Forbidden Temptation (The Forbidden Trilogy Book 2) by M. James

Author:M. James [James, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PNK Publishing.
Published: 2022-12-22T16:00:00+00:00

13

MAX

It takes a moment for me to even be able to speak, a cacophony of thoughts crashing through my mind.

How is he here?

Why is he here?

I’ve never been a paranoid man, but it rips through me at that moment, as my little brother, now grown-up and standing in the house that is technically mine, turns to face me with a glint in his eyes that I recognize all too well.

Growing up, Arturo was the troublemaker, the cause of mischief, the one who seemed to delight in angering our father and made our mother swing wildly between despair and coddling. The theater room I’d shown Sasha was made for him, the brother whose only job was to go into the priesthood at eighteen and satisfy the family tradition, while our older brother took on the mantle of an heir, and I took over some facet of the family business.

Of course, he hadn’t done so. And I haven’t seen him since he ran away to Milan, more years ago than I care to count now.

I hadn’t imagined he would appear out of the blue when my attempts to contact him had gone entirely unanswered. Combined with the reasoning for Sasha and me hiding away here in the first place, an instant, paranoid suspicion rises within me, and I narrow my eyes at him. “You could have called first.”

Art’s eyes widen, and he dramatically claps a hand to his chest. “You wound me, brother. Really? Can’t I surprise the only family I have left?”

“Even a phone call would have been a surprise.” I grit my teeth, frustrated with this newest development. “You’ve been gone for a long time, Art. You weren’t even at the funeral. Either of them.”

Art’s expression sags a little. “I know. But you see my side of things, don’t you, Max? If I’d come to our mother’s funeral, I’d have been locked in the basement before our father let me run off again.”

“Unlikely.” I feel my jaw clench tighter. “I’d already done your duty for you. Most likely, you would have been tossed back out. What’s your excuse for our father’s funeral, then?”

Art snorts. “You think I wanted to pretend to be sad that old goat died? He was a pain in my ass when he was alive, and I doubt he left me enough to cover my trip here and back.”

“So that’s it, then. You’re here for money.”

“Max!” Sasha’s voice cuts into the conversation, and a sharp burst of guilt hits me. I’d been so focused on who our unexpected visitor was that I hadn’t even noticed she’d followed Giana and me.

If I had noticed, I’d have asked her to go upstairs. The last thing I want is for my brother to get an eyeful of her, before I find out why he’s really here.

“You’re being rude,” she continues in a hushed stage whisper that Art can definitely hear. “Your brother is here. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“I’m not sure,” I say tightly, and I catch a glimpse of Sasha’s startled expression out of the corner of my eye.

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