But he’s not mine.

That’s an unarguable fact.  He’s no one’s.

I swallow and look at the two of them.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve been summoned to work for a little bit. I have to drive into Chicago.  I’ll be back this evening though.”

I get up to walk into the house, ignoring Brand’s very concerned expression.  Before I reach the door, his strong hand is gripping my elbow.

“Is everything ok?” he asks quickly, his blue eyes searching mine for an answer. An honest answer.  I paste on a mask.

“Yes.”

Lie.

He raises an eyebrow and I sigh.

“It’s fine.  My father just wants to give me some case files to study over the summer.  He wants me to be prepared for the Fall.”

Lie.

But I sound oh-so-convincing and Brand finally relaxes.

“Do you want me to ride along?”

Yes.

But I shake my head.  “Of course not.  You have company.  Stay here with Jacey and catch up.  I’ll be home tonight.”

Home.

A lump forms in my throat because this isn’t my home. It’s their home… Jacey’s and Brand’s. This is where they grew up.  I’ll never be a part of that.

“If you’re sure….” Brand’s voice trails off and I kiss him hard, on the mouth.  Out of my periphery, I see Jacey watching us, something that gives me great satisfaction.

“I’m sure.  I’ll be back tonight.”

I stride into the house with purpose and grab my purse.  I don’t look back until I’m all the way down the road.

***

The drive to Chicago seems to take forever, even though it’s only an hour.  I weave my Jag through the Sunday afternoon traffic and by the time I pull into my parking slot in the garage at Greene Corp, my nerves are shot.

My fingers are shaky, my heart is racing, my palms are clammy.

Brand and Jacey might be alone right now and that might be annoying, but I have to be alone with William.  And that’s more than annoying.  It very well might be dangerous.

I gulp as I ride the elevator to the twentieth floor.

I swallow hard as I step out and my heels click on the polished floor.

Then, as I stand outside the doors of the conference room, I take a deep breath and try to steady myself.  I know he’s already here.  I can smell his cologne on the air… something thick and cloying and old-man-like.

The smell brings back memories… of clawing and biting and penetration.

I gag a little bit, grabbing the wall.

I can do this.

I can do this.

This is me ringing the bell.

I open the door, and as confidently as I can, I step inside.

William waits for me at the far end of the massive conference table.

“Come in, my dear,” he calls.  Even his voice sounds like an old man, thin and frail.  I swallow my disgust and approach him, keeping my eyes carefully on him as I stop across the table from him.

He smiles.

“Now, was this so hard?  Really, my dear, meeting with me didn’t have to be this way.”

“I know what meeting with you is like,” I manage to bite.  “Why did you want to see me today? Let’s just cut to the chase.”

William nods, satisfied.  “You’re such a Greene, Nora.  So ready to do what you need to do.”

My stomach rolls.

“What do you want?” I ask stiltedly.  My fingers are gripping the edge of the table so tightly that I can’t feel them anymore.

William rocks back in his chair.

“I want to tell you a little bit about your boyfriend, of course.  You’re so young and inexperienced… I know you probably didn’t do a background check on him.  Right?”

I roll my eyes.  “That’s what you’ve got?  I don’t need a background check.  I know him.  He’s a decorated Army Ranger, a hero who saved my life. That’s all I need to know.”

William chuckles, a thin fake sound in the quiet room.  “Oh, my dear, you’re so naïve.  Your boyfriend is an Army Ranger.  But I doubt he told you why.”

I can tell from William’s voice that I’m not going to like what he’s going to say next. I wish I could close my ears and not listen, but I have to know.

William won’t give me a choice.

I don’t say anything, so he continues.

“Branden Killien attacked his father right after he graduated high school,” William says with satisfaction, his faded eyes gleaming.  “His parents pressed charges and the judge suspended the sentence if Branden would agree to join the military.”

I’m stunned.

I’m not mad at Brand, because honestly, after hearing about his father and seeing his mother in action, I don’t blame him.  In fact, I commend him for waiting so long.  But I am surprised that he didn’t mention it.

William enjoys the look on my face.

“I see he didn’t mention it to you,” he says cheerfully.   “I can see why.  He thinks his records are sealed, so he never had to worry about telling you the truth. But see, my dear, nothing is sealed to me.  I have connections everywhere.  Which brings me to my point today.”

He pauses and I wait.  I stare him down, my gaze unflinching.

Fuck you, you f**king monster.

“I’m sure Brand doesn’t want it known that the only reason he ever served his country was as a punishment for assault and battery.  His company is successful in large part because of his and his partner’s decorated military history.  The connections I have in the pentagon… they wouldn’t be very happy to know that they’re doing business with a fraud.”

My head snaps up.

“Brand isn’t a fraud,” I spit. “No one would ever think so.”

William nods, very happy with my reaction, happy that he’s getting one.

“They would believe that if I told them to. They would publicly withdraw their business and cite their reasons… that Branden is a fraud, a criminal, if I told them to.  And when that happens, Brand’s company would go bankrupt. He’d be ruined and left with nothing.”

My breath leaves my body in a rush, even though I desperately try not to show it.  “They wouldn’t,” I say, attempting to call his bluff.  “His company does a good job.  They would have no reason.”

William drums his fingers casually on the table, as if we’re having a friendly, normal conversation.