Page 185 of Owned (Office Intrigue Duet 8)
Of course he did, even though he had no right to do that. I didn’t bother reaming him about it since Trent and I had been friends for a while. He’d given me a job when I had needed one, allowed me the freedom to do as I wanted. Not to mention, he had spearheaded this endeavor to take down my parents. I now owed him.
“Zeke wanted to be here,” Isaac said, “but we convinced him to handle the welcome home party instead.”
“Question is, when should I tell the pilots we’re heading out?” Trent asked with a wide grin. “We’ll even help you pack.”
For a perceptive man, he seemed to have gone blind.
FORTY-FIVE
Braelyn
“I need to talk to my sister,” Ransom said, looking at me.
When I peered up at Talon, it wasn’t to seek permission. More so because I wanted to read his thoughts. Was he affected by the fact that I was now free to go back to Chicago? Did he expect me to go? Want me to go?
Unfortunately, his expression was masked, as it always was when it came to matters such as this. Talon was not a man to allow others to see him vulnerable, even when it came to me, apparently.
Stepping back from Talon, I allowed Ransom to lead me out of the resort, beyond the newly updated pool area, then between Talon’s house and the pool house, down the path that led to the beach.
“It’s over,” I acknowledged when it seemed he didn’t know what to say.
“Sounds like it.”
I looked over at him. “You don’t believe them?”
“Oh, I do. Ian and Isaac would’ve confirmed every detail before they let Trent come here.”
“They’re your friends, huh? The ones you did the favor for?”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like they were returning it.” At least that was how it seemed to me.
Ransom had never told me exactly what he’d done to help Ian and Isaac, but I’d pieced enough together to know it had something to do with the death of a prominent businessman and his son. I never had asked him for details, knowing it was better not to know. It wasn’t that I thought my brother to be a violent person, but I knew he would protect those he cared about at all costs.
My brother stopped walking, turning to face me. He took both my hands in his.
“You had no say in coming here, Brae. I basically forced it on you.” He looked up at the house. “You’ve adapted well, I know, but that doesn’t mean this is the right place for you. For us. Chicago’s always been our home.”
Yes. It had. And at one point, I couldn’t imagine myself living anywhere else.
“You’ve got more options now,” he continued, clearly misreading my silence. “And I’m happy to help you pursue them. Hell, I’ll even go talk to your old boss, tell him I’m the reason you were fired.”
I stared back at him, squeezing his hands. “What about Jasper?”
“What about him?”
I felt my heart sink. “I thought…”
“What? That I love him?” He nodded. “I do, yes. And if he wants to come with me, then fine. Otherwise…”
I couldn’t believe he was saying that. I’d seen him and Jasper these past few weeks. They weren’t merely indulging in one another. They were … I’d go so far as to say they were a couple now. At least that was how it was perceived from the outside looking in. And I had seen Jasper’s face when Trent had relayed the news, mentioned a coming home party. I’d seen his heart in his eyes, along with the fear.
“I do love him,” Ransom clarified, more firmly this time. “I always have, always will. But…” He sighed. “I want what’s best for you, Brae. I owe you that.”
Leave it to Ransom to put me above all else. Even his own happiness.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“But I do,” he bit out. “You’re the most important person in my life, Brae. I vowed to take care of you.”
“No.” I shook his arms. “Don’t you see that yet? You’ve taken care of me my entire life. You’ve paid your dues. You owe me nothing.”
His gaze bounced over my face as though he was looking for a nuance that would tell him something different than my words.
“I don’t want to go back, Ransom.” I took a deep breath, let it out. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”
Something shifted in my brother’s expression. “So your plan is to what? Work for Talon? Let him divide his time between you and his possessions? How is that fair to you, Brae? You deserve a man who’s going to give you one hundred percent of himself. Not one who’ll get you your own play toy to keep you company.”
I frowned, releasing his hands with a rough jerk of my arms. “Is that what you think he’s doing?”
