I glance up at him, ready to give as much ragey energy as he’s giving me currently, thanks to those shitty texts I just received.
“I’m your fucking brother, that’s who. And I can barge into your office whenever the fuck I want. You do the same shit to me,” I bark back.
Winston leans back in his chair, his brows up, the faintest smile on his face. I think he might be impressed. “What crawled up your ass this morning?”
“Mother,” I spit out. I don’t bother bringing up the texts from the unknown number.
I need to look more into that.
Winston grimaces. “There’s a visual I’d rather not imagine.”
“I’m not being literal. Jesus.” I lean back in my chair as well, mirroring his position. “I moved out this morning. That’s why I was late. And she was nagging my ass the entire time, saying she’s going to buy Charlotte and me a place in Bishop’s Landing.”
“Mommy’s buying you and the missus a home in the same neighborhood so she can keep you nearby at all times?” He’s trying to get under my skin, and it’s working.
“Fuck that,” I mutter, shaking my head.
Damn, my mood is foul.
“Really? I figured you’d want to bring your bride back to Bishop’s Landing to live close to Mother,” he says, sounding surprised.
“No way.” I shake my head, tired of feeling frustrated all the damn time. No one listens to me. No one lets me make one fucking move without managing it for me. I can’t do shit by myself, and I’m over it. “I don’t want her managing my life anymore. I agreed to marry Charlotte Lancaster for the family but that’s the last sacrifice I’m going to make. I need to be my own person for once in my goddamned life.”
And I mean every word of that. If this is what I have to do to finally be free of everyone in my life controlling me, then let’s go.
I’m starting to realize I have more in common with Charlotte than I originally thought.
Winston contemplates me before he finally says, “I love this new side to you, Perry. Very forceful.”
“I learned from a master.” I tip my head toward him.
He rests his hand lightly against his chest before dropping it. “Are you giving me credit where it’s due? I’m honored. Still doesn’t give you the right to just enter my office like you own it. I was on an important call.”
“With who?”
“Our sister. Tinsley was asking about you and Charlotte.”
“It wasn’t an important call,” I retort.
“Tinsley wanted the gossip.” He shrugs. “It was important to her.”
“What did you tell her? That I’m being forced? That I don’t know Charlotte at all? That I’m a fucking puppet who does whatever this family wants?” I leap to my feet and start pacing the length of Winston’s office. Which says a lot, because his office is gigantic.
“I told her the truth, yes. But I didn’t call you a puppet.” He sits up straighter, smoothing his tie. “We appreciate what you’re doing, Perry. Even if you feel like you’re being used.”
“I am being used. And I’m fucking sick and tired of it.” I run a hand through my hair and approach the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city. “Why am I marrying Charlotte Lancaster anyway, huh? Tell me. I deserve to know the real reason, too. Don’t give me a bunch of bullshit.”
Winston is quiet.
Too quiet.
“Mother won’t tell me. I need you to be real with me, Winny.” I pause. “Please.”
“The alliance with the Lancaster family is necessary to bolster our strength against the Morellis,” he says with a ragged sigh.
So the same old song with a slightly different beat. Got it.
Why does it feel like my brother is holding something back, though?