Read Controlling Interests: A Step-Brother Romance (The Legacy Series Book 2) for Free Online

ruined, was because of him . I learned from my beatings, I earned my fortune, and I did everything he ordered to grow into a creature more demon than man.
    But he wasn’t going to hurt her. Not ever again.
    “You told the board we kidnapped and raped Sarah Atwood,” I said.
    “Yes.”
    “Do you want to go to jail?”
    “Do you want to lose the company?”
    “What if she talks?”
    “Cut out her tongue.”
    I exhaled. “What if the board talks? Those are expensive tongues.”
    “Why would they jeopardize such a fantastic opportunity?” He buttoned his suit. “You have a lot of work to do, Nicholas. Your sister won’t resist us forever. We’ll break her and secure our fortunes as she bears the next generation of Bennett.”
    “Or else?”
    “Or else what?”
    “If she doesn’t conceive?”
    “That’s up to you, son. You can watch the company fall, our family crumble, and fail to avenge your mother’s death…”
    Goddamn it.
    “…Or you can pull the trigger yourself. Nothing stopping you now, of course. I simply imagined Sarah Atwood would rather be raped and left alive than shot dead in her prime.”
    Son of a bitch. “If this is brought to light—if they say anything to anyone —we’re ruined. Sarah will be gone, we’ll be jailed, and we’ll lose everything regardless of how many men fuck the girl.”
    My father stood. “Or, we’ll be richer and more powerful than ever, and justice over the Atwoods will be served.”
    This wasn’t about vengeance for Mark Atwood’s crimes, and it wasn’t for the money. My father trapped Sarah Atwood because life and chance toyed with her fate. She lost everything when her family died, and I lost myself chasing her, holding her, loving her.
    I turned to leave, texting the pilot so I could return to the one who needed more than my money and family name.
    My father called to me, his voice a dark threat.
    “I know, Nicholas.”
    I stopped.
    “Did you think you’d hide it?”
    Damn it.
    Sarah .
    I revealed everything I felt for her when I attacked him in a blind rage. How could we have been so careless? She slept in my bed, looked to me when frightened, and only uncoiled her hand from the carving knife aimed for my father’s neck when I called to her.
    My devotion to Sarah Atwood would damn her.
    He knew .
    And he tortured me in front of the board to prove his power over all of us.
    “Nicholas, you aren’t as powerful as you think. Not yet.” His scowl clipped his words. “This is how you challenge me? I raised you. Molded you. I made you the man you are.”
    “So you’ve taken the blame?”
    He snorted. “I expected this from your brothers, not you. I thought you’d understand. I hoped you would join me, so we could secure our future together .”
    “You were wrong.”
    “This complicates things, Nicholas.”
    His steps clipped hollow against the thin carpet. He drew too close.
    “I expect you to protect this family,” he said.
    “I’m protecting the one who matters.”
    My father laughed. “And when the takeover fails? When the stockholders sense the derision within our fold? You don’t have a majority, Nicholas. You never did. You never will.” He stepped closer. “Every moment you spend chasing the impossible will only ruin you for the future. This takeover will never succeed.”
    Jesus Christ.
    The takeover .
    The surge of awareness chilled me, head to toe. It was never about Sarah. The girl was his obsession, but she was a toy to him. A woman to breed and a source of entertainment when he was bored.
    My head pounded. I was reckless.
    The realization bled from me as though the flogger turned on my skin. Every plan, every freedom I promised Sarah—
    Gone .
    He knew about the takeover. He knew more about the takeover than I did. And he could stop it.
    I said nothing. He sighed.
    “Never mind, son.” His voice hardly warmed, but it gentled for me. Only me. “I was your age when I began to challenge my father.”
    He expected a response.