Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“Two and a half weeks, Danny,” Knox snapped. “Two and a half Goddamned weeks. Not one word from you. Not to Dad. Not to Evelyn. Now you’re threatening to take her children and throw her out of the house.”
“What is she to you, Knox?”
“I can’t answer that question, Danny. Not yet. Like the woman said, come back this afternoon. After three-fifteen.”
My knees did give way then, and I collapsed onto the sofa. Knox winked at me.
“What the fuck, Knox? She’s my girlfriend!”
Knox threw his head back and laughed. Actually guffawed. “Are you shittin’ me? You honestly think that after finding you with your pregnant wife, Evelyn is still your girlfriend? Is that truly how you thought this was going to work?”
“I could give two shits, Knox. The only thing I care about is my kids. I want custody of them.”
Knox took a threatening step toward his brother. “Over my dead body.”
Danny looked from Knox to me. “I’ll be back.”
“At your own peril, Danny. You hurt anyone in this house, and it will be the last thing you ever do.”
With one last venomous look at me, Danny stomped out the door. Knox followed him, then shut and locked the door before turning back to me.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to your kids, Evelyn. No one is going to take them from you. I swear it.”
“I can’t imagine what’s going on with him.” I shook my head, my voice soft. I wanted to avoid the conversation to come as long as I could. What did he mean when he said he didn’t know what I was to him yet? Was he merely trying to keep his brother off-balance? Or did he intend to define our relationship and his place in my life as the children’s uncle?
“He’s never acted like this before?”
“I was just thinking to myself how cold and distant he was. He has no intention of trying to be part of my life. He didn’t once act like he regretted anything. And honestly, I feel sorry for his wife. I also feel guilty and like so much of a fool I don’t deserve to breathe. I lived with Danny for thirteen years! And he was married the whole time? How did I not know?”
“Didn’t look to me like his wife knew anything either. He’s good at deception.”
“Why in the world would he do this, Knox? He obviously intends to stay with his wife, which I’m oddly grateful for. But, with her so close to having her own baby, I can’t imagine she’d want his children by a secret lover living with her.”
“That’s something I intend to find out. But that can wait. You and I need to talk.”
“Is this where you tell me to leave?”
Impatience flashed over Knox’s face. “I thought we were past this. I promised you no one would take away your children, Evelyn.”
“Then what is it?”
Knox took a slow step toward me, a wicked smile on his face. It was the smile of an alpha. A predator. “Until I walked in here and saw Danny with you, I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to say to you.”
“You’re going to have to explain, Knox. I don’t understand.”
“I’d planned to tell you I wanted to be part of Luke and Aneshya’s lives. That I wanted us to have a good relationship. But as a brother and sister-in-law. I didn’t know how awkward it would be for you, and wanted to establish some boundaries.”
“Don’t remind me,” I muttered.
He chuckled. “Yeah, well, I decided I don’t care how awkward it is because you might not be mine yet, but you’re not Danny’s anymore, either. And I intend to make you mine.”
Chapter Six
Knox
What came out of my mouth wasn’t what I’d intended to say. True, I’d decided to take my dad’s advice and feel Evelyn out -- no pun intended -- but when I saw Danny standing there, something akin to panic seized me. That feeling quickly turned to an ice-cold anger when I actually heard the topic of conversation. The second I uttered the words, however, I knew they were true. Evelyn was going to be mine. I’d show her how a woman should be treated, and I’d show her kids what a dad was really like.
“What?”
“Oh, I think you heard me, Evelyn.” She backed up a step. So I moved forward a step.
“I can’t be in that kind of relationship with you.” Shaking her head, Evelyn continued to back up until she was against the wall. She jumped when her back met the drywall. I knew I had to tread carefully here. I was on the hunt and Evelyn was my prey.
“Sure, you can. I’ve seen you watching me. Unless I’m mistaken, you like what you see.”
“Are you suggesting I jump from one brother to another? Your father would be mortified. He’s been so good to me, Knox…” She shook her head, her eyes wide. “I don’t want him thinking badly of me.”