Page 11 of North

Summer rolled her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

“I’m just saying, you can’t say shit like that in public. People talk, Vic. And if anyone hears you, it’s going to get back to Dad. Or worse, Mom.” She shot me a pointed look. “And you, North—you need to figure out what you’re doing. Because you’re not subtle, and she’s not stupid. It’s obvious you’ve got the hots for her.”

I scowled, my jaw tightening. “Whose side are you on, Summer? What the fuck are you doing here anyway? Nobody needed your help at the kiddies' pool today?”

She worked as a lifeguard, something she’d been doing since she was sixteen—an easy job, and one that made her jaw clench as she glared at me.

Connor smirked as he turned to wink at her. “Sum’s just along for the ride, aren’t you, doll? Besides, she didn’t mean it like that.” He practically fucking purred as he lifted an eyebrow. “You think she doesn’t know about what her dad did to Aiden?”

Summer softened visibly. “No, that’s not what I meant. I-I,” she stammered, smoothing her dress over her thighs. “I just meant that you're going to get into trouble if you don’t think about this properly. You want to ruin her? Fine. Do it. But don’t get sloppy. And don’t forget—people are watching. Always.”

Her words hung in the air long after she walked away, her sharp heels clicking against the wood floors, heading in the direction of the bedrooms.

Victor’s smirk widened, his dark eyes gleaming with something cruel. “You heard the lady, North. Don’t get sloppy.”

I didn’t respond, my hands clenching into fists at my sides as I stared out at the pool.

Quinn was lying on her back now, one arm draped lazily over her head, the other trailing in the water. She looked… peaceful. Like she didn’t have a care in the world. Like she wasn’t carrying the weight of her father’s sins on her shoulders.

And for some reason, that only made me angrier. Who the fuck did she think she was, spending her summer in my fucking house? Victor’s words echoed in my head. She’d be here next year, and the year after that for sure. Hell, she was probably just like Lauren, always interfering and doing what she wanted like it was her fucking money and not my father’s. Or my mother’s.

The thought stuck, sharp and insistent, digging into me like a thorn. And the worst part was, I didn’t know if I wanted to pull it out.

***

I found Quinn in the kitchen later, moving quietly as she pulled two bottles of water from the fridge. She didn’t notice me at first, her focus on the task at hand, but I saw the tension in her shoulders, the way her movements were just a little too careful, like she was trying not to draw attention to herself.

If only it were that fucking easy.

“What are you doing?” I asked, leaning against the doorway.

She jumped, spinning around to face me, her hazel eyes wide and startled. Her grip on the water bottles tightened, her knuckles white as she stared at me. I nearly snorted, the little rabbit looked like she’d been caught stealing or something.

It really wasn’t that far off.

“Getting water,” she said, her voice small but steady.

“For who?” I stepped closer, my lips curving into a smirk as her cheeks flushed. “Connor?”

Her brow furrowed, and she glared at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I let my gaze drag over her slowly, deliberately, watching the way her blush deepened. “Well, I mean he’d be able to afford those services we were talking about, rabbit. Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean. You think he’d be interested in you? After everything your dad did to his brother?”

My tone was sharp, biting, and maybe filled with a little more jealousy than I’d like to admit as I leered at her trembling body. Her nipples were poking through her bikini top. I wanted to wrap my lips around them. Bite them.

“He wouldn’t pay you to suck him off, rabbit. Do you remember Aiden, rabbit? He can’t even walk without a cane these days. Your father wrecked his life fucking nicely. He would’ve made a great quarterback for the NFL if it weren’t for Robert.”

Her jaw tightened, her hazel eyes narrowing. “Seriously, North?” she hissed, her voice sharp. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?” I repeated, my tone mocking. I closed the distance between us, watching the way her body stiffened, the way her breath hitched as I leaned closer. “You’re the one walking around this house like you belong here. Like you’re innocent.”

Her shoulders squared, a flicker of defiance sparking in her expression. “Innocent of what, North? Murder? Don’t you think my dad would’ve been locked up if there was anything to those rumors?”

“No,” I said, my voice dropping lower, colder. “Because people like your dad know how to bury their sins deep. But that doesn’t change what he did. And it doesn’t change that you’re his daughter.” I took another step forward, forcing her back against the counter. “Maybe I should be the one locking my door, just in case the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching. For a second, it looked like she might say something, but the words never came.

“Nothing to say, rabbit?” I murmured, closing the gap until there was barely an inch between us. My body loomed over hers, and I could see her chest rising and falling rapidly, her fingers clutching the edge of the counter like it was the only thing keeping her upright.

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