“Can you?” He raises a brow. “All on your own? Without the kid? Because there’s no way in hell Torian will let you leave with his brother.”
I don’t react to the threat.
I knew Tobias would be their invisible shackle. Yet the delivery of the blow still leaves a gaping wound. “So he’s the prisoner now?”
“No.” Luca takes another step. “There are no prisoners. The kid is Torian’s brother. He’s family. You have no right to take him.”
“I have every right. I’m the only parental figure he has left. I’m his teacher. His friend. His cook. His maid. I’m the one who tucks him in at night.”
“Penny.” Tobias clings tighter to me. “Please don’t leave me.” His heartbreaking kiddy sniffles return.
“You would take him from me after everything he’s witnessed today? After all the stories he’s been told?” I beg Luca with my eyes when I’d prefer to glare. Claw. Retaliate. “Can you imagine what he’s thinking right now? Luther told him you were the enemy. He was forced to attack Cole. Now you want to take him from the only familiarity he has left?”
Toby’s trembles increase, adding fuel to my argument.
“I’m not the enemy.” The woman crouches. “Tobias, I would never do anything to hurt you. We’re family.”
Her words are gentle. The delivery soft. She’s trying to win him over, bit by bit, second by second.
“You can attempt to brainwash him all you want,” I snip. “Believe me, he’s grown accustomed to the family trait, but he still can’t stay here. He needs his medicine.”
“What medicine?” Luca demands.
“He’s diabetic.” I squeeze Tobias’s shoulder and hope to hell he realizes it’s a sign for him to keep his mouth shut. “He needs regular injections. If I don’t get him home soon he’ll get sick. He could die.”
Keira stands, her attention swaying from Sebastian to Luca and back again. “We need to tell Cole.”
“Wait.” Luca’s eyes narrow on me. “The kid is diabetic?”
I swallow, suddenly unsettled with the thought of pinning more attention on Tobias.
“I assume there are risks associated with taking them back to Dad’s house,” Keira adds.
Dad.
God, the parental term when referencing Luther is abhorrent. He was never a father. Only a monster.
“The risks are monumental,” Luca growls, his focus turning harsh. “They’re not going back there.”
I stand taller. “Do you plan on forcibly stopping me?”
“You bet I do.”
“Luca,” Sebastian warns. “Watch yourself.”
My heart squeezes at the protection. Squeezes then flounders.
I remain locked tight in a visual battle with Luca, his scrutiny scathing as he attempts to stare me down.
“We need to talk,” he tells me. “In private.”
“Like hell you do.” Sebastian steps closer. “I’m not leaving you alone with her.”
Luca doesn’t falter. He keeps his eyes narrowed on mine. “Now,” he speaks to me.
I don’t know what this is about. But I can see the determination in his expression. Whatever it is holds importance.
“Leave us,” I murmur.
“That’s not going to happen.” Sebastian crosses his arms over his chest. “I’ll never let you out of my sight again.”
My heart protests the protection, wanting it and rejecting it at the same time.
“Get out.” I raise my voice. “I don’t want you here.”
Pain seeps into his features, tainting everything it touches—his eyes, his lips.
“And take the kid,” Luca adds.
“What?” I grasp Tobias’s shoulders. “No.”
“It’s only for a few minutes. Keira can get him something to eat.”
The woman nods. “I’ll look after him.”
I glare at her—the daughter to my rapist, the blood of my nightmares.
“Nothing is going to happen to him,” Luca continues. “He’s with family here.”
“I don’t like this,” Sebastian growls. “I want to know what the hell is going on.”
The room falls silent waiting for me to make the next move. I don’t know what to do—succumb to my brother, give Luca what he wants, or forge ahead with my demand to leave.
Every option has pitfalls, but none more so than my lack of confidence to get off this island alone or my fear at dragging my brother into a mess he won’t survive.
That leaves Luca.
“Let us talk in private.” I glance away, wanting the surly man to know I’m not happily obliging to his request.
There’s more silence, where I feel my brother’s wince instead of seeing it. His disappointment ebbs through the room, dirtying my skin.
“If you need anything,” he bites out, “you fucking yell, okay? Scream and I’ll be back in here to kill this motherfucker before he can take another breath.”