The Other Brother Part 3: Illicit, Page 2

  I’m covering my nerves with anger. I’m really glad he came running, but I just can’t admit that yet.

  “It’s nothing, Allie, because he didn’t say anything directly threatening. Nothing he can be called on.” Seth heaves out a frustrated breath. “Nothing we could take to the police. Nothing we could use to keep you safe. He just implied it.”

  “And what exactly did I imply?”

  A tiny gasp escapes my lips as Theo walks into the room as if he has every right. As if we were all kids, getting ready for a play date.

  Seth doesn’t say a word but crosses the room in two strides and has Theo slammed up against a wall. I stifle my shriek of alarm with my hand, knowing that any kind of loud noise will send my dad running.

  Given their history, I’d think Theo would show some kind of fear. Instead he laughs, a challenge playing out over his face. “What’s the matter, bro? Not happy to see me?”

  Seth slams him against the wall again, the back of Theo’s head connecting hard enough to make the pictures on my wall rattle on their wire hangers. “I’m going to end you, bro. There’s no way I can let you live.”

  “Seth!” He can’t mean that. He can’t. His words start a ball of ice forming in my belly. It grows larger, chilling me, making me shiver, when Theo just grins mockingly.

  Why isn’t he calling for help? Telling me to call the police, to get Seth out of the house? Instead he’s... he’s goading him.

  It’s as if he’s trying to push him over the edge.

  “That temper is going to get you in trouble again.” Theo makes a tsking sound, grinning. “Now why don’t you go back to flogging models in New York and let us all get on with our lives?”

  “You wrecked my car. You slashed my tires. You let me think you had Allegra.” Seth slams Theo against the wall again. Theo blinks and shakes his head—he hit his head hard enough to be a little bit dazed.

  And still he doesn’t look afraid. What does he know that Seth doesn’t?

  “I didn’t do anything. I’ve been here the whole time.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “It’s true. Ask Sam. Ask Allegra. I’ve been home.” Theo closes his eyes at this and starts to hum a song I don’t recognize.

  Seth glances over at me, question in his eyes.

  “Theo’s been at home.” I speak slowly, eyes intent on Seth’s face. When confusion mars his features, I falter.

  What is wrong with me? Just days ago, I was a strong woman with my own thoughts and feelings. Now I feel like the rope used in a match of tug of war, pulled back and forth between these two men.

  “See?” Theo smiles again, his face the picture of innocence. “Our little sister is my witness.”

  I need to stop, to think for just one damn minute, but I can hear my dad’s heavy footsteps as he pounds up the stairs, drawn no doubt by the sound of Theo hitting the wall. This is about to get really unpleasant.

  What do I do?

  What do I believe?

  I hesitate, then cross the room and gently touch Seth on the shoulder. “Let him go.”

  The muscles along the line of Seth’s jaw clench. I’m not sure he’s even heard me, he’s so focused on Theo, who just keeps on smiling, which makes me shiver even more. Despite the fact that Seth once tried to kill him, he’s not behaving like someone who feels threatened. His eyes sparkle with humor as if this is all just a good joke.

  “Seth, please.” I don’t entirely disbelieve everything Seth has said. I’m still pretty certain Theo was in my purse, touching my phone. I don’t trust him anymore. But watching Seth, the single-mindedness with which he’s watching Theo?

  I don’t doubt that his intentions are in the right place. But I’m also not convinced that he isn’t seeing things that aren’t there, focused on his own demons that, to him, take the shape of Theo.

  Basically, I don’t know what the hell to believe. I’m caught between my real brother and a man who is anything but.

  I just need to get Seth out of here. Theo won’t hurt me here, while I’m at home with Dad. I absolutely believe that. So I just need to diffuse this situation then deal with the aftermath later.

  “Please, Seth. Let him go.”

  Seth looks at me, and I have just a moment to see the betrayal in his eyes before my dad bursts into the room and grabs Seth’s arm, pulling him off Theo. “Get your hands off of my son! You have two minutes to get the hell out of this house or I’m calling the police.”

  Seth and those muscles could knock my dad aside like a dog does a flea, but he doesn’t. His stare is pinned to mine, and I can see the moment he registers my uncertainty.

  It’s like I’ve punched him in the stomach. He lets Dad pull him off Theo roughly, lets him shove him across the room. Seth takes a few steps back and then scrubs at his face.

  He wants to hurt Theo, that much I know without a doubt, but he’s restraining himself. For Sam. For me. Hopefully for himself.

  But more than that... I’ve hurt him. By not believing him, I’ve stuck him with a knife.

  I just don’t know what to believe anymore.

  “I’ll go.” Seth holds his hands up when Dad tenses even more, a gesture of peace. “But Allie is coming with me.”

  “I will shoot you in the balls before you lay one hand on my daughter.” Sam’s face is the color of beets. If he knew what Seth and I had already done, he just might have a stroke.

  “I understand the sentiment. Sir.” Sam’s face shows surprise as Seth addresses him with unexpected respect. I understand why, though.

  Sam is trying to protect me, just like Seth is... or just like Seth thinks he is. He respects that.

  It doesn’t help my confusion.

  “Allie is still coming with me.” This is a statement. Seth does not plan to take no for an answer. The statement has my dad bristling and Theo smirking again.

  I’m starting to get really pissed off.

  “Dad, calm down. Seth’s not here to hurt me.” I’d say he’s not here to hurt anyone, but I’m not going to lie to my dad. “Seth, you need to go. I need to stay here and talk to my dad.”

  Seth looks at me like I’ve grown two heads and four boobs. “Allie, the entire reason I came back to Galveston was to make sure you were safe. I am not leaving without you. End of story.”

  I bristle, even though I know he means well. But this all suddenly seems so ridiculous... the billionaire swooping in to save the poor defenseless damsel while the big bad brother lies in wait.

  This isn’t a movie. This kind of thing doesn’t really happen.

  Theo laughs at Seth’s words. “You’ve always had quite the imagination, Thorne. And you’ve always been quick to act on it.”

  I don’t want it to, but his words weave even more tendrils of doubt into my brain.

  Who am I supposed to believe? The man who once tried to kill a member of my family? Or the brother who shares my blood?

  “You.” Seth points his finger a Theo. “Not another word.”

  That’s enough. These three could piss testosterone all night and not come any closer to resolving this situation. Grabbing Seth’s arm, I pull him out into the hallway.

  “You need to go.” I wrap my arms around myself and back away when he reaches for me. If he touches me, I’m done for.

  “Allie.” His voice is stern, but I shake my head.

  “Do you want to go to jail again?” Theo may have made me doubt, but I’m still not convinced Seth is imagining everything either, no matter how much I want to. And if he stays here, Dad will get the police involved. Hell, he might be calling them right now.

  Seth doesn’t reply, just watches me, an unreadable expression on his face. “You don’t believe me.”

  I close my eyes, which is admission enough, even though I don’t answer his question. “I don’t want you to go to jail again. Which means you have to go.”

  “All I’ve ever wanted is to keep you safe.” His voice is filled with frustration; it’s reflected in his eyes as well. “Why won�
��t you let me?”

  “Seth.” Damn it. Why can’t I just go with him? Theo makes me uneasy; why not play it safe?

  I think of Dad. I think of the little blonde brother who used to lend me his GI Joes when I needed dates for my Barbies.

  It might be the wrong choice, but I can’t give up on my blood.

  But I’m not giving up on Seth, either. As I smooth my hand on his chest, I can feel him vibrate beneath it. His eyes are dark and his expression is hard, closed off—the one I remember from that awful night.

  I can’t let history repeat itself tonight. Seth means too much to me. And that’s why I have to make him go.

  “I will come to you, okay? I will pack a bag and come to the hotel. I will stay in another room. Just... go.” I can hear Dad and Theo conversing, voices growing louder, and know that I need to get Seth out of here, now.

  Beneath my fingers, his body is rigid. “If you are not at that hotel in the next hour, I will come back and retrieve you myself. Understood?”

  I narrow my eyes. “I can’t guarantee the time, Seth. I’ll be there as soon as I can. But I have some work to do to undo the damage you caused by just showing up here.”

  Finally having had enough, my dad bursts through the door of my bedroom and into the hall. “Out. Now. And never come back to this house.”

  Seth eyes him, and if things weren’t so tense I’d roll my eyes at the posturing. Finally he nods, but before he leaves, he presses one quick, hot kiss to my lips.

  Even as my body melts in response, I see Dad in my peripheral vision, rocking back and forth like he’s about to explode.

  I push Seth away but the damage has been done. That kiss was his brand, his way of showing these other two men in my life who I belong to.

  I belong to myself, and we’ll be chatting about that later. Now hardly seems the time to bring it up.

  With one parting stare of cold rage at Theo, Seth is gone. I’d thought I would feel relieved, that the tension would dissipate, but instead I feel like his absence has left a great gaping hole in my chest.

  “Allegra.” It’s my dad speaking. Knowing it’s time to face the music, I force myself to turn my attention from the stairs Seth just disappeared down to the honest, open face of my dad. The disgust that I see there turns my stomach. “I have no words for what you’ve done. None.”

  I want to shout, to rage. Haven’t we all been through enough? Haven’t we all earned some happiness, wherever we find it?

  But will Seth bring me happiness in the end? Just looking at Theo and my dad is a reminder that all he’s brought us in the past is pain.

  For one crazy moment, I imagine telling them both everything. I study Theo, hoping he gives me some sign that what Seth is saying is completely outside the realm of possibility.

  But the man who smiles back at me isn’t the brother I once knew. In fact, I’m wondering if I know Theo at all.

  “Allegra.” This is my dad again, his voice now quiet. “How could you do this to your family?”

  I flinch. His words have hit home. “I... I can’t explain it to you right now. I just can’t.”

  “You’ve hurt me, Allie.” Theo looks over Dad’s head at me, blue eyes wide. I don’t like the sound of Seth’s nickname for me on his lips.

  “I want both of you out of here.” This might have been my childhood home, but I pay my dad rent now. I have rights. “I need to think.”

  “I don’t think so, young lady.” Dad doesn’t relent. He’s so upset, I can see the veins in his face, throbbing with his agitation. “I demand an explanation.”

  “Yes, I understand.” I resist the urge to rub my temples against the migraine I can feel coming on. “I’ll come down in a minute. Just... give me a second to catch my breath, okay?”

  I think he’s not going to give up, but he finally nods, and then looks at Theo. “I’ll be in the kitchen. I’ll be waiting.”

  He leaves, but Theo doesn’t follow him out. Instead, he sits down on my bed, and my stupid, crazy nerves fire.

  Dad wouldn’t think twice about leaving me alone with Theo. With my brother.

  I shouldn’t worry about it, either. But the seeds of doubt have been planted in my brain.

  Damn you to hell and back, Seth Thorne.

  But those seeds have been planted, so I look down at Theo with as much calm as I can muster, even though I want him to get the hell out of my room. My space, my sanctuary. “You need to go, too, Theo. I said I need some time.”

  “I just want you to know that I love you, Allegra.” He looks up at me with those guileless blue eyes. No... they used to be like that, but since he came home from prison? They’re full of things I can’t read. “I will do anything to keep you safe.”

  I don’t want to read too much into that, but still the bile rises in my throat. “I know.”

  Go. Please just go.

  “I don’t know what Seth has said about me, but you have to know it’s all lies.” He runs his hand over my blanket, back and forth, back and forth. The motion makes my stomach roil. Despite my doubts, I don’t like that he’s touching my things.

  “Why were you in my room?” I finally say. It’s hard to spit the words out, to admit that something is wrong.

  “When?” He glances up at me, and there it is, just a little flicker in his eyes that tells me he’s guilty. It takes all I have not to retreat from him. I need to stand my ground, let him know that he can’t rattle me.

  “When I was in the shower.” It had to have been then, because I was in my room the rest of the time. “You went into my purse. You answered my phone.”

  “I was returning the book you leant to me.” Sounding wounded, he gestures to my copy of the latest Stephen King book, which is currently sitting on my bedside table. I had leant it to him the other day. “Your phone was ringing. I thought it might be important so, yes, I checked to see who was calling. I guess maybe I shouldn’t have done that.” He continues to rub his hand over my bed. “When I saw it was Seth calling, I had to answer. And yes, I baited him a little bit. Can you really blame me?”

  He pins me with his stare, and again I see it, that flicker of something strange that is quickly made smooth. “Honestly, I was shocked that you were in contact with him again. Shocked and hurt.”

  “I’m sorry if I hurt you, Theo.” I’m not sure that I am, I just want him to get out of here. “I didn’t mean to.”

  “I don’t like the thought of him dragging you into his world.” His voice is dark. “He’s not a good person, Allie. He’s violent. He just tried to hurt me again. You saw.”

  I nod, although inside I cringe at the sound of him saying my nickname in that petulant child’s voice—a name only Seth has ever used. A name I associate with the man whose absence is killing me right now.

  Theo is trying to manipulate me with it. He’s dirtying the name by using it.

  He stands and moves toward me. Though my hard-eared muscles tense, I force myself to stay motionless. I don’t want to give myself away. I don’t want to make him angry.

  “I know I’m not the same from before I went to prison.” He reaches out a hand, I think to brush his fingers through my hair, but I flinch away. He pressed his lips together, displeased. “I’m harder. I can feel it, and I know you can too. But I want you to know I would never, ever hurt you.”

  I want to believe him. I want to believe him so badly, but I can’t spit out the words to tell him that, so I just nod.

  There are tears in his eyes as he reaches for me again, and this time I let him hug me, waiting for the warmth I once felt at the same touch. “I’m sorry. I know I need help.” He starts to sob into my shoulder. “I don’t want to be this way.”

  Something softens inside me and I smooth my hands over his back. Damn it, he’s my brother. I can’t forget that. We grew up together. We were once close, Mom’s death pulling us together.

  I can’t forget these things simply because of what Theo may or may not think about me. It’s not that easy.


  Theo clearly has problems. So do I. But so many of those issues started with Seth.

  Have I made a huge mistake?

  “It’s all right, Theo. Ssh.” I pat him on the back. “We’ll get through it, okay? Just like after Mom died.”

  He takes a step away and sniffles. “You’ll help?”

  “Of course. We’re family, right?” I think of Seth and cringe inwardly, feeling like I’m betraying him somehow.

  Theo nods slowly, eyes intent on my face. “Blood is thicker than water.”

  I frown a bit. I suppose that is the saying, but it sounds a bit... intense.

  “I have to go talk to Dad.” I lead him toward the door, my steps heavy. I’ve hurt my dad, and I feel shame for it. “Maybe we should tell him you need some help, too, okay? It can’t be easy, coming back to your life before jail.”

  “It’s not.” We’re halfway across my room, and I think the storm has passed, when he suddenly whirls, pinning me with an unwavering stare.

  “You won’t see Seth anymore, will you?” He looks feverish, bright spots of color blooming on his cheeks. I’m a bit taken aback, but given what’s gone on tonight, I can’t say I blame him for the intensity.

  “I...” Theo’s expression darkens when I hesitate, and my pulse stutters.

  I hate lying. I do. But I promised Seth I’d come to him, and I intend to keep my word.

  “You don’t have to worry.” I look Theo in the eyes, wondering if I’m the one who needs to worry.

  I want to believe my brother, I want to go down to my dad and tell him that I’ve made a horrible mistake.

  But as much as I love my family...

  I think I might love Seth, too.

  Chapter Three

  SETH

  As I wear a path in the hardwood flooring in my hotel room, I check my watch again. It has to be broken because three hours can’t possibly have passed by without Allegra showing up at my door. I’m secure in the knowledge that Theo hasn’t done anything yet, both because I know that Sam will still be with Allegra, and because Theo wouldn’t miss the opportunity to call me to gloat.