Page 4 of The Spare

As expected, his expression is flat, completely unimpressed by my hollow words.

“I mean it this time.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Sebastian’s voice thunders through the room, laced with fury. He marches across the floor, his jaw set so tight I can hear his teeth grinding from behind my desk. “Did I not make myself clear? You DO NOT bring your late-night rotations into my house when my wife and kids are away. I told you if you did it again, we’d have a problem. And what do I find this morning? My son asking why Uncle Sam has two naked women in the guest room.”

I wince, rubbing the bridge of my nose as the pulse in my temples spikes. “Bas, look, I’m sorry, okay? I’d been doing better, but after spending the last week poring over what’s left of the vineyard’s finances, I snapped last night.” I gesture helplessly toward the chaotic stack of ledgers and overdue notices cluttering my desk. “Seeing the sheer disaster Mom and Dad left behind, how thoroughly they stripped Pop’s legacy down to the bone, it pushed me over the edge. I wanted to clear my head enough to be able to get a good night’s sleep so I could tackle this fresh in the morning. Then one thing led to another, and…”

Sebastian’s posture stays rigid, his eyes locked on mine with that familiar, maddening judgment.

“I know you won’t believe me, but I’ve been working hard here seven days a week,” I plead, my voice dropping its usual sarcastic edge. “I’ve been completely focused on Sutter Creek. I’ve poured all of my savings into it.” I run my palm down my face. “But I’m seriously worried it’s not going to be enough.”

Slowly, the glacial tension in Sebastian’s broad shoulders begins to thaw. He glances down at the red-inked financial reports spread across the desk, and for a fleeting second, the fury in his face shifts into something dangerously close to pity. My chest tightens, hoping he’s actually giving me a reprieve.

“Have you contacted Pop’s attorney yet?”

“No,” I mutter, reaching behind me to massage the tense muscles in my neck. “Planning to do that tomorrow. But honestly, if he can’t find a way to get access to an emergency fund, I’m not sure what else to do.”

Sebastian sighs. “Look, Sam, I can invest some cash into the business⁠—”

My lips press into a tight line of irritation before he can even finish the sentence. “No,” I snap, the sudden spike of pride sharp enough to cut through my lingering headache. “I need to do this on my own.”

While my parents squandered their inheritance, siphoning every penny they could get their hands on from this vineyard, and I’ve lived the playboy lifestyle, leaving only a meager amount of my inheritance to live off of, my brother became a billionaire. Sebastian wouldn’t miss the money required to get Sutter Creek back on its feet.

But this was always my dream. Not his.

Sebastian stares at me for a long beat, searching my face. He knows how much this place means to me. Sure, it’s the family vineyard, but he walked away from the business to pursue a medical degree. And Pop and I were the ones who wanted to get our hands dirty. Literally.

Finally, my brother lets out an exhausted exhale and steps back toward the door. “Fine,” he says, resting his hand on the brass handle. “But if you bring one more woman to my home when we’re not there, I’ll raise the money myself.” This man wouldn’t need to raise another dime for the rest of his life. He has more money than he or his family could possibly spend.

My brows furrow in confusion.

“By selling off your organs on the dark web.” He sneers.

It’s five o’clock and although I’d normally keep at it for another few hours before retiring for the night, I still need to retrieve my car. Grabbing my phone, I request an Uber back to Sebastian’s place and hope I can get in and out of there without getting another earful.

Given things are looking bleak, I decide to search for possible flights to New York en route to his house. Might as well face the music. Odds are good I’m going to need to meet with Aaron Sterling in person to beg for any possible chance to save Sutter Creek.

“This the place?” Glancing up, I find we’re parked just outside the iron gates to Sebastian’s home. The Uber ride was faster than I anticipated, given it’s rush hour. My head was buried in my phone when we arrived. “Yes. This is it.” I get out knowing full well I’ll have to scale the gate once the Uber driver pulls off. There’s no way I’m alerting Bas that I’m here.

Landing on the other side, I rub my irritated hands and shake my head. Guess I won’t need to hit the gym for the next few days after this twenty-four-hour stint. I trudge up the long drive, my legs achingly tired. I need to get my act together if nothing more than the ability to use the gate and front door like his civilized guests.

Yet my heart sinks into my stomach once I discover my car is no longer sitting where I left it. Dammit. I guess I’ll have to ask him where he had it towed. The closer I get to the front of the house, the more it appears there’s something sitting in the driveway where my car once was.

As I get closer, I bend to find a toy metal Hot Wheels car sitting atop a white envelope. My head springs up to see if anyone is watching. Would be just like that holier than thou fucktard to be sitting in a chair with a bag of popcorn taking great glee from my latest debacle. Ripping open the envelope, I pull out the paper inside.

Sam,

Since you seem to love staying at my place uninvited, I thought you’d enjoy spending some extra time in the neighborhood. Your car is parked in the garage, but your tires are hidden. Your first clue is on the back of this paper. Good luck, asshole.

My head falls back between my shoulders. That motherfucker. I’m so tired I can barely see straight. Now I’ve got to play hide and seek with my car’s tires. Then return here to put them back on, just so I can drive home.

Grrrr. I knew coming back here to retrieve my car and simply drive home would be way too easy.

The next three hours were spent gathering my tires. One was in a bar where all the patrons got a giant laugh out of the ordeal. The second was located in the local park in a nasty restroom stall. I’ll be cleaning that tire for a month. And one was hidden behind a gas station dumpster. I’m less grossed out by the dumpster than the bathroom. I’m shocked that either of those were still there. The last tire was in Sebastian’s garage next to my car and a hand jack. Sure, he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to gloat.

Of course, my brother, his wife, Austin, and their toddler, Rowan, chuckled the entire time I was assembling it back together. Once I apologized to Bella and Austin for my “sleepover,” I got my ass in the car and made my way home.

Sure, I had it coming. But needless to say, I’ll be thinking real hard before I contemplate staying at my brother’s house anytime soon.