Page 6 of His Haunted Desire
“Please don’t get sarcastic, Raiden.”
“If I don’t do this, you’ll cut me out of the will, I assume?”
“I’ve already provisionally removed your name from the will,” she says firmly. “If you prove you’re willing to cooperate, I’ll put you back in.”
I shake my head, chuckling without humor. “I’ve never danced for my supper, Grandma. I don’t plan on starting now.”
“You’re going to have to try.”
“I can’t just magically find a woman and fall in love.”
“You’re going to have to try that too.”
For all my talk of standing on my own two feet–and I have, dammit, even when the bullets were flying–this stings.
“I’ve lost my appetite,” I say, standing.
I get to the door before Grandma speaks again. The pain in her voice makes me turn back.
“If you can’t do it for your inheritance, do it for me. I want to see you happy.”
“I can’t make any promises,” I say, leaving the room, walking down the hallway.
Sebastian walks at my side like a ghost. He opens the door and looks straight at me with none of the tact a butler should possess. “I’m sorry, sir,” he says.
“What’ve you got to be sorry about?” I grunt.
“Evangeline mentioned her plan to me. I was the one who suggested that she go all the way and remove you from thewill to prove that she was serious. I hope I haven’t caused any discomfort.”
It’d be interesting to grab his shirt, give him a shake, hear his teeth rattle and see if he’s still got that mocking glint in his eyes when I finally put him down.
Instead, I just smile. “Don’t sweat it. I never wanted that money anyway.”
He frowns. Like he’s disappointed. Like he was expecting to gett a rise out of me.
I walk down the wide stone stairs, pass the frozen fountain, and climb into my car. When the butterfly door falls closed, I slam my hand against the steering wheel.
I’ve never wanted to be the entitled rich jerk, but I’m part of the Blackwell legacy. It’s more than that. I thought Grandmother cared about me.
I shake my head. I sound like a child.
Fuck this.
Starting the car, I let my tires burn and smoke for a second before snarling out of the drive.
CHAPTER 3
AURORA
“Grandma, press the button,” I yell from the bottom of the stairs.
No reply.
“Grandma!”
“What?” she screeches.
“Press the freaking button!”
