Cannon technically may not have been a part of the feud between the Bradwick and Windego families, but he felt every ounce of the animosity as he and Nova left the Bradwick residence. He hated seeing Nova so helpless, and most of all, he hated feeling like there was nothing he could to help.

“Forget them,” he said to Nova as they drove back from the Bradwick castle. “We’ll figure out another way. Let’s just forget about it for now. Hey—how about we grab some food and have dinner at Crescent Lake? It’s beautiful in the evening. And then tomorrow morning, we can go out for breakfast at the Crescent coffee shop before work and—”

“Cannon—not now,” Nova said, cutting him off. “I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood. Just take me back to my cabin.”

“Oh, okay. Yeah. Sure,” Cannon said.

When he dropped her off at her cabin, he had wanted to stay with her, but she had turned down his company, preferring to be alone for the night. “I need to figure some things out. As much as I’d love a distraction, now just isn’t the time,” she’d told him.

He had nodded solemnly at her doorstep. “Okay. Well—I’ll check on you tomorrow. Is that okay?”

She nodded before closing the door in his face without another word.

The highs he’d experienced with Nova in the short time they’d been together were extremely high, and the lows were equally as low. Just as her presence had made him happier than he felt in such a long time, the thought of losing her to all the drama surrounding her left him feeling more shaken up than he could remember feeling in a long time.

He headed back to his Jeep, desperately wishing there was something he could do.

Thoughts of Julius filled his head. It was ironic how his feelings had grown so deeply for Nova in such a short timeframe, and had soured so badly toward Julius in an equally short timeframe.

Julius was the problem.

Knowing he didn’t feel like sitting idly in his cabin in despair over Nova’s circumstances, Cannon drove aimlessly around the Windego complex until he stopped at the entrance of the winery. He turned off his car engine, suddenly realizing what had led him there. He supposed it was his subconscious that had sensed he would find Julius.

When he stepped inside, the lights were dimmed and the smell of wine was strong. Cannon halfway expected to find Julius entertaining some one-night fling or other, but instead, Julius was alone. He sat with a glass of wine in his hand, his expression contemplative, before looking up to spot Cannon.

“Somehow, I was expecting my dear little sister,” Julius said, his words lazy and careless, but malicious at the same time. He had obviously worked his way through several bottles already.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Cannon said.

“You don’t sound sorry.”

“You’re right. I’m not.”

“So what pleasure will I receive from your visit?”

“I came here to tell you that I want you to leave, Julius.”

Julius sat perfectly still for a long moment before bursting out laughing. He stood abruptly, wine sloshing out of his glass as he approached Cannon, stopping less than a foot away from his face. He tossed his head back, downing the rest of his wine in one gulp. “Tell me to leave? Now why would you do that? I own this winery.”

“Your father owns it, not you.”

Julius waved his hand. “That hardly matters—or at least it won’t, soon.”

“I wasn’t referring to the winery anyway,” Cannon said. “I was referring to Crescent Valley. I want you to leave this town.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes,” Cannon said sternly, meeting Julius’s gaze unflinchingly.

“Hmm. My sister has worked her charms on you, I see. She sent you out to do her dirty work, huh? Why is that? Is she afraid to come to me herself again? How’s her leg, by the way?”

Cannon snarled. “Your sister doesn’t know I’m here.”

Julius studied Cannon’s face. “Interesting. Very interesting,” he said.

“Julius, all you’re going to do is cause trouble around here. So why don’t you please just do us all a favor and leave already?”

“Now that,” Julius said, “almost sounded polite, like you respected me. Why don’t you give it another shot? Ask me again. Oh—and by ‘us all’, who exactly are you referring to, buddy?”

“I guess it’s a good time to tell you that we went to visit the Bradwicks today.”

Julius smirked. “Did you give them my warm regards?”

“They said,” Cannon continued, ignoring Julius’s quip, “that if you don’t leave, they’ll kill you. So really—the choice is yours. Leave or die.”

“So dramatic, aren’t they? The Bradwicks. I’m practically trembling when I say their name. I don’t think I’ve had enough wine to talk about them yet!”

Cannon sighed in exasperation. “What exactly are you getting from being here right now anyway? Nova only wanted you to help her, but now that she sees you aren’t on her side—what’s the point of you staying here?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Julius teased.

The two men stood silently for a long moment, each looking at the other, shooting daggers with their eyes. Cannon, knowing how unpredictable Julius could be, prepared for the possibility that the two of them would come to blows at any second. But to his surprised, Julius took a step back and held up his index finger.

“I think I like you, Cannon. You’re braver than you look, or it could just be stupidity. Anyway, you know what? I’ll leave. But I just have one condition.”

“What’s that?” Cannon asked.

“I’ll leave, but only if Nova stays here in lovely old Crescent Valley.”

“Deal,” Cannon said quickly before fully grasping what he was agreeing to.

“Cheers,” Julius said, holding up his empty wine glass and then setting it down on the table behind him. And with that, he left.