“You’re chipper this morning.” Augustine slid the creamer toward her spot at the table.
“Sarcasm isn’t pretty on you, Augie.” She took the first sip black just to get herself started.
He grinned. “Did you just call me pretty, Harley?”
Lally laughed and set a big bowl of grits on the table. “Y’all sure you wouldn’t rather eat in the dining room?”
“I’m fine here.” Harlow looked at Augustine. He was pretty, but that didn’t give him leeway to give her a nickname. “Don’t call me Harley.”
“I’ll try to remember that, Harley.” His eyes glittered with the kind of impudence that told her she shouldn’t have said anything. He gave her one last look before turning to Lally. “Are we in your way if we eat breakfast in here?”
“Lands, no.” She added another plate of scrambled eggs and sausages, which Augustine wasted no time digging into. “I like having you in here,” Lally added. “It’s cozy.”
Harlow sat. Before she could reach for the grits, Augustine picked up the bowl and held them out to her. “Thanks.” She took a small spoonful, wishing it was hash browns. “Did my mother always eat in the dining room?”
“Usually.” Lally took her seat at the end of the table. “Your mama was real traditional about that kind of stuff, but not so much that she didn’t usually ask me to join her.”
Harlow nodded. “It’s nice to know that she broke the rules sometimes. I wish she’d done that for me.” She pretended not to notice the look Lally exchanged with Augustine.
“Have you decided to stay in New Orleans?” Augustine asked.
“I don’t know.” Now would be a good time to talk to him about Branzino’s offer, since he was in a good mood. “I have a lot of bills to pay at home and I need to get back there soon.”
He nodded, chewing. “Can’t you work here?”
“I could, but I have some obligations there I have to take care of.” She could work from anywhere, if she didn’t have time to serve. In fact, she’d found a few new job requests in her inbox after her search for info on Branzino.
“So go home, take care of these obligations and come back.” He got up for more coffee. “Move in here and let the estate take care of your bills.”
If he only knew just how big a bill she had hanging over her. “I have to go home one way or the other. I can’t leave all my stuff there.” Not that her stuff was worth much. Other than the rest of her computer equipment and her collectables, the other things in her apartment—furniture and odds and ends—were easily replaced. Or in a house like this, no longer necessary.
Augustine nodded. “I have to run out this morning, but we can talk about it more when I get back.” The doorbell chimed. “I’ll get that, Lally,” he said. “It’s for me anyway. And ahead of schedule. I like that. Maybe I can get back from my errand a little earlier than expected.” He set his cup down and went to the door.
She went back to eating, but a moment later, Augustine called for her, his voice edged with dislike. “Harlow, it’s for you.”
She excused herself and left the kitchen. Branzino stood in the doorway. She walked toward him, wondering what, if anything, he’d said to Augustine.
Branzino smiled at her. “Morning, sweetheart. Sorry to bother you so early, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He shrugged. “I was hoping we could talk some more.” He held his hat in his hands. “If you want me to leave, just say so—”
“No, no, come in. We can go in the library again.” After last night’s search, she had questions that needed answering before she made any life-changing decisions. He might be willing to give her the money she needed, but with what strings? “You want some coffee?”
“Sure, that would be nice. Black.” He lifted his hat toward the library doors. “I’ll just wait for you in there.”
Augustine moved out of the way as Branzino passed. He clearly wasn’t happy, but what could he say? This was half her house.
She went back to the kitchen for the coffee, Augustine hot on her heels.
“I don’t like that guy,” he hissed.
She poured a new cup. “You don’t have to like him. He’s not your family, he’s mine.”
Lally interrupted. “What’s going on? Who was at the door?”
“Branzino. Again.” Augustine sat back down at the table and stabbed a fork into his eggs.
Lally made a disapproving noise, but Harlow took the coffee and left before the discussion went any further. Who cared what they thought? This man was too important to ignore until she had more information.
He stood near one of the windows when she went in. She nudged the doors shut with her elbow, then brought his coffee to him.
He took it with a smile. “Nice collection of goods you got in here.”
She had more important things to discuss. “Yes, Olivia was a big collector. Why don’t we sit?”
“Sure, sure.” He gestured for her to go ahead of him to the seating area. “How are you this morning?”
“Fine.” She sat in one of the high-backed chairs. No one could sit by her that way. She let him drink a little of his coffee and make small talk a few more minutes. She needed him comfortable. Finally, she smiled to look as lighthearted as possible and asked the first question. “Tell me about my half brothers. What are they like? What do they do?”
“They work for me in the business. Michael does mostly… hands-on kinds of things. Works with the product, as it were. Teddy, he’s my youngest, he’s more of an office guy.”
There was her opening. “An office guy? Like an accountant?”
“Not exactly, although he’s good with numbers. He takes care of all our computer stuff. Inventory lists, stuff like that.”
“He must be really good at it.”
A flicker of something crossed Branzino’s face. “What makes you say that?”
She laughed, more out of nervousness than anything else. “I tried to find out a little more about you last night, but your online presence isn’t just clean, it’s almost nonexistent. For someone running a business, that’s a rare thing these days. Even for the ordinary user, there’s usually some kind of social media presence. Something.”
His jaw flexed. “I’m a private person. And I’m wealthy. I don’t like people knowing more about me than necessary.”
“I understand that.” She nodded for emphasis. “I really do.”
As if sensing she was about to ask more questions, he spoke quickly. “How’s it going with the house? Did you come to terms with Augustine? It’s not as though he needs to live here, is it? I understand he’s the city’s new Guardian. Odd thing, these Haven cities, but people seem to like them. Too many rules for me.” He smiled. “I like my freedom.”
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about it. In truth, I’m not sure what I want to do yet.”
He made a face. “You would stay here and share what’s rightfully yours? Or would you run home with nothing to show for your inheritance? You have bills to pay. No house of your own. I’m offering you a new start. A way to keep your freedom.”
How did he know so much about her? A tiny vibration of fear worked along her spine, the same feeling she got when she was hacking her way into a system rife with security bots. “Like I said, I don’t know yet. But I’ve been alone all my life. I’m used to making decisions on my own and I’ll figure this one out, too.”
He stood and paced toward the door. “That’s just it. You’re not alone anymore. You have me to help you. You can lean on me. Rely on me.” He turned to walk back and thumped his chest. “I am not a man who makes promises lightly.”
“But I don’t know what kind of man you are, and I feel like you’re rushing me to make this decision.” She wasn’t about to be bullied into anything by anyone, family or otherwise.
“I’m your father. Don’t penalize me because your mother wouldn’t let me into your life.” His tone grew dangerously low. “And this decision is an easy one. Buy the fae out and then I
’ll pay you whatever you want for the house.” He bent forward, standing over her in a way that made her skin itch. “Your money issues will be over for the rest of your life and the house won’t have to leave the family.”
“You want to buy the house?” This was new information.
He straightened and adjusted his tie. Then, like it was an afterthought, he smiled. “Something like that, yes. I’ve given it some thought and I feel that it’s time to diversify my investments. This house would make a wonderful bed-and-breakfast, don’t you think? It would stay in your name, of course. That would allow the company to pay you a wage and make it worth your while.”
“That’s… interesting.” Why would an importer/exporter from Chicago want to own a B&B in New Orleans? And leave it in her name?
“When I say a wage, I mean the kind of money that would allow you to pursue whatever it is your heart desires. You’re my daughter. I want to spoil you. To make up for all the years we’ve missed. But for that to happen, I need your answer on all this.”
“That’s very generous, but it’s still a big decision. I need to think.”
“About what?”
She sensed his impatience like a new perfume had entered the air. “About what it all means. About whether or not I’m ready to enter into that kind of arrangement with someone I just met. Even if we are family. I’d rather we take some time and get to know each other.”
He put his hands on the arms of her chair and leaned in very close. “We can get to know each other while we make this happen.”
She pushed back into the chair as far as she could go. “You’re scaring me.”
“Am I?” He didn’t move. “I have that effect on a lot of people. It’s probably one of the reasons people rarely refuse me.” He licked his lips. With a forked tongue.
She jerked away but the chair kept her from retreating. “I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I. I want to move forward on this decision. I need your answer. Do you accept my offer? There is so much I can offer you as part of my family. Everything you’ve ever dreamed of—”
“Get away from me.” Her voice came out a whisper. What the hell kind of fae had a forked tongue? No wonder her mother had kept this man away from her.
He stood up and laughed. “You’ll see. Your life will be better than you could have imagined.”
“No.” She ground the word out, her anger the only thing keeping her from fainting out of sheer terror.
His laughter died. “What did you say?”
She swallowed. “I said no. I’m not taking your offer.” As much as she needed the money, there was no way she could be indebted to this man. This fae.
He grabbed a handful of her sweatshirt and yanked her out of the chair. With one foot, he shoved the chair back so there was nothing for her feet to touch. It toppled over with a soft thud. “I don’t think you understand what’s going on here. We’re fae and fae stick together, but more than that, you’re my daughter. A Branzino. Family. That means you do as I say without question, just like your brothers, because you know I’ve got the best interests of the family in mind. Always.” He pulled her closer in until his scent filled her nose. He smelled like… pool water. “Got it?”
She was trembling, but anger kept her from backing down. “Or what? You’re going to hurt me? I have a hard time believing that’s in my best interest.”
“You got steel in that spine, kid. I’ll give you that.” He threw her into the couch. “Just means it’s going to hurt like hell when it breaks.” He shucked his coat like he was preparing to fight.
Her legs almost refused to work but she rolled off the couch, pushed to her feet and ran for the door. He caught her in two steps, his big hand tangling in her hair. He yanked her back. She hit the floor and cried out in pain before the impact took her breath. “You’re hurting me.”
“Because you’re making me.” He crouched over her. “Now, you’re going to go out there and have your little discussion with Augustine and then we’re going to get this deal under way. Do you understand?”
She was about to scream for Augustine when the library door flew open and he charged in.
“Get the hell off her!” Augustine shoved Branzino away, knocking over a side table and breaking a lamp.
She scrambled to her feet. Branzino punched Augustine, pushing him back. She grabbed a small marble figurine and chucked it at Branzino, catching him in the shoulder. He reached back, giving Augustine an opening. He landed a fist across Branzino’s jaw. A second punch caught the man in the ribs.
Branzino howled and bent as if trying to catch his breath. Augustine tackled him, knocking them both into one of the bookcases before they went down.
She edged around the couch to see Augustine lift Branzino’s chin with a short blade, his other hand and one knee pinning the man to the library floor. “Your time here is done. Done. Come back and I’ll make sure you regret it. Now apologize to Harlow.”
Branzino’s eyes almost glowed with hatred. He kept his gaze fixed on Augustine. “You’re the one who should apologize. This is family business.”
Augustine shoved the blade higher, lifting Branzino’s chin. “I said apologize.”
Branzino’s nostrils flared before he spoke in a halted, begrudged tone. “I’m sorry.”
Holding the blade in place, Augustine pulled Branzino to his feet. “Harlow, get his coat.”
She nodded, unable to say anything, and ran for the coat. She held it up like a piece of old fish.
“Awesome. Thanks. Walk with us to the door.” He pushed Branzino into the hall.
Without being asked, Harlow went ahead of them and opened the front door. Her heart pounded as Augustine shoved Branzino onto the porch, then took the coat from Harlow’s arms and tossed it at him. “Get the hell out of New Orleans.”
“Or what?” Branzino slipped his coat on, stiff with rage.
“Or I’ll remove you.”
“That’s my daughter. I have a right to—”
“You have no right. Come at her again and I will kill you.”
“You wouldn’t da—”
Augustine slammed the door. His twisted expression smoothed out the second he faced her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, on the verge of an angry, scared, ugly cry and feeling like she was about to burst open like a water balloon.
“That never should have happened. I’m really sorry it did.” He looked toward the porch. Through the double glass doors, Branzino’s blurry figure got smaller and smaller as he stormed toward the street and his waiting car. “I know he’s your father and all, so if I overstepped my bounds—”
“No.” That word she could manage. She put her hand over her mouth, her body shaking with adrenaline and raw emotion. A small sob escaped.
Augustine’s arms wrapped around her. She leaned against him, surprised by her lack of resistance about being close to someone, but this wasn’t just anyone. This was Augustine. The man who’d just come to her rescue. She got her breath under control, her forehead pressed into his hard chest. “I thought he was going to kill me.”
“Not on my watch.” He rubbed her back. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
“Maybe a couple of bruises, but I’m fine.” She pulled away a little so she could see his face. “Thanks to you.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders. The heat coming off him radiated through her. It was strangely comforting. “Did he give you any reason to think he might come back?”
“I don’t know. My mother was right about him. To think how I fought her…” A moment passed before she looked at him again. Then she lifted a shaky finger to point at his lip. “You’re bleeding.”
“Better me than you.” He swiped at it with the back of one hand before putting it back on her shoulder. “Just a flesh wound. What did he want? If you don’t mind me asking.”
She turned her head to look into the library. Shards of glass speckled the carpet from the broken lamp. “He wanted to give me the money
to buy out your share of the house, then he was going to pay me off and turn this place into a bed-and-breakfast.”
“What’s going on out here?” Lally asked from behind her.
“Just a little disagreement,” Augustine answered. He took his hands off Harlow. “There’s some broken glass in the library.”
“Augustine!” Lally exclaimed. “Did you run that man out of here?”
Harlow smiled and shook her head. “Don’t yell at him, Lally. He was protecting me. My father got a little rough.” She grimaced. “Ugh. I don’t like calling him that. Not after…” She waved her hand toward the library. “That business.”
Lally frowned. “I knew that man had bad intentions.” She headed back to the kitchen. “Don’t you children touch that glass. I’ll take care of it.”
Harlow tugged at her sweatshirt, smoothing it over her leggings. “Thanks again. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here.”
Augustine glanced at the mess before bringing his gaze back to her. “I know you want to go home, but I’d feel better if you stayed here a few more days, just to make sure he doesn’t try anything else. That way, if he does, I’ll be here. Unless there’s someone at home?”
Lally came back with a dustpan and brush. Harlow bit at her lip in an attempt to slow the answer trying to get out of her mouth. Augustine and Lally would find out about her sentence sooner or later. After what had just happened, sooner seemed the best option. “Branzino knew a lot about me. A lot. And there’s no one at home. I live alone.”
Lally looked up from where she bent by the glass. “That’s it. You’re staying here.”
Harlow sighed. “I can’t.” Time to tell them the truth.
“Sure you can, child. Augustine and I will help you with whatever you need.”
The best Harlow could manage was a half smile. “What I need no one can help me with. In about three weeks, I have to report to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution for Women.”
Augustine looked like he’d just been slapped. “What on earth for?”
She rubbed her hands over her face, unable to look at either of them at that moment. The answer stuck in her throat. “I was convicted of some cyber-crimes.” When neither of them said anything, she glanced up. “Crimes I didn’t knowingly commit.” She sighed, looking away again. “It’s a long story.”
House of the Rising Sun Page 26
