Nolan
I grind my teeth as I drive up to the family mansion, dreading what I might find.
Percy will be here for the reading of our father’s will. He'll be scheming to get his hands on all the money, no fucking doubt about it.
He's already blackmailed me for the gambling losses I suffered in Vegas.
Some brother, right?
Well, at least we aren’t blood-related. I’m his stepbrother from our father's second marriage. I tried to be friends with Percy when we were younger but he was always a malicious little shit.
Frankly, I don't have time or patience to deal with him.
I'm a real estate investor and I've got fucking work to do. I just want to swing by the house and pay my respects to our father, and then I'm gone. But that motherfucker Percy has me delivering some files so he can blackmail somebody else...the family lawyer this time.
I know the son-of-a-bitch is doing everything he can to get sole ownership of our father's business empire. It's pathetic, really—his only motivation in life is money.
I peel down the driveway like I have more important shit to do, which is true. I want to get in and get out. I park and climb out of my car, walking toward the mansion where we all grew up…a mansion that now feels empty without our father.
When I heard the news, it left me gutted…and now I see things falling apart around us.
Percy's waiting for me as I step in the door.
It obviously has no effect of any kind on Percy’s emotional level, though.
"There you are, Nolan.” He gives me a smarmy grin, and I want nothing more than to sucker punch fucking face. “Finally. I've been waiting for hours."
"Well, those papers weren't easy to get hold of. You'd think you would know with as many people as you’re blackmailing."
Percy glances around the foyer. "Shut up, Nolan. You know nothing about my life. You better keep quiet, or I’ll fucking ruin you, too."
He's a real asshole, my brother, and he always acts like this. I wish I could get out from under his thumb, but things are…complicated. I walk through the house and step into the meticulously landscaped backyard.
The infinity pool cascades to the edge of the property and the view of mountains and ocean is just incredible. I just can't believe John isn’t here, and that I will never see him again.
He was the only father I’ve ever known.
Percy interrupts my silent remembrance.
"You know, you still aren’t free. I have more assignments for you."
"Shut the fuck up, Percy." I'm just about sick of his shit. Besides, with my 6'5 frame of pure muscle, I could wipe him out in half a second. "I don't know how long you expect me to put up with this, but it better end soon."
He cowers from me—as he should. He’s always been scared of me, and now’s no exception.
All he has over me is money, and as soon as I find out how to make that problem go away, I will get back at Percy for this.
Mark my words.
That's when I see her step out onto the balcony. She’s a slender, blonde goddess with piercing blue eyes. Her hair whips around her head as the wind comes off of the ocean waves in the distance.
"Who’s that?" I ask Percy, mesmerized.
"Who?" He turns and sees her standing there. From our vantage point we can see her but she can't see us. "Oh, her. My wife, Stacy."
I laugh. And then I see that he’s serious.
"You have a fucking wife, Percy? That’s ridiculous. I see what you're up to. She is part of your plan, right? To win Father's fortune?"
It's all making sense, but I can't tear my eyes away from the beautiful girl on the balcony. My cock is getting hard just watching her and knowing she can't see me. She stares off into the distance as though she's looking for an answer out there, in the wild mountains beyond the property.
What’s she doing here? I want to claim her for myself but…something about the way she’s dressed reveals that she's been freshly fucked. Maybe it's the way her hair is all tangled. Maybe it's the little barely-there slip she's wearing that slides off her shoulder. Or maybe it's the glow.
She has the glow of a woman who’s just been satisfyingly and thoroughly fucked. It sure as shit wasn't Percy that put that glow on her face, so then who?
"Forget about her," Percy says. "She’s none of your concern."
Yeah fucking right. How could I ever forget her? She’s burned into my memory, and I'm already dying to strip away what's left of her outfit and claim her right there on the balcony.
In fact, I'm on my way up to do just that when Percy stops me. He grabs my arm but I yank it away.
"What the fuck?"
"I'm not done with you yet,” he hisses. “Just because you gave me these papers, don’t think you’re free. I have another assignment for you, Nolan, and I need it done right. You can’t fuck this one up."
This motherfucker is starting to get on my nerves. I have a half a mind to punch him into oblivion and then toss Stacy over my shoulder and make my way up to her room, but I think better of it. Percy truly does have a way to ruin me, and I need to tread lightly for the time being.
I have no fucking clue what he’s got on her to make her go along with whatever diabolical plan he’s concocted this time. I will find out though. Just not yet. Right now I’m still under this asshole’s thumb until I’m able to shake him.
Tearing my gaze from Stacy, I turn back to Percy with a sigh.
"Fine. Tell me what the fuck you want this time."