Page 73 of Trust

The tension in the house was almost unbearable, but Lani couldn’t force herself to leave her brother. It wasn’t a good sign when a newly married woman went missing.

“So, you’re working for Dillon.”

His tone was so damned condescending she wanted to smack him. She loved Ben, but he was pushing his luck. Yes, she knew this was his way of avoiding the situation. Either Royal left him, or she was taken. Either scenario was bad. Still, she wasn’t going to put up with his BS.

“Yes.”

“And you’re fucking my best friend.”

“Watch that tone,” Jakob said, his voice a lethal rumble. She shouldn’t find it so sexy, but it was. It was the same growl he used when they were alone.

“I warned you to keep your hands off her.”

“I think you need to…” his words finally registered. Lani looked between the two men. “Wait, what?”

It took a full ten seconds for Ben to break his angry eye contact with Jakob.

“When I met him, I told him he couldn’t touch you.”

Her eyes widened, then they narrowed.

“That was years ago. What does that have to do with what’s going on now?”

“You’re my little sister. There’s a code.”

She rolled her eyes. Yes, she knew they had an audience, but she didn’t care.

“A code? The same code you had with Rick?”

“No. That’s different.”

“How? Because you two have always been pretty chummy, and you didn’t have a problem with me fucking him?”

“It’s different.”

“No. It’s not.”

Jakob stepped up beside her. She glanced at him. While she appreciated his silent support, she wasn’t that happy with him.

“I’ll deal with you later.”

“Is there any popcorn in this house,” Emily said, cutting through some of the tension.

“I have no idea. Probably,” Lani said.

“You quit, then you take up with him,” her brother said, his voice full of self-righteousness.

“I didn’t quit. You fired me. And, I will take up with whomever I want. Jake is who I want.”

“I don’t like your choice.”

“Are you freaking kidding me, bra? The woman you married hated the sight of me. I figured she’s the one who talked you out of having breakfast last Sunday.”

“Breakfast? What are you talking about? And what do you mean I fired you?”

“Royal said we would have breakfast before you left for your honeymoon. Later that day, I was fired via text.”

“I did not fire you. Also, we weren’t leaving right away.”

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