“You two get your things together. I’ll bring them up.”
She looks relieved and drags Sarah into another bedroom with her. Alone with Alex, I buzz up the movers and fix my vest. “You really have it bad for Natalie’s friend.”
He checks the contents of the bag in his hand idly. “I’m just looking out for her.”
“Out of the kindness of your heart, I’m sure.” I smirk. “I guess all your employees are lucky to have such an involved boss, who would take them into his own home rather than let them be homeless temporarily.”
Alex just shoots me a dirty look. “You’d better tell your brothers that Sarah is off-limits.”
Tucking my hands in my pockets, I ask, amused, “Does Sarah know that Sarah is off-limits?”
He carries the things into the kitchen, tossing over his shoulder as he does, “No. She will soon, though.”
I open the front door and look outside. I can’t see Caleb anywhere, but Jake is on a call with someone down the hallway. I wait for him to be done before walking over to him.
“What happened with you and Natalie?”
“Nothing.” My brother looks guilty.
“You’re lying. I can tell. Whatever you said to her hurt her. She’d been crying.”
His head jerks up, and I continue. “Now, she wouldn’t tell me what happened. She won’t even take your name, but I know you well enough to know that it was you. Caleb doesn’t poke his nose in my business.”
I see the guilt in his eyes.
My voice hardens. “Let me make this very clear. You’re my brother, and that will never change, but she is mine. We are not children. You don’t need to protect me. I’ve always tolerated your interferences—but not when it comes to her. She comes first, Jake, and you had better understand that now, before you cross a line there is no coming back from.”
He looks ashamed. “I didn’t mean to make her cry. I just didn’t like the way she was treating you. She talks to you so callously?—”
“No, she doesn’t. She is the way she is, and I like her thatway. I have a long way to go to earn her forgiveness,” I respond harshly. “Her life fell apart because of me. I can’t give her back any of those years. And even if she doesn’t blame me, it is not something I can overlook. But this is the woman I want to spend my life with. I will not let you jeopardize that. If you cannot get along with her or look past the end of your nose, then stay away from her. If you ever make her cry again, you and I will have a problem.”
Jake flinches, but nods. “It won’t happen again.”
“It shouldn’t.” I take a few steps away from him towards the elevator and then pause. “She’s carrying my child, Jake. Before you jump to any conclusions, I offered her everything I have on a platter, and she refused to take it. That was before I found out about the baby. She’s moving in with me to give us a chance. Don’t fuck it up for me.”
Jake is frozen in place. “She’s pregnant?”
“Yes. So stop putting your nose in my business if you want to be an uncle. She’s taking a chance on me, Jake. Understand that.”
I leave him with that.
I know how protective my twin is. It goes both ways. I’ve always looked after him from the shadows as well, but unlike Jake, I know where to draw the line.
I hope he learns to do the same.
The movingcompany has sent a couple of men to transport the bigger pieces of furniture, excluding the beds and the cupboards. Through the windows, I can see the neighborhood lights coming on as dusk settles over the city skyline.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little hasty?” I overhear Sarah ask Natalie. “Emptying this place out so quickly? Seems a little bit of an overkill.”
The two are standing in the kitchen, preparing coffee whilethe rest of us carry down the suitcases, supervise the remaining movers, and clear up the mess.
“Maybe,” Natalie admits, “but I will never feel safe here again. You don’t know how terrified I am of Lucas, especially now. You didn’t read those messages. You know, from the moment I found out I’m pregnant, it’s like I’ve begun to wake up bit by bit. I want my mother and Lucas to stay away from me. I want to have no ties with them. I don’t want them near my child. I want to get away from this place, from the city. I want to go somewhere they could never find me.”
“Breathe,” Sarah instructs, and I hear a chair scraping. I’m about to move when I hear her continue. “I don’t think Ethan is going to let anything happen to you. He cares about you.”
“Yeah.”
Sarah laughs lightly. “Now try that with a little more conviction. Have more confidence in yourself.”
