Read Freeing Him: A Hart Brothers Novel, Book 2 for Free Online

again, I ask where Kestrel is.
    “Oh, he couldn’t make it. Something came up.”
    “That’s interesting,” I say. My comment doesn’t slide by.
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Because he’s always glued to your side.”
    “Yes, he is. He and I are quite close.”
    That’s what he calls it. I would call it a sick relationship. Kestrel hangs on his every word for some tiny token of praise. It makes me ill to see them together.
    Dad grins. “No doubt he is off soothing some poor girl he offended.”
    I’m not interested in Kestrel’s female conquests. There’ve been too many for me to count. Always this one or that. Dad paying them off to stay away after the breakup. Kestrel can’t be without a woman. Has to have one hanging on him constantly. There’s a reason for it, but we don’t discuss it.
    “So, Gabby, how do you like being out in the country?”
    “I like the change from the hectic pace of the city. A nice break.”
    “Good. Tell me, how are things going with your practice?”
    “Dad, I thought you talked about that at lunch.”
    He doesn’t care for my interruption. “I just want to get to know the girl who stole my son’s heart. Is that such a terrible thing?”
    How the hell am I supposed to answer that without sounding like an ass? “Not at all.” I grimace, though I try not to.
    “It’s fine. Busy. Always something.”
    “Good. Good.”
    He’s not genuine.
    “I’m working a lot with drug abusers.”
    “Yes. I’m aware.” He’s curt with her. He doesn’t want to discuss this. I nod slightly, indicating this topic is off limits.
    “What exactly would you like to know about me?”
    “Tell me about your cousin Danny.”
    My champagne sloshes when she gasps. The son of a bitch had to go there.
    “With all due respect, sir, I’d rather not,” she says, looking him directly in the eye.
    He steps back. He wasn’t expecting that response, I’m sure, and it’s not a good one. Fuck. This is going to be a bad night.
    “Understandable. It must’ve been quite a bad experience for you.”
    He’s persists. What an asshole.
    “Quite.”
    “So, Dad, how’s business?”
    Scowling, he says, “The Vegas expansion is going well.”
    “Vegas?”
    “Yes. Oh, you didn’t know. But then, how could you? You’re not involved in the business anymore.”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “Do you gamble, Gabby?” he asks.
    “Afraid not.”
    “Oh. That’s a shame. It can be a lot of fun.”
    “I never had the extra money to gamble, Langston. So I never learned how to play any of the games.”
    “Son, you need to bring her to one of the casinos. Teach her. She’d like it.”
    I cringe. The thought of Gabriella stepping foot in one of his places almost makes me shudder.
    “Sure.”
    Someone pulls Dad away. Gabriella turns so only I can see her face. “What was that? He doesn’t care a bit about homing in on his target, does he?”
    “You’re starting to see the real Langston now.”
    She grabs my hand, leans in, and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank God you turned out different.”
    I let out a bitter laugh as I drop my arm over her shoulders and bring her closer. “It would only be my hardheadedness.”
    “Hmm. Think we need to mingle?”
    “Yeah, but damned if I want to.”
    She takes my hand and we move into the crowd. Again we’re swallowed by talk of stupid crap that I barely pay attention to. We move into the house for dinner and we’re served an extravagant seven-course shitfest and later I can’t recall a bite of anything I ate.
    Then the dragon pulls his usual perfectly orchestrated bullshit. He has Gabby trapped in a one-sided conversation and he casually asks me to go to the wine cellar to grab a few more bottles of red. Apparently he didn’t bring enough up for the meal. Right. I’m not an idiot. I know this game. It’s the ideal place. I squirm and Gabby gives me a look. She doesn’t know … can’t know why I abhor this moment. I freeze. My thoughts ping.