Page 60 of Reforming Hunt
Hunt was wealthy. He could have hired people to do this shit, but he preferred torturing his brothers. It was how they bonded.
It took two hours to load and unload everything from Abby’s house into a small square space in the living room of the Cade estate. Noah wanted to sleep in Hunt’s old bed, so they’d donated Noah’s old one and moved Abby’s bed into the master suite upstairs.
Levi glanced around the remodeled first floor, moving from one room to the next. “It doesn’t look the same.”
“That’s the point,” Hunt said, following him.
Levi glanced back. “I thought the point was to fix it up and sell it? What’s with the new furniture you mentioned?”
“The place needs to be staged. We bought essentials. Most of the rooms upstairs will be empty,” Hunt said.
What he didn’t mention to his brother was that he expected to live there with Abby for a while before they sold. Not only because his family already owned the place and it had kid-friendly grounds for Noah, but also because the Cade estate would serve nicely for prosperity purposes where Noah’s grandparents were concerned. They hadn’t bothered Abby since Hunt married her, but it never hurt to hammer the last nail in the coffin of their dreams of taking Noah from his mother.
“Just be happy Abby has excellent taste,” Hunt said. “She and the designer did a great job. It’ll look like a showstopper once the cabinets and counters come in.”
Lewis and his men had torn down walls and thrown up drywall, texture, and paint. They’d also moved electrical and rerouted plumbing for the updated kitchen configuration. The only items left were the finishes, which meant it would soon be time to invite Noah’s grandparents over to show just how established Abby and Noah were.
Levi and Hunt walked back to the living room, and irritation vibrated off Levi’s stiff shoulders.
Hunt sighed. It had been too much to expect his brother to appreciate the work he’d put into the place. His other brothers appeared pleased with everything, but Hunt should have known he could never please Levi. Why he even tried, Hunt didn’t know. Maybe he was still trying to make up for the past. But now he had bigger priorities. Abby and Noah came first.
Levi glanced at the small square of items they’d moved in. “It’s not much, is it?”
“No,” Hunt agreed.
Levi cocked his head. “It’s deceptive when you think about it.”
His brother must not have gotten enough caffeine. “What’s deceptive?”
“Well,” Levi said, and scratched his unshaven jaw. “The way I see it, Abby’s got baggage, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her possessions.”
What the fuck? “I don’t like the way you’re referring to my wife.” Levi was unaware of Hunt and Abby’s arrangement—all the more reason his brother shouldn’t talk shit.
Levi turned to him. “You’re not emotionally mature enough to be married to a woman with a child. Not only that, a child whose father died. You just don’t have it in you.”
Maybe it was residual childhood anger radiating off the walls of the house. Maybe it was the pressure Hunt felt to not let Abby down. Either way, for the last ten years, Levi had never stopped telling Hunt how disappointed he was, and Hunt was fed up. “One more word, and I’ll kick your ass.”
Levi turned to him. “You made a mistake marrying that woman.”
Hunt hurled himself at Levi, wrapping one arm around his brother’s neck in a chokehold.
Levi had about fifteen pounds on Hunt, due to an inch or two more in height, but Hunt was solid muscle. With his momentum, Levi didn’t stand a chance. He went down. Hard.
Levi twisted and elbowed Hunt in the stomach. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I warned you,” Hunt growled. “Tired of your shit.”
Adam ran in the front door. “Not again.” He groaned. “Is this going to be a regular thing? Because I thought you two got out your aggression at my engagement party.” Adam tried to pull Hunt off Levi, but Hunt head-butted him, and he staggered back.
Hunt went for Levi again; this time, he punched his brother in the stomach and elbowed Levi’s chin. Blood pooled on Levi’s lip.
Adam jerked Hunt’s shoulder back, and was on him again, jamming an elbow in Hunt’s spine.
Hunt tried to wrench Adam off, but the next thing he knew, he was flat on the ground. Adam had kicked his legs out from under him.
“Hey, uptight yuppie,” Hunt said. “Where are you learning these tricks in your three-piece suit?”
Adam wrestled with Hunt to keep him down, ignoring the jibe. “I’m sick as fuck of you two fighting.”
