans, rubbing his knee.

“Can you two please refrain from acting like children in my house?” James snaps at us.

“She started it,” Tobias grumbles, making my head snap in his direction.

“I started it? You guys practically kidnapped me after dinner.”

“It’s for your own good,” James relents. He walks over to me, holding his hand out to me. I sneer up at him from the floor but reluctantly take his hand as he carefully lifts me from the floor. “Are you alright?” he asks, his voice lower than usual, making me wonder if he doesn’t want my brother to hear his concern for me. I hated how much I liked his secret caring side.

“I’ll be better once I’m home.”

“As of now, you are home,” he murmurs before dropping my hand from his like it burned him. He turns away quickly and walks deeper into his house. Then Tobias follows behind him, so I do the same because I was a little curious about what James’s home was like.

It was dark. Once we reached the living area, the place was warmed with golden accents everywhere and warm brown leather furniture against chocolate wood flooring. There was agiant dark stone fireplace just across from the furniture, and the wall on the opposite side was made with floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves adorned with knickknacks and so—many—books.

“Wow,” I breathe out in amazement. “It’s actually beautiful.” It was almost bordering too bachelor for my taste, but there were so many touches to the decor that pulled it away from the realm, like his raw crystal decor that glistened on the shelves or the exposed crystal on the inside center of the coffee table in the middle of the room. There was even a sparkling crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling that helped give everything a classy, feminine touch.

“I’m glad you like it. Your bedroom is very similar. All the rooms are,” James says.

I drop my shoulders, suddenly feeling exhausted after everything tonight. “You guys really can’t expect me to stay here. This is all getting out of hand. First, I bludgeon a guy with the heel of my shoe to get back your ledger, and then I’m accosted by Hodge plus three terrifying mob members, one of whom is killed right in front of my face. Then the freaking mayor stalks me at the library, and now you’re telling me I have to live here?”

“What do you mean you bludgeoned someone to get back my ledger?” James quickly asks, looking from me to Tobias.

Tobias shrugs, his mouth frowning in fake innocence. “It was a little mishap. Not a big deal.”

“You had the nerve to get mad at me for saving her from that restaurant, and yet you take her on a stake out and let her use her godforsaken heels to bloody maim someone?”

“She was supposed to be waiting in the car,” Tobias defends.

I can’t help but laugh, and both of their eyes fall back onto me. “This is ridiculous. You all realize that, right?”

James's eyes soften on me. “Your safety is the last thing that is ridiculous, Cecilia.”

“He’s right,” Tobias adds. “Please just let us figure everything out for a little while, and then you can go home when it’s safe. Please, for me. You’re all I have left, Lia.”

Tears burn my eyes, and I tear my gaze away from him. I focus on the bottom shelf along the floor, which has a book titled in French. I chose this moment to try to understand French, something I know nothing of, but it does an excellent job of keeping me from crying. Finally, I swallow the knot in my throat and look back at him. “Fine, but I have to go to work. You can’t expect me to leave my job.”

Tobias smiles, bouncing on his heels in happiness, making me break out into one of my own because I feel like I never see him smile enough. “That’s fine. We’ll have security escort you and keep close.”

My wide gaze bounces between him and James, who remain completely serious. “You’re joking, right? I don’t actually need security to follow me around, right?”

James chuckles. “We are not joking. Consider yourself always having eyes on you from this point forward.”


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