Page 4 of North

“Everything alright, kids?”

“Yep. Fine,” I said quickly, grabbing my fork and forcing myself to take a bite of food I couldn’t even taste. “I’m fine.”

Across the table, North let out a quiet chuckle, his smirk still burning into me. His eyes gleamed with something dark and knowing, a silent promise that this wasn’t over.

I kept my attention locked on my plate, trying to block him out, but it was no use. He was in my head again, and no matter how much I hated it, I couldn’t stop replaying his voice, his smirk, and the way he’d made it impossible to forget.

Chapter 1

North

She didn’t belong here.

Quinn fucking Harley. My new step-sister. My new problem. Sitting there across from me at dinner, picking at her food like she wanted to disappear into the table. Like she wasn’t sitting in my house, eating my food, breathing my air.

Her dad ruined lives. He destroyed families, left a trail of broken people behind him, and now his daughter was here, acting like she was the one who had it rough. As if she didn’t just waltz into this house, dragging her shitty thrift-store bags behind her, expecting everyone to feel sorry for her.

She was pathetic.

But I couldn’t stop staring.

She didn’t look at me—not once. Her hazel eyes stayed glued to her plate, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. Her hair was a mess, soft waves of auburn that caught the light every time she shifted, making it look like the sun had decided to set on her head.

And the freckles.

Fuck. Those stupid freckles are scattered across her nose. I hated them. Hated how they made her look soft, almost sweet, like she was some innocent little thing who had no idea what she was walking into.

I hated a lot of things about Quinn Harley, but a hell of a lot had to do with how much she resembled her late father. Same innocent features, same guileless eyes. I hope the fucker suffered before he died.

Lauren and Dad were talking—about the lake house, the festival, some boring small-town bullshit I didn’t care about. Their voices faded in and out, blending into the background noise while my focus stayed locked on her. She shifted in her chair, her fingers tightening around her fork, and I caught the faintest flicker of a blush creeping up her neck.

Was it because of me?

The thought made my smirk stretch wider.

“We’re going to be gone for most of the summer,” Mark said suddenly, his voice breaking through my thoughts. “Business in Europe, some conferences… You two will have the house to yourselves for a good couple of weeks, and then I’ve asked Evie and Liam to come down. We have some news that we want to share with everyone. Nothing big,” he smiled at Lauren as he said that, and I felt my stomach twist.

What fucking news? And why were they waiting until my siblings were here before they told us? Why not just say something now? I shoved the thought away, focusing on something else instead.

“You’re going away?” Quinn’s hazel eyes darted to Dad like she hadn’t heard him right. Then they flicked toward me. “You didn’t say anything.”

“I’m sorry, Quinn baby, but we planned this a few months ago and it would be such a waste not to go.” Lauren frowned, her fork clinking on her plate. “I know the timing’s really bad, honey, but I’ll make it up to you.”

“How long will you be gone?” my step-sister swallowed, her voice hoarse and I couldn’t help but feel fucking gleeful as my father cleared his throat and answered.

“It’s a two-month trip.”

“Two months,” Quinn repeated. “And it’s just going to be North and me here.”

That’s right, little rabbit. All summer, no supervision.

“Got a problem with that, rabbit?” I tilted my head just enough to catch her attention. I forgot all about the trip they’d been planning, but this was perfect. Without Mommy and Daddy around, the little rabbit had nowhere to run to. Which meant she’d be all mine. “I promise I don’t bite.”

Too hard.

Quinn didn’t say anything, but the look on her face said it all. Unease. Discomfort. She looked like someone had just told her she was being locked in a cage with a predator, and honestly? She wasn’t wrong.

My father’s eyes narrowed warningly.

---