Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“BETWEEN THE WARS” BY ALLMAN brOWN
LUNA
Iwake up as we pull into the drive, blinking sleepily as Chase parks the car. The sun is low in the sky—clearly I slept the whole way back, which leaves me feeling a little refreshed. Thorn gets out first, Blade undoing our seat belt.
“Better?” Blade asks as I sit up, stretching out my back.
“A little, could do with another nap though,” I tell him honestly, and he brushes his fingers down my cheek.
“Let’s get you inside, maybe some food, and then another nap,” he states as Thorn opens our door.
“Hello, sleeping beauty,” he says, helping me out of the car and then pulling me into his arms. His whole body relaxes as his arms encircle me, and I can’t deny the way I take a deep inhale of his amber and dark rum scent, letting it ground me. “Fuck, I needed you in my arms, Goldie.”
We stay like that for a few moments, and I ponder how crazy it is that we were only apart for two weeks but it felt like a lifetime.
“Boys?” Richard’s stern question has my head snapping up to find him at the top of the steps that lead to the front door, my sleepy state disappearing as I’m now wide awake, my heart thudding at his harsh tone. “What are you doing here?”
I go to pull away from Thorn, Richard’s eyes taking our position in with a narrowed gaze, but Thorn doesn’t let me. If anything, he pulls me closer against his body, Blade and Chase coming in front of us like they’re blocking me from their dad’s sight.
“We need to talk, Father,” Chase states, his voice equally as cold as Richard’s. I hear Richard sigh, then Chase and Blade move, heading towards the steps.
“Fine,” he relents, and Thorn shifts us so his arm is around me, holding me close as we follow his brothers up the steps and into the house. “But it needs to be quick. We have dinner plans with the other shareholders.”
Thorn follows the others as Richard leads us down the hall to his office. I’ve never been in here before, and it’s everything I’d expect of a man like Richard. Dark walls with lots of wood, and my nose wrinkles at the scent of cigars that permeates the space.
We shut the door behind us, Richard going over to his enormous mahogany desk and sitting behind it.
It strikes me as strange that he would talk to his sons in here rather than somewhere less formal, like the kitchen.
He indicates the two leather chairs that are in front of his desk, and Thorn leads me to one, but instead of letting me sit down, he takes the seat and then pulls me onto his lap.
My breath stills inside my chest as Richard’s dark eyes narrow once again, his lips thinning as he takes in our position.
“What is it you needed to say?” he questions, exactly like the CEO he is, his eyes sliding to Chase. There’s a heavy note of disapproval in his tone that makes me shiver. Thorn pulls me into his body more, and I try to take comfort from his touch even as my stomach ties in knots.
Chase takes the other seat, Blade coming once again to stand behind me, his hand landing on my shoulder. Richard’s eye twitches as he notes the move.
“We will be transferring out of Harvard to local universities so we can continue to look after Luna. You have not been making sure she’s cared for, and her health has declined as a result.”
I suck in a sharp breath, Richard’s nostrils flaring at the criticism.
“She’s been more than adequately cared for. The fact that not only am I paying for her treatment but got her onto our new program that may save her life is proof of that,” Richard replies, anger lacing his tone.
“Actually, Father, we are paying for Luna’s care,” Chase tells him, and I stiffen atop Thorn’s lap, my head swinging towards him.
“You are?” I ask, a lump forming in my throat at how much they are doing for me. I had no idea they were personally paying for my treatment.
Chase’s gaze softens as he looks at me. “Of course we are.”
“Well, regardless of that,” Richard interjects, cutting into our moment. “I still got Luna accepted for cutting-edge treatment that is not available to just anyone.”
“The results of which are inconclusive right now,” Chase argues. “But that is another matter. What is important right now is that we will be moving back home to resume our care of Luna. I’ll be sending the relevant documents to Harvard within the hour, withdrawing our attendance.”
Richard’s fist comes down hard on the surface of the desk, making me jump and my heart race. “I won’t allow it. Harvard is where I went and where I expect you to attend if you ever want to take over Bank Industries and our other companies.”
I freeze, watching as Chase doesn’t show an ounce of emotion at the fact his father just threatened to cut him off. “Regardless,” Chase replies, his eyes never leaving Richard’s. “We will no longer be attending Harvard. Our priority is Luna and making sure she gets better.”
Richard’s eyes turn flint-like, his fingers flexing as he holds his hands on the surface of the desk. “I’ll cut you off…financially.”
“We have our own funds, as I’ve stated. We don’t need what you give us,” Chase answers smoothly, straightening out his cuffs like this is not a big deal. I daren’t fucking say a word, watching this play like a tennis match, my heart in my throat as they go head-to-head.
Richard gets to his feet as a noisy breath leaves his flared nostrils. “You will no longer be welcome in my home.”
My heart skips a beat entirely, horrified at how far this is going. Thorn pulls me closer into him, brushing his lips against the side of my neck in reassurance.
“We have another property, the one Mom left us, so that won’t be an issue,” Chase says calmly, and the tension in the room reaches suffocating levels.
Richard’s gaze darts to me, just for a second, before the tension eases from his body, and my stomach clenches. “It would be a shame for Luna to no longer have access to the new treatment that my company makes and is likely keeping her alive.”
I can’t stop the gasp as it falls from my lips, the tears as they sting my eyes. He’d use my illness against me.
“We’re fucking done here,” Blade snarls, coming to stand in front of me.
“We don’t even know if this treatment is actually working, never mind the fact I’ve yet to see the conclusive testing results that I requested after you assured us that the ones we’d found showing not all the side effects were published were old. ”
I can’t see Richard’s reaction, but my body trembles at the implication that whatever Richard has been getting me to take might be making things worse instead of better.
“Let’s get you out of here, Goldie,” Thorn whispers in my ear, and Blade turns around, dismissing his dad as he helps me to my feet.
“This obsession you have with your sister is unhealthy. Your relationship is unnatural,” Richard spits as Thorn and Blade lead me out of the room.
“Stepsister,” Blade corrects over his shoulder, leaving Chase in the room as we exit and he slams the door behind us.
“Shouldn’t we…” I say, my whole body shaking now that I’m out of there.
“Nope,” Thorn says, popping the P. “Chase will chat to him, but don’t worry, Moonbeam. It’ll all be okay.”
“How?” I ask as they take me to the kitchen, encouraging me to sit on one of the stools. Blade goes to the fridge, pulling out ingredients, though I’m too dazed by what just happened to note what he’s going to make. “How will it be okay if he throws you guys out?”
“Because you’ll be coming too,” Thorn adds, like that’s not an epic fucking deal.
He comes to stand in front of me, shuffling so that he’s in between my legs.
“And the house Mom left us isn’t far, plus we’ve kept it in good order, waiting for when we wanted to move out after uni anyway, so it really isn’t a big deal. ”
“Me moving in with you guys isn’t a big deal?” I whisper, and he smiles widely as both his hands come up to cup my face.
“It’s inevitable, a done deal,” he informs me, and my heart flutters inside my chest. “It’s just the next step in our journey, Moonbeam.
” He leans closer, pressing his lips to mine, and my eyelids flutter closed.
It’s like he kisses all the worry from me, the tension drawing from my muscles as his tongue probes my lips, requesting entry.
I give it to him because what else would I do?
“Luna love?” Mom’s soft, shocked voice startles my eyes open, and I pull away from Thorn, my cheeks burning as she stands in the doorway, her eyes wide as she takes in the way Thorn still holds my face and my kiss-swollen lips. “What’s going on?”
I open my mouth, but no words come out as I try to think of what to say.
The kiss Thorn and I shared was more than something platonic step siblings would do.
Blade comes around the island, taking my cold hand in his and bringing it up to his lips.
He places a quick peck on the back, then turns to face my mom.
“We are in love with Luna. All of us,” he states simply, and tears prick my eyes at the way he just claimed me in front of her as if it’s not an issue.
“All of you?” she breathes out, her gaze darting to his hand in mine, then to Thorn’s hands still cupping my face. It finally settles on me, and I take a shuddering inhale, followed by an exhale.
“All of them, Mom. We’re all in a relationship, and I love them back. I’d be lost without them, and well, we might be moving out together.” I’m proud of the way my voice remains steady despite how much my body is shaking.
“Move out with each other?” she repeats, her face pale. “But you’re step siblings. It’s wrong. What would people say?”
“With all due respect, Lorelei,” Chase says from behind her, and she jumps, allowing him to stride past her to join our little group. “None of us give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks. Luna makes us happy, and we make her happy, and we plan to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“We do?” I say, eyes on his as he gives me that rare smile, which is becoming more frequent the longer I spend with him.
“We do,” he confirms, leaning in and pressing his lips against my temple before moving to one side so that I can see my mom again. Richard has joined her, his jaw tight.
“You can stay for now, and Luna will continue the new treatment, but this,” he sneers, his head jerking in our direction. “Remains between us. I don’t want it getting out. Lorelei, come.”
He turns on his heel and strides down the hall, my mom still looking between us with furrowed brows and tears in her eyes.
“Mom?” I say, moving as if to get up, but she holds her hand out to warn me off.
“I have to go.”
A small, pained noise falls from my lips as she turns her back on me and quickly walks after Richard.
“It’s okay, Goldilocks. We’ve got you, baby,” Blade coos, his large arms encircling me, and I twist on the stool so I can bury my face into his chest and sob.
She looked so disgusted, and then she left, like she’s been doing ever since she married Richard, and that hurt.
Hands rub soothing circles on my back, all three touching me and whispering assurances in my ear as I let them hold me and borrow their strength once again.