Read If You Only Knew (Harper Falls Book 3) for Free Online Page A

exchange. She was tired
and just wanted to get Drew and her brother out as quickly as possible.
    “You know what? Never mind. Thank you for coming to
check out the alarm, even though it didn’t turn out to be anything
serious.”
    “I’m not so sure about that.” Drew looked M.J. up
and down, his low opinion obvious.
    “Yeah? Well, fuck you, Harper.” M.J. turned to
Tyler, a sneer on his lips. “You taking up with this over-privileged
asshole again? You never did have the sense God gave a gnat.”
    “Watch your mouth.” Drew practically growled the
words, his body coiled for a fight.
    No , Tyler thought. The last thing she needed was Drew
beating the pulp out of her brother. The blood would be murder to remove from
the concrete floor. Then there was trying to explain to her mother how she’d
let poor M.J. end up in the hospital. Not tonight, thank you very much.
    “As I was saying. Thank you, but as you can see, it’s
just my brother. You can leave secure in the knowledge you did your duty and
I’m fine.”
    “I’m not comfortable leaving you alone with him.”
    Tyler wasn’t afraid of M.J. Even on his best days he was
unpredictable. He rarely attacked face-to-face — too much chance of physical damage.
He liked to sneak up on his foes. Better yet, get his younger brother to fight
his battles for him. Kyle had a sweeter disposition, but he was too easily
swayed by M.J. Left alone, he might have been a good man; he certainly had the
potential. Unfortunately, M.J. was determined to have his brother end up as far
in the gutter as he was.
    “He’s my brother.”
    “Ty—”
    “Don’t call me that.” No one had ever called her
Ty — only Drew.
    Drew’s dark eyes clouded over briefly before he closed them,
taking a deep breath. When they opened again, all emotion was gone. The brown
was neither warm nor cold. Only flat — neutral. For some reason, that hurt more
than any sharp words or angry looks.
    “My advice, not that you’ll take it. Get rid of him as
soon as possible, lock your doors. And for the love of Christ, up the volume on
your damn alarm.”
    He turned and left. Not slamming out; instead, closing the
door with a gentle click. The sound made little bumps rise on Tyler’s arms.
Sometimes loud was just better.
    “Over-bred jerk. That’s what happens when you’re born
to money. You think you have the right to boss the world.”
    M.J. picked up a delicate crystal figurine that had been a
gift to Tyler from Dani on her last birthday. The Phoenix rising from the ashes.
It had always been one of Tyler’s favorite images. Rebirth, the ability to
start over and overcome mistakes, adversity.
    She knew her brother well enough to know he wasn’t admiring
the skilled craftsmanship. He was calculating how much it would bring at his
favorite pawnshop. Tyler reached over and carefully removed it from his hands,
his chipped, dirt-caked fingernails scraping along the edges as he reluctantly
let go.
    “You aren’t welcome here, M.J. Especially when you’re
in that condition.”
    Tyler could practically see the wheels turning in her
brother’s brain. How to play this? Intimidating? Contrite?
Sniveling? He’d tried them all before and none had worked. He knew she had no
soft spot for a man who had bullied her when she was too little to fight back,
insulted her when she could no longer be pushed around. There were no more weak
spots he could exploit.
    Therefore, he stole from her when he could. As far as M.J.
was concerned, it was the only thing she was good for. She looked down at him,
treated him worse than the dirt beneath her feet. In his twisted mind, she owed
him whatever he could take. She was a lousy sister, lifting a few valuables now
and then was payback. The least that he deserved.
    “You should be careful, Tyler.” There was an
unattractive whine to his voice. “You and your friends are starting to
piss off some of the residents of Harper