Gemma
Reinhardt is a bit of a recluse. She's also worth several billion
dollars, now that her parents are dead. She split the fortune with
her horrid older brother, Henry, who seems determined that she won't
marry. Now she's met Vik Windsor, that's likely to change. Henry
finds out that Vik is staying there, recuperating after a fight. I
have to admit – Vik is one of my favorite heroes.
The
front door banged open and shut. Raised voices alerted her to a
problem. Dropping her book, Gemma raced to the stairs. Henry paced
the foyer, bellowing at Bernadette. She tried to calm him down, but
he wouldn't stop yelling. James came in a few moments later, and kept
Henry from advancing.
"This
is my house!" her brother cried. "You can't keep me out!"
"Actually,
it's my house," Gemma corrected as she dashed over to
him. "And he most certainly can because I want him to. Why are
you here?"
"Is
it true you've got another one?"
"Another
what?"
"Boyfriend!"
"I
don't know what you mean," she evaded his question.
"Don't
lie to me, Gem. I know there's a man staying here."
"How
could you possibly know? Are you spying on me?"
"If
I am, it's for your own good. You're too damn naïve to watch out for
yourself. And your people are suck ups who don't know how to tell you
no or control you."
"Control
me? No one needs to control me, Henry. I'm a grown woman."
"You're
like a little girl! You have no idea what this guy is all about. The
first one is crazy and now you've got this one? Have you considered
that he might be after your money? That he got his buddy to beat him
up so you'd feel sorry for him?"
"It's
not like that, Henry. They didn't know I was rich!"
"Ken
knew after he was over here. It's pretty obvious when you live in a
mansion, that there's money."
"So
what! It's my house and my money. I can do what I want with it."
"Even
if you're throwing it away on some loser?"
"Enough!"
James bellowed. "You have no business here, Mr. Reinhardt. This
is your sister's house and you're here on her suffrage. I suggest you
leave before I call the security team."
"Oh,
you suggest I leave? I suggest you stand aside and let me in
my house."
"My
house," Gemma repeated. "And I don't want you here."
"Excuse
me," Dolores said from behind them. "But my patient is in
this house and your noise is going to wake him, if it hasn't already.
He's recovering from some serious injuries. You need to go," she
told Henry pointedly.
"Oh,
God forbid we wake him. What's he gonna do to me?"
"Beat
your sorry ass," came Vik's voice from the balcony.
Henry
looked up at Vik's battered body and laughed. "You? You're a
scarecrow. You couldn't hurt me if you came at me with an army."
Vik's
face remained calm. "Buddy, I could put the hurt on you one
handed and blind. But since you're Gemma's only family and I'm a
guest here, I'll let it slide. Don't make me come down there."
"Don't
make me come down there," Henry mimicked. "Oh, I'm so
scared. There's an ironclad pre-nup," he continued, pushing past
Gemma as he advanced on Vik. "Even if you convince her to marry
you, you can't unless you sign it. If you divorce, you leave with
exactly what you had coming in. My father left nothing to chance."
He climbed the stairs two at a time, walking up to Vik, trying to
intimidate him.
Vik
smiled, his split lip twitching upward at an odd angle. He didn't
seem quite as feeble up close. Henry took a step back, but Vik moved
into the other man's personal space, coming alarmingly near. He was
quite intimidating; taller and bigger than he'd seemed from
downstairs. Every time Henry moved back, Vik advanced.
"I
don't want the money," Vik said. "I want Gemma. She could
be poor and homeless, I'd still want her."
Gemma
followed them up the stairs. Henry turned, taking a step toward her,
his hand raising as if to strike her. Vik grabbed his arm, spinning
him to face the balcony. Hanging over the edge, Henry realized how
much stronger and faster Vik was than he. Even injured, Vik managed
to pin Henry with very little effort.
"You
need to leave now," Vik leaned over and whispered in Henry's
ear. "You aren't welcome right now. Because you're her brother,
I'm not going to pitch you over the railing. You come at her like
that again, I can't be held responsible. Are we clear?"
"Yeah,"
Henry grunted.
"And
do I really need to tell you I'm a black belt and I can take you
apart one handed?"
"Nyeh,"
Henry replied, trying to catch his breath.
"Gemma,
I'm sorry I pinned your brother to the banister," Vik said,
still holding Henry against the railing. "Where do you want
him?"
"Outside,"
Gemma replied. "But I think you've made your point. Hasn't he?"
she asked her brother.
"I'm
going," Henry gasped as Vik let him up. "But you haven't
heard the last of this, Gem."
"Yes.
I have. I'm a big girl, fully capable of making up my own mind. You
need to go now, Henry."
Henry
straightened his coat and tie. "I've got my eye on you," he
said to Vik, pointing his index finger at him.
Vik
smiled. It was rather like watching a shark bare its teeth before
striking. The mirth didn't reach his eyes. He pointed to his own
eyes, then jabbed a finger at Henry. Without a word, he went back to
his room.
©
2017 Dellani Oakes
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