Page 8 of Bound By Her

And those nights weren’t nearly often enough.

As heir to the Winters family, Bryson carried the weight of endless obligations. The Nine used him often—he and his brothers had earned a reputation for delivering messages with brutal efficiency. They claimed to value balance, order, restraint. Bryson found the mantra laughable. As once, the Triune had instructed to shovebody parts down the throat of a man who was still breathing.

The Nine thought of themselves as guardians. But Bryson could see them for what they really were.

Monsters.

Especially his father.

That’s what made living under Callen’s roof intolerable.

But Bryson had found the solution. A yellowing, overlooked land deal buried in a dusty drawer of his father’s office. Abandoned decades ago because Callen hadn’t realized its worth. Thirty years ago, it might have been useless. Now? It was gold. A smuggler’s wet dream, the only viable port location in northern South America. With that land, the Winters could cement their place at the table.

And more importantly, Callen would have to travel.

Bryson pulled Kaydon and Seth close, using the last of his waning energy to tend to them. Pulling the blanket over the three of them, he ran his fingers through Seth’s hair. Kaydon didn’t need much after care, but Bryson would make sure he drank a large glass of water and ate breakfast first thing in the morning.

Bryson was still awake when the light shone in his window. Tracking across the wall as a car pulled into the estate’s long driveway.

Bryson reasoned his father must be home early.

Detangling himself from Seth and Kaydon, he moved to pour himself a glass of bourbon and watched the driveway from above.

Despite the late hour, there was a flurry of activityout front. The staff moving about the compound, needing to seem busy now that his father was home.

Stepping out of the car, his father was wearing a white button-up that was sheer enough to show off his extensive family colors. From the shadows, Bryson watched his father run a hand filled with rings through his slick black hair. He heard faint voices but wasn’t able to discern what they were saying.

Back from a weeklong business trip, Callen was no doubt getting an update from the staff.

Bryson moved to another window, positioning himself at the edge. From this vantage, he was able to distinguish some of the conversation.

“No, sir, I don’t think that task was completed.”

It was Rolland, one of his father’s men.

His father glanced towards Bryson’s windows.

Bryson took a step back, hoping the darkness of the room would cloak him.

“What about the meeting with Terrance? Did we smooth things over?” his father asked, voice rough.

“Unfortunately, I do not think that task was completed either,” Rolland said.

Bryson swore. He had meant to get that done, but there had been several parties the three of them needed to attend. It was the sort of networking his father didn’t approve of, but Bryson didn’t care. They were having fun. He was the last of the Winters. So, his father didn’t really have a choice. He was going to have to get used to Bryson being a fuck-up.

Pouring himself another drink, Bryson moved to check the locks on the door. Steel with fortified holds, his father would have to put in a monumental amount of effort to get in, which seemed improbable, as when it came to Bryson, his father had a strong dislike for expending even a minimal amount of effort.

He would have hell to pay for not completing thefamily tasks, but who cared? The land deal was coming to fruition, and then his father would be gone. No more arguing about what it meant to be a Winters. No more constant criticisms, no more worrying about what his father might do or say. Bryson had no idea what it would feel like to be out from his father’s thumb, but he knew it had to feel better than this.

Tucking both Seth and Kaydon under the blankets, he crawled in between them. Seth rested his head on his chest and Kaydon’s leg reached out and wrapped around his.

Bryson snuggled in between them. It was a new moon, so when his father’s headlights turned off, the room fell into complete darkness. Bryson listened to Seth’s breathing next to him, and Kaydon’s warmth calmed him, while the blackness pressed in from outside.

He’ll be gone soon.

CHAPTER 2

NORTH CAROLINA

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