We disconnect as I raise an eyebrow at Berke.
“I can just move.”
I cross my arms and smile. “With what money, Berke?” His eyes darken with anger and I lean to get in his face. “Can the Abbots afford your expensive tastes?”
He snarls at his mother’s last name.
“You have no power in Manchester.”
“For someone who doesn’t want to be a Hale, you’re really tapping into the lifestyle the last name gives you. Your trust fund disbursements come from LeClaire International Bank where I have all the power because I am LIB.” I smile as my words sink in. “Understand this. If you don’t get your big ass up, put on some goddamn clothes, and get ready for this trip, I’ll fuck your money like the dirty whores you like. I hope you like your momma’s house.”
Chapter Twelve
Caerwyn
Imala texts me to tell me she’s on the way home hours ago and I cannot get the antsy feeling to go away. Actually, it won’t go away until she’s back where I can see her. I pace around the foyer of the mansion, waiting for her to arrive.
Imala: I’m here
A smile breaks out on my face. I missed her but the most important thing is she’s safe. Maybe that little hellfire with her really is effective. Her knock at the door floods my body with anticipation to see her. Opening the door, I pull her into one of those bear hugs she loves so much. She giggles in my arms and I’m calm again.
“I’m so glad you’re back.” I put her down, cup her face, and look into her eyes. “I was worried about you, hoping you weren’t in any danger—"
“Really? Your opinion is so low of me you’d think I’d hurt her? She’s a pain in the arse but I wouldn’t hurt her.”
Berke’s sudden appearance behind Luci freezes me in place. Where in the hell did he come from? What is he doing here? His dark eyes blaze with indignation as he approaches me. His hair looks like he finger-combed it out of his face and he’s sporting a t-shirt and distressed jeans. He drops his designer suitcase as he charges in my direction.
“And what kind of pussy whipped wanker are you to send your bird and little side
kick to fetch me?”
I may be confused by his sudden appearance but he’s not going to come to the island and insult my fiancée and me like he owns the place. I’m not the little boy he used to bully. I’m a grown ass man.
“You need to calm down, Berke,” I warn him, stepping in front of Imala.
“Want me to shoot him?” Luci asks, her seductive brown eyes serious.
Berke’s head snaps in her direction then back to me as he sneers. “See! That's the kind of bullshit I’m talking about!” He pushes me and ignores Imala’s protest to continue his rant. “Grow some balls and fetch me yourself, next time!” he yells in my face.
I’m so mad the tips of my ears are burning. I used to fantasize about having a normal brotherly relationship, but I was given a selfish asshole with a superiority complex. Any happiness I could’ve felt for him showing up in time for the wedding is gone in a puff because he’s never going to change. If he’s intent on us having a fucked-up relationship, then I’m done being accommodating.
“Back the fuck up before I knock you out.”
Berke raises an eyebrow at my words, but he assumes I’ll be my usual peaceful self. He swings at me instead of heeding my warning.
I block his hit, pivot and bump his chest with my shoulder to force him backwards. Berke advances again and I sidestep him then kick the back of his leg to force him to his knees.
"Cut it out, Berke," I warn him again and am rewarded with him hitting me in the stomach just above my dick.
That's it! I hit him with a quick uppercut and right hook combo to make my threat a reality. Berke falls back, hits his head on the table leg and it's lights out.
Ramsey moves forward to check his vitals. We'd chosen Ramsey to head Berke's detail since he's loyal to our family, is a trained fighter and killer, and has combat medical training from his years in the military.
"He's fine." The top of his brown-haired head informs me. "We'll stabilize him and get him to the hospital for tests to be sure."
"Thank you."
I'm sitting by his hospital bed waiting for Berke's big ass to wake up. All his tests came back normal. They tried to rouse him, but I told them to let the big asshole sleep it off and wake up on his own.