Grievous (Wanted Men #5) - Nancy Haviland Page 0,77
I remember being very confused by the comment. Until she spoke. I had never heard fear in her voice before, but it was there when she asked if he was sure they had made it look like an accident.”
Finish. Unravel. Begin.
“I ran as fast as I could around to the front of the house and raced into my father’s study. I called the car phone, but it rang and rang. The police arrived thirty minutes later, and I stood there with my arms around Markus as he went wild at hearing our father and sister had just been killed in a terrible accident. They said it appeared the brakes had failed, and the car flipped on the motorway. Six other lives were lost in the accident.”
“I so enjoyed watching my mother fall to pieces when she realized she had murdered her beautiful girl.” There was a smile in his voice. “Miruna was quiet. Like my father. But our mother loved her anyway. She was eighteen.” His fingers slowed. “I used to think if I’d stayed in the house during my mother’s sessions, I might have heard her discussing her plan, and I could have warned my father. But I always took Markus away to prevent him from stumbling into a room and seeing something that would hurt him. That was a job I loved. Keeping him safe and happy was not the chore many older siblings would have considered it. It was a pleasure. Until he began refusing my aid. Resenting it. I did not take it well at first, and we had some fierce shouting matches. But even those were enjoyable. I was always so proud when he made his point with a passion that made me stop and listen. Not that I ever pointed that out. He would have been insulted.”
Hearing that note of true love in his voice had Yasmeen bringing her fist up to press it against her mouth. She was crushed by his story. Flattened.
“I was fourteen when I became the man of our house. Fifteen when I made Markus an orphan.” He finished the braid without unraveling it and used it to turn her head. “You may ask one question, and I will answer it.”
She didn’t move. Didn’t speak. She just sat there with her profile to him and tried to control the emotions he wanted no part of.
“Come here, pet.”
She moved into him, going on her knees so he could pull her up into his lap. She curled around him, hugging him with so much compassion in her heart she didn’t think it was possible for him not to feel it. She felt closer to him just then, and sorrier for him than ever.
“You have confused me. Why am I not hearing a question?”
“Don’t have one.” And she didn’t. She understood now. After losing his father and sister, he’d held his one remaining sibling as close as he could. He loved and sheltered Markus to the point where she was sure they’d gotten into more than just a few shouting matches.
She kissed his jaw and hugged him harder, so proud of him for opening up to her. So grateful that he’d finally allowed her some insight into what this obsessive need to keep her hidden away from life was about. He liked her, and he was worried something might happen to her. That had to be it. He must have been terrified he would lose his brother, and he did.
“Life is such a bitch,” she said when she was sure she wouldn’t choke. “She never really gives us what we want, does she? Just dangles it in our faces for a while before yanking it away.” She laid her head on his shoulder, murmuring, “You just wanted to keep him safe, and she didn’t let you. How fucking unfair.”
As he held her, accepting her comfort, Yasmeen resigned herself to the fact that she wouldn’t voluntarily cause him more pain by leaving him alone. If he wanted to keep her for a while, she would stay. When he was better, who knew? But for now? She was his.
She felt the weight of her collar and knew by accepting all of this, any pain waiting on the horizon was going to be hers.
SEVENTEEN
Lucian held his pet close, feeling no ill feelings toward her for this need she felt to coddle him. He’d asked for it by sharing that particular story. Couldn’t deny he was relieved she hadn’t taken him up on his offer. He wasn’t