Trust Fund Fiance - Naima Simone Page 0,64

features to the computer screen and the open email. “I just received a message from my accountant.” He huffed out a breath, disbelief coursing through him once more. “I have a few personal investments outside of Wingate and apparently, one of the companies I invested in just sold for billions. Billions, Luke. And I’m a millionaire because of it.”

Joy lit up his brother’s light brown eyes, eclipsing the exhaustion there.

“Holy shit, Zeke!” Luke grinned, rounding the desk to pull Ezekiel up out of his chair and jerk him into a back-pounding hug. “That’s wonderful. Damn, I’m glad we finally have some good news around here.”

“I’m still in shock. I don’t even know what to do right now,” Ezekiel murmured.

“I do. Go get Reagan back.”

Ezekiel’s chin jerked up and back from Luke’s verbal sucker punch. “What?” Just hearing her name... It scored him, leaving red-hot slashes of pain behind. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about going to find your wife, get down on your knees if need be and beg her to come back to you,” Luke stated flatly. “I love you, Zeke, but you fucked up.”

A growl vibrated in his chest, rolling up into his throat, but at the last moment, he didn’t let his angry retort fly. Luke loved him and meant well. But still... Ezekiel didn’t want to hear this. “Luke, I appreciate—”

“No,” Luke interjected with a hard shake of his head. “You’re my brother and the most important person in the world to me. Which is why I can tell you the brutal truth even though you don’t want to hear it. And I can do it knowing it won’t hurt our relationship.”

Ezekiel almost turned away, but only his love for his brother kept him from walking away. Well, that, and he harbored zero doubts Luke would drag him back to make him listen.

Luke sighed, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I know I warned you against marrying Reagan when you first told me about the engagement. I was worried for both of you. But when I saw you two at the engagement party, I changed my mind. You belong together... You belong to her. And I say this remembering how you were with Melissa. I loved her—she was sweet, kind and loved you. But Melissa is gone, and you have the chance for a future with a woman who not only fiercely defended you like a lioness but who challenges you. Who makes you better. Who loves you. And you, whether you want to admit it to yourself or not, love her.”

“Love?” Ezekiel laughed, and the serrated edge of it scraped his throat. “You say that when we have so many examples around us of people who have been gutted by love. Like when you love someone, they don’t leave,” he snarled.

He snapped his lips shut, hating that he’d let that last part escape. But now that it had, he couldn’t stop the images of those he’d lost and the people they’d left behind from careening through his head.

Uncle Trent. His parents. Melissa.

“Besides,” he ground out, “my reasons for divorcing Reagan stand. I’m doing her more harm than good remaining married to her. This way she won’t be ostracized by polite Royal society or separated from her family. She’ll have the chance to obtain her inheritance.”

“Bullshit.”

Ezekiel glared at his brother, who aimed one right back at him.

“I call bullshit,” Luke repeated through clenched teeth. “You’re running scared. Like you have for the last eight years. You speak of Melissa and Mom and Dad like they were cautionary tales. Mom and Dad’s marriage is a goal, not a warning. Their love was the epitome of courage, of sacrifice and love. And you shit all over that when you use them to justify your fears. Zeke.” Luke clapped a hand over Ezekiel’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re about to throw your future away over something that you have no control over. You’re so worried about what could possibly happen. Yes, God forbid, Reagan could possibly die in a tragic accident like Melissa and Mom and Dad. But you could also possibly have a wife and family and be complete in a way you’ve never known or could dream of. She’s worth the risk. You’re worth the risk.”

Ezekiel stared at his brother, but it was Reagan’s words echoing in his ears.

You don’t get to use me as an excuse for running scared and not owning your own shit.

I threaten that pain and guilt that