Page 33 of Corrupted Memories
“What do you want, Sebastian?”
I sigh. “What do I want? Hmm. That’s a difficult question. I want a lot of things, mostly involving your sister.”
“I don’t?—”
“Don’t ever lie to her again,” I interrupt, my voice unforgiving and cold.
“Excuse me?” Matt’s tone is shaky with disbelief.
“You told her Jeremy called and he didn’t. Don’t lie to her again. I don’t care about your reasoning. I’m sure it was to get her away from me, but don’t you think you’ve manipulated her enough?”
His breaths are choppy as I wait in silence. Then he booms out a laugh.
“Me? Manipulate her? That’s rich coming from you.”
I grit down on my teeth, not wanting to expose how much Nico and I have been able to gather on the siblings. “I don’t care for your opinion. The next time you try to lie to her, make sure it can be backed up.”
“Is Jeremy alive?” Matt gets out, as if that could be the only reason I’ve caught him.
I raise an eyebrow, staring at Nico likecan you believe this guy?Nico rolls his eyes as I reply, “Yes. I have my ways of checking your call records.”
“You mean Nico does.”
“Does it matter? Don’t lie to her again.”
He scoffs. “Thought she needed a reminder of who and what put her in her current position.”
I swallow the sarcastic barb I could easily throw back and blow out a breath. “Don’t make me go digging in your past, Matt. I’m sure you’d like to keep whatever you have buried.”
“I’m sure I could say the same to you.” He laughs. “The difference is my sister will always forgive me no matter how far I take it. Will she forgive you?”
My fist curls and my eyes stray to my office door, imagining Gianna asleepin our bed.
“I think she would. She’s here, isn’t she? I just have to keep youalive. No hardship, plenty of places to keep youunseen.”
Nico rolls his eyes again, shutting his laptop and moving to my bar to make himself a drink.
Matt hums into the phone. “I guess I could just kill you. She’ll move on eventually.”
“I dare you to try. It could be fun.”
He’s silent, probably wondering if I’m bluffing before he hangs up and I settle back in my chair.
“That seemed to go well,” Nico says bitterly.
I shrug. “He’s always hated me. That’s no surprise.”
“You’re everything he’s tried to protect her from.”
Annoyance shoots through me. “He’s lied to her their whole lives. Her fear is misplaced when she could have been raised with some knowledge of this life.”
Nico is silent for a moment until I glance up at him. His eyes hold a soft sadness. “I would have protected my little sister the same way if I could. And I know you would’ve…”
My throat clogs with grief and I snap my head as I clear it. “Perhaps, but now ignorance makes her an easy target.”
“So we ease her into it. Feed her clues, test where her morals stand,” he says, finishing off his bourbon.
I ponder it for a moment. “It could work. Place the blame on her brother. It would lead her to be more open to staying with me.”
