I stop in front of him, looking directly at his worried expression. “Brother,” I say, “let’s go inside and talk.” I follow him in, and we head into the living room where he picks up the bourbon bottle and pours us both a shot.
I left Miami before he did. So, when Mr. Donati was shot, I was all the way over here in Black Mountain.
I remember the phone call. Elian’s cold, rigid voice telling me the old man was dead. He didn’t cry, never showed an ounce of emotion. We sat talking late into the night when we reminisced about Dad, but he never shed a tear. After a couple of days, I went home. I needed to be there for him.
And then he told me he was coming here, he bought a house in Black Mountain, and then, he shocked me by informing me he got a job teaching so he would be around if I needed him. He was hard on me since the day his dad told him I was officially a Donati. In name only, but it didn’t matter. Elian took it to heart. Giving me shit for my clothes, for my grades, but I knew he was only doing it to look out for me, and I appreciated every moment of it. Even though we don’t live together at the moment, he’s still my big brother.
He sets my drink on the table before turning to face the back garden. His back is to me, but I can tell from the way his shoulders tense he’s either really angry or just nervous.
“I want her, Ahren,” he admits but doesn’t look my way. I knew he would say that.
I pick up my drink and take a gulp before I ask, “Did she give you her answer?”
He shakes his head. “We were at a standoff. I didn’t want to do anything at school, so I told her to come here. It would be easier for us to talk openly. The rules—”
“Rules are meant to be broken,” I remind him of something he told me when we were younger. He taught me how to bend them, how to twist them until I was comfortable and could get what I wanted. And I must admit, it was good growing up with him.
“These rules could cost me my job.”
“A job you don’t need.” Once more, a reminder that he has more money than god, and if he wants her, why can’t he have her? He finally turns to me, the blue in his eyes sparking with frustration. I can’t help but grin. I’ve known Eli all my life, and this is new to him—having emotions, feelings, and actually admitting them.
“I tried to build a life without the bullshit of what I did in my past.” A stark reminder skitters down my spine, and I recall his ex. The woman he walked away from back in Miami. She was a fucking stunner.
“If you don’t take a chance, you’ll never know.”
“Life doesn’t wait for those who sit idly by,” he counters. He knows I’m right. Any guy can step up and take her away from him. It doesn’t matter how much women tell you they want you, there’s always a hint of doubt that niggles at your gut.
“What is it about her?”
“She’s … she’s broken, just like we are.” There’s a rawness to his words. I don’t know much about Arabella, we didn’t go into too much detail about her past the other night, and I know Elian has learned more than he’s told me.
“Are you trying to say your little angel isn’t as innocent as you’d like?” Even though I laugh it off because I can’t imagine her doing anything illegal, when Elian’s blue stare locks on mine, I realize there’s more to the story than I thought.
“Perhaps,” is all he tells me before pouring another shot of bourbon and downing it in one swallow. If it weren’t for Alistor waiting on me, I would spend more time here, delving into the life of the girl who’s so clearly caught his attention, but I have to go.
“I want to know the rest when I get back.” I set the glass down on the table before I step up to Elian. “I’m heading to Alistor’s, but tomorrow, I need to know what the fuck is going on.”
“It’s not my story to divulge,” he informs me with a shrug.
“Like fuck it isn’t. If this girl is coming into your home, if you’re going to be with her, I need to know what the fuck she’s hiding.” I don’t know why I’m so angry. Perhaps it’s time for me to look out for the man who’s always been by my side looking out for me. Or maybe I’m just concerned that Elian isn’t seeing straight.
“Her past wasn’t easy.”