I stiffen and Harper turns to me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, but—”
“You threw boiling water on him?” the detective asks.
“She’s an exaggerator,” Isaac states. “She wasn’t even around when Eric and I lived together.”
“And yet we’re incestuous?” she challenges.
I grab her and turn her to face me. “Easy, baby. He’s not worth getting upset over.”
“He burned you. He’s a monster. He’s capable of things I don’t like to think any human being is capable of.”
“Did he burn you?” the detective presses.
My jaw clenches and I rotate Harper, pulling her around to face the others, under my arm and by my side. “She’s worried about her mother. Worry about the people who need saving. I’m not one of them.” I eye Isaac. “I’m going to see our father.”
“I’m not done asking questions,” the detective states.
“You don’t have the right to ask questions about a heart attack from natural causes.” I pull Harper around the group and she and Savage step into the elevator with me.
The detective steps in front of the car. “I don’t remember anyone saying the heart attack was from natural causes.”
“Was it or wasn’t it?” I ask.
“To be determined,” he says. “But I’m not going anywhere until it is.”
“Find that man who was in his room,” Harper states. “Find him and you’ll be the hero we need.”
He studies Harper for several long beats and then looks at me. “I’m waiting on a copy of his will. I’m thinking it’s going to be an interesting read.” He releases the doors and steps away.
The will is certainly not in my favor. Should Isaac die, I’d inherit, that is, if there isn’t another living sibling, and my gut says there was but no longer is.
Based on present circumstances, I’d venture to say that Isaac would have gotten rid of anyone who could take his inheritance, but I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Harper. I need to see the wording in the will on her trust fund. As it stands, it might well look as if she’s the one who directly benefits from my father’s death, outside of Isaac.
“Fucktard,” Savage growls as we begin to move.
None of us look at each other or speak as we ride the short few floors to the ICU level, all of us aware of the cameras recording us, but there’s more. There’s silence riddled with a mix of anger and consternation, none of which are mine. There is worry on my end, worry for her, right along with numbers. Lots of fucking numbers.
The elevator dings and Savage breaks the silence. “Our man Jesse is already at the door. Smith is with Grayson.”
I give him a barely perceivable nod and we exit the car to meet Jesse, a tall man with dark, curly hair. The greeting is short and we move past the elevators, toward the waiting area. We’ve just passed a hallway when Harper tugs my hand and steps in front of me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I told them about the water.”
I eye Savage over her shoulder and he gets the message. He walks away.
My hands come down on her shoulders and I walk her backward into the vacant hallway we were about to pass and press her to the wall. “I’m not upset.”
“I betrayed your trust.”
“I never told you that was something to keep quiet.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” she says. “He’s just—this is no excuse—but where my head was—he was so glib, showing up with that detective, acting like he was delivering the evil brother to him for prosecution. It infuriated me. I just—I needed that detective to know that you’re the good one, not the bad one.”
Protecting me. She’s protecting me. Fuck. Over and over, she proves she is nothing like anyone that I’ve ever known, except my mother. She’s like my mother in that she bravely and boldly protects those she loves. Even staying with the Kingstons was about protecting both her mother and her father’s legacy. The way I’m going to protect her, and the way that damn will has me fearing I will have to protect her. Isaac is too cocky. He knows something we don’t. He’s here to seal the deal and we don’t even know what the fuck he’s trying to do besides bury everyone but himself.
“Eric,” Harper whispers desperately.
“Baby, yes. I want you to keep my secrets, but I get it. You were protecting me and you're amazing for that and so many more reasons. And I’m going to protect you and your mother. You have my word.”
It’s a promise I intend to keep which is exactly why I ease her off the wall, kiss her thoroughly and set us in motion again. No place better to confront my brother than by the bedside of our father, who he tried to kill.