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“I don’t allow smoking on the property,” I tell Theron as he sucks on the last of his cigarette and drops it to the patio floor.
He looks casually at me, then stubs it out with the toe of his boot.
“Is that because of the old man? He smoked his cigars like a fucking chimney if I recall.”
“Don’t give me another reason to kick your ass out.”
“Well, I’ll try to keep your rule in mind, your honor.” He nudges the cigarette butt off the patio and onto the forest floor. He grins at me, then hops down the steps to meet me. “Twice in one night. To what do I owe the pleasure? Don’t tell me. Do you carry the news that the lady will have me?”
I step toward him. “You stay away from her.”
He smiles. I’m a fucking fool. He read me like a book the instant he saw me with Mercedes. And he’ll use this weakness against me.
“Why don’t you claim her then? You can. She’s your match. A De La Rosa. Imagine our houses united. The power.” I don’t respond, and he studies me. “Or is it that you think you might do to her what grandfather did to our grandmother?”
“She wasn’t your grandmother.”
“Low fucking blow, brother.”
It was.
“What he did to our mother, then?”
“My reasons not to marry don’t concern you. What does concern you is my warning. Keep away from her. She’s young.”
“Twenty-five is not a child.”
“Inexperienced.”
“Is she?” Arrogance turns the corners of his mouth upward. My brother is handsome. Disarmingly so. He can feign innocence so easily. “Still? Are you sure?”
Heat burns inside me, and I fist my hands, force it down. He doesn’t know what I did. He can’t.
“I mean, just the way she is so at ease with men. The way she looks. I’m sure she’s had her fair share of willing partners. I just assumed she’d, you know, have taken a taste.”
I shove him against one of the porch columns and hold him there with the flat of one hand against his chest.
“Watch yourself. You won’t ruin her reputation.”
“It’s just you and me, brother. We’re just talking. No one is ruining anyone. Seriously though. Why not marry her? You like her, obviously.”
“What are we, children? I don’t like her. She is mine within the context of the Rite. She is my responsibility. And as such, I will not have you spoil her.” God, I’m a fucking hypocrite.
When I release him, he adjusts his shirtsleeves. “No worries, brother. As long as she doesn’t allow it, I won’t lay a finger on her.”
“I mean it, Theron. You find yourself another Society girl if that’s what you really want. Stay away from Mercedes De La Rosa.”
“They are so fucking boring, though.” He sighs deeply as if truly bothered by this. “I suppose I’ll have to manage. Don’t want to anger big brother. Is my room ready yet?”
“Your room?” I raise an eyebrow.
“At the house. Mom’s great and all, but it’s cramped.” He gestures to the cottage behind him.
I study him. He won’t be staying at the house. No fucking way. But I will keep him within my sight. “I’ll have Paolo get you a key to the South Cottage.”
“South Cottage? In case you haven’t noticed, Judge, I’m not a cottage kind of man.”
I shrug a shoulder and turn to walk away. “You can always get your own place off my land. Of course, you may need to get a job first.” I mount the horse and look down at him. “You’ll stay in the South Cottage. You will swear to keep away from Mercedes. You’ll do as I say, and I’ll reinstate your allowance.”
