Page 38 of Reckless Love

I wanted to shake him until his stupid dark sunglasses came flyingoff his face. “You don’t care about me, do you? Lunch is just work. You’re here for information.”

“Don’t you dare.” He spit out. “You might as well call me Edmund.” Turns out I didn’t need to shake him. He took his shades off all on his own, meeting my gaze. “Answer me this, little sister. Was making the acquaintance of Mr. Leo Hancock an accident...or was it on purpose?”

I rearedback I was so damn surprised to hear that accusation come out of his mouth. “Are fucking kidding me right now, William? Why don’t you just say what you really mean?” I stood up, shook off my clothes.

“Fine. Are you really in love with him or is he another cog in your wheel? Is he just a tool?Are you using him?”

I’m not sure what exactly happened next because I went blind with rage.I saw red (which I didn’t think was actually a thing until that moment.) I flew at William, pushing him back, then punching at his broad chest as if it would make a dent.

It didn’t. Instead he wrapped me up in a vice grip. “Shhhh. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Shhhh. Please calm down, Rosie girl. I’m sorry. I just had to know.”

“And now?” The fight drained out of me.

“Was it you?Ten years ago in Nashville. Was it you?”

He wasn’t sure?

Or was this some great big act to get me to confess? And why did I live in a world where I had to doubt whether my brother was genuinely concerned or wearing a wire?

I pushed away and paced in the grass, sniffling and wiping at the snot and tears. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You do.” He hissed.“You’re so fucking smart and just as angry as I am. Iknowyou’re the one. There isn’t anyone else who could do it.”

“Why do you care one way or the other.” I completely ignored the fact that I basically just confessed that I knew what he was talking about.

“Because.” He came to stand right in front of me as he whispered, “I wish I’d done it myself. The bastard deserves everythingthat comes to him.”

“As nice as that is...”

He shook me. Just a little. “Stop playing games.”

I cocked an eyebrow because if William thought this was a one-way conversation he was very much mistaken. “Tell me about Jonathan Eubank.”

He blinked. He sputtered. But he didn’t move. “What about him?”

“I heard the two of you have struck up quite the friendship.I also noticed that Jonathan is somewhat prominently placed in the national organization. An organization that seems to be suffering from some issues very similar to the ones we’re not talking about happening a decade ago.”

Nottalking about what we were talking about was starting to get tiring.

He lifted his chin. “We’re friends. I don’t know what else you want to know.”

“How close are the two of you? What kind of friendship do you have? The kind that commit felonies together?”

He shook his head again. “No.” And then he looked off over my shoulder.

“What are you thinking?”

He cocked his head the other way, his eyes squinting as he chased whatever idea had caught his attention. “Fuuuuuck.” He squeezed his eyes shut and swore some more. “We arereally good friends. So good I told him everything, Rosie.” He locked his gaze with mine. “I told him everything about Nashville. Father, you, my suspicions.Everything.”

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