Page 65 of Forever Zara

If they were anything like he was, they were gonna get into some shit one day.

He was willing to find out, with Zara at his side.

Willing to kick their little butts when they needed it.

* * *

17 years later.

Harper had never been a fan of being told what to do.

It was instinctual to rebel against an order

And not by a big dumb alpha idiot who thought he knew what was going on when he didn’t know shit.

She glared at Knox. “Keep pointing that finger at me, and I’ll snap it off.” It was a rare moment when she was in an argument with one of her younger brothers. Knox was the more stubborn of the two boys. He couldn’t get it into his stupid head he wasn’t in charge of her, or the club yet. However, he was in training to take over from their father one day. It didn’t make him the prez today.

She was her own woman and wouldn’t stand for someone telling her what to do. Or not to do, as the case was here.

“You fucking end it now, Harp. I mean it, don’t force my hand.”

Her chin went back, stare blazing, staring at the same color eyes as her own. All three of them had grown up like triplets. Though she was the oldest, Knox acted like the oldest kid, her protector, and overbearing boss.

“Or you’ll do what?”

“I’ll put an end to it. You know it’s goddamnfucked up.”

“It’s none of your business what I do.”

“Or who you do? Open your fucking legs for anyone you want, but not him.”

She gasped, feeling as though he’d slapped her.

Knowing they hardly ever fought, unless it was something stupid that resulted in the three acting like kids again, his insult came like a physical punch to her midsection. She put her hand on her stomach, stepping back from him.

“Goddamn. I didn’t…I didn’t mean it like that.” Knox was tall like their dad, towering over her in all his 6’4 stature. He stepped in and cupped the back of her skull.

“You dare call me a whore? How many chicks have you had in your bed this month? Double standards, little brother.”

“I wasn’t calling you a whore. You know what you’re doing is fucked up. He’s too old for you for one. An untrustworthy crooked asshole, not to mentionwhohe is. How do you think mom will react when she knows this? It will kill her, Harps.”

Pain sliced right through her, and she knocked his hand to pace a few steps away, inhaling slowly.

She knew that already.

And she wouldn’t hurt her mom for anything. They’d had their issues over the years like any mother and daughter relationship. But she loved her mom more than anyone, loved her dad the same.

Harper didn’t need Knox to tell her what was fucked up. She had a personal front-row view of the whole situation; she was far from dumb.

Some things were unavoidable.

Especially where a man was concerned.

Only when she could speak around the boulder of feeling in her throat did Harper turn to face her brother.

Watchful as ever, he had his chin dipped in the same way their dad used when he was about to let them know how disappointed he was.

It rarely happened because the three of the Marinos kids hated to mess up.

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