I’m ready to throw something at someone, anyone. I pray no one provides with me an excuse.

It’s been a frustrating day to say the least. Unlike the last few days, where I began to believe I could do this.

The last few days with my family and Colby were not just spent solidifying his place in my life, but discussing what Bryan told them at the farm after I ran the other night. Not surprisingly, they all have their own opinions.

Cassidy, Caleb, and Holly all support whatever decision I make because I have to be the one comfortable with it.

Ali wants to find out how to perform the surgery on YouTube and have Jason do it. During the conversation at the farm Sunday, he choked when she mentioned it. After repeatedly coughing into his napkin, he said, “Thank you, but no. I have no desire to work on people’s brains.”

To which Keene muttered, “Too bad. You have the perfect subject with Phil.”

The laughter that swept the room when Phil stuck his tongue out at Keene helped alleviate the building tension.

Relaxing in Colby’s arms, my head against his broad chest, I murmured just loud enough for him to hear, “You’re keeping your opinion to yourself.”

“This is your family, Corinna. I’m just an honored guest.”

I laughed long and hard. He has no clue. “Do you remember what you said to me a few weeks ago?”

His face got tight as he thought of all of the words we exchanged to bring us to our now. “I remember everything.”

Coming to my knees, I straddled his legs.

“Hey now, we’ve talked about this,” Keene protested.

I wiggled my fingers at him though I keep my gaze on Colby’s face. Em snorted with laughter as she clarified for Keene, “Cori just gave you a flock of these,” right before—I’m sure—she shoved her middle finger in his direction.

Thanks, Em. I owe you one.

Focusing on Colby, I cupped his strong chin. “You said the only man I’d ever introduce my family to was you. So, don’t think you’re here by accident or as a tagalong. They recognize your place here for what it is.”

His arms banded around my back, tugging me closer. “What’s that?”

“Mine,” I said simply. “Finally.”

Colby curled his abs up slowly. We were face-to-face, heart-to-heart, when he replied. “Do you know what princesses get when they act like you just did?”

A smile played about my lips even as I shook my head.

His eyes darkened to smoky gray before he leaned next to my ear. “They have every inch of their skin worshiped like a queen, Corinna.” His breath next to my ear caused my body to shiver. “Not a single inch of you will go untouched later.”

I found out later he meant it.

Which is why I’m more aggravated than ever. A woman should be able to bask in that kind of afterglow for weeks, not days.

Instead, I’m having to deal with doctors whose egos are compensating for the size of their dicks.

Jack decided he is the wronged party in all of this and has made it virtually impossible for me to schedule my preoperative testing with his partners. It took a call from Greenwich Hospital’s neurosurgery coordinator to the general office manager at Jack’s practice to get things resolved. According to the phone call I had from the neurosurgery coordinator after lunch, it was all settled. I’m now scheduled for a physical tomorrow. Gee, something to look forward to.

Not.

The kitchen phone ringing adds to the headache building behind my eyes. Without looking at the caller ID, I answer wearily, “Amaryllis Events, this is Corinna.”

“You bitch!” Jack’s harsh breathing echoes in my ears. “What, are you fucking the surgical coordinator now to get your way? Seems to be the only way you get the things you want.”

I can’t speak. Shaking, I put the phone on speaker as I pull my phone out of my pocket. Without saying a word, I choose the first app that has audio recording capabilities. Laying my phone next to the cordless handset on the counter, I say, “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he snarls.

“Actually, I didn’t,” I reply in as calm a voice I can manage, with my heart trying to pound its way out through my ears.

“I should have guessed you were deaf as well as being a fat, stupid skank, Corinna.” Jack’s words would have had the power to gut me even just a few days ago. I was reminded as recently as this weekend that when you’re made up of strength and pride, you attract the same in the people around you.

And you push away the people who have none of it.

“Is there a purpose to this call?” I’m forcing the impression of being bored, although I’m curious to see how far this prick will hang himself.

“The purpose is to tell you you’re a fucking bitch. And I hope you die on that operating table. It’d sure as fuck make my life easier.”

Wow. Even I’m not prepared for the strike of venom from this little snake. I decide to say nothing, and instead, I breathe in gulps of air, struggling for more oxygen.

“He’s a Hunt, for God’s sake. He should be surrounded by the best people in the world. You should be lucky if you’re allowed to clean his cock for money. It’s impossible to believe you’re what he wants. I mean, he can fuck the best there is. What are you? Used. That’s what you are.” A tear falls from my eye that I brush away. “I mean, even your family thought injecting something was better than having you around.”

I’m pissed, so why am I crying? I still don’t say anything but let Jack’s vitriol fly.

“He’s my brother. He’s supposed to take care of me—that’s what family does. They take care of each other. I made sure he had everything he needed. Like Addison. He needed to fuck hard. Does he fuck you hard? Has he fucked your ass the way he did hers?”

My hand comes up to hold in the wail of pain. Its bitter taste is insidiously worming its way into my stomach. I want to wretch.

I won’t give the bastard the satisfaction.

Then I feel arms slide behind me. I start to fight back instinctively. Colby presses me hard against the table, his finger lifting to the center of my lips. He glances down at the recorder. “Keep him talking,” he mouths to me. I nod. He squeezes me before letting me go. Pulling out his phone, his fingers begin flying.

“Every time Colby would come home, he’d come see me, not you. See? That’s what brothers do.” His voice takes on an almost dreamy cast. “He’d tell me about his missions and the women. Want me to tell you about them? How their legs could wrap around his back twice before they stopped? How their breasts were so tight he could fit both of them in his mouth at once. Not at all like your body. I mean, I’ll bet he could get a couple of those women in a pair of your jeans with those overstuffed sausages you stand on all day.”

I try to wipe my eyes surreptitiously, even as Colby tightens his arms around me. We’d talked about our pasts enough to settle them, but having my face shoved in it like this is practically transporting me back to the night I was stuck in the room when he had sex with Addison. Jack plows on.

“Seeing your pain the night I dropped off those letters was almost as big of a high as hearing you tripped and fell the night Colby fucked Addison in college. God, it was delicious to know I helped push you over that edge.” His lips smack. “Hey, since we’re practically family, would you like hearing about the Hunts, knowing you’d never be accepted even now that you’re famous?”

“Considering he doesn’t particularly care since he doesn’t speak to them, I’m not sure I give a shit.” Colby nods approvingly at my response.

“Since they never acknowledge their bastard children, what makes you think they’ll ever accept you? Do you really think you’ll ever see Grandpa Zach walk you down the aisle to his precious grandson? Think Daddy will ever open his arms to accommodate you the way his son did? Maybe if he wants a quick fuck. Grow the hell up, Corinna. The world Colby’s supposed to live in isn’t where happily ever after exists. It’s made up of power, and whoever has all the pieces wins.”

Colby shakes his head in confusion. Neither of us have any idea where this is going.

“At least, that’s what my father told my mother,” Jack says, right before he hangs up the phone.

“What?” I yell at the same time Colby does.

Colby stills. “Did he say what I think he just said?” Colby lifts tortured eyes to me.

I cup Colby’s face and hold on. “Just breathe.”

“Cori, what if he’s not just yanking my chain? What if he’s…”

I finish the thought for him. “Telling the truth?” He nods wearily. “I don’t know. Is there any chance he could be…?” I can’t say the words.

“I don’t know.” His voice is broken. “But I’ll be damned if I’m not going to find out. I mean, he doesn’t look a damn thing like me. How the hell would I know? It’s not hard for someone who’s obviously gone off their rocker like he has to make a claim like this. When I was living at home we used to… Well, it’s not like it wouldn’t have been hard to find out information about me.” He scrubs his fingers over his head. “Jesus, I’m talking about this like it’s a possibility.”

“Think back, Colby.”

“I’d rather not. I might lose my lunch.” The look of pain on his face physically hurts me.

I stroke his chest. “I know. Is there anyone who could help?”

“Yes. No. Something’s not adding up.”

“What?”

He just shakes his head.

I want to be calm, I really do, but there’s no way I’m handling this discussion without some kind of anesthetic. I turn away from Colby.

“Where are you going?” His voice is anxious. He moves to follow me, but I hold up a hand. I just can’t.

“I need chocolate.”

Quickly slipping around the side of the freezer in the hall, I suddenly stop and rest my head against the cold wall. This is too much to handle. All of the emotional pain I’ve buried to give me and Colby a fighting chance comes back up with the force of a geyser. I slide down the wall until my butt is resting on my heels. One good weekend and here we are again, being victimized because of someone’s desperation for what? Acceptance? Jealousy? Greed? Prestige? How much more are we expected to take?

As the tears fall harder and faster down my face, I don’t see the booted feet move closer to me. I do feel the warmth from a body in contrast to the coldness at my back. My head snaps up. I see Colby’s ravaged face.

“I promise you, Cori, I’ll figure this out. This isn’t the most important concern right now. The most important thing…the most important thing,” he stresses, “is you. You’re back in my life. I’ll fight the Devil to keep you there.” Reaching out to wipe the tears that keep falling, he asks, “Okay?”

“Colby, we can’t just ignore…” I start, but I’m cut off.

“And I don’t plan on it. Right now, my woman is on a path to eliminating the enemy from her body. That’s the fight we’re focusing on today.”

I raise my hand to cup his jaw. “Then I wonder if I should call Greenwich Hospital to find someone else to perform my physical because there’s no way I trust that office after that call.”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “Good idea.” Standing to his full height, he offers me his hand.

And I take it. Willingly.