Page 11 of Guy (House of Frazier #4)

“This is the most beautiful house I’ve ever been in.

I love the colors and the way you’ve blended one room into the next effortlessly.

It’s like your stories. You do that equally well, and it’s what keeps me reading them.

Christ, Guy, you’re very talented and I feel like a fool that I’m only just noticing just how wonderfully you’ve been weaving stories together even between us.

” He asked him what he wanted. “You. I want you back in my life. I want to know about your accomplishments and your perceived failures. Which, from my point of view, you never had. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’d like to get to know the real you instead of the version you use to keep people at a distance. ”

“I don’t like people.” He said if they were half as bad as he’d been, then he didn’t blame him. “I told you why I’m like that. To keep people from hurting me again. And you hurt me, Lica. All the way to the core of my heart.”

“I know I did, buddy. And I will be sorry about that for the rest of my life. I should have taken your word for what you’ve been doing.

I think you’ve been hinting at what you do all the time, and I never noticed.

Or I didn’t want to notice you. I’m profoundly sorry for the words that I said to you, and if you would forgive me, I’ll never disbelieve you ever again.

” He was told that he had hurt him. “I did. I’ll own that.

I’m sorry, little brother. Please forgive me. ”

He bent over the computer again, and it felt like he was being dismissed. It was no less than he deserved. When he was ready to leave, Guy stopped him by saying his name. Lica braced himself for the words that were surely going to hurt him.

“I have copies of the next book that is coming out if you want them.” He asked if it was book seventeen. “I don’t know the number, but it’s the next book. I have several copies that usually end up in my office because I don’t have anyone to give them to.”

“Sure, I’ll take one. I’m betting that the others would like one as well.” Guy explained that it wasn’t out yet, so they couldn’t share. “No, I wouldn’t do that. You’ve given it to me; I’ll treasure it forever.”

“You didn’t have to say that, Lica. I was going to give it to you anyway.” He laughed and said that he really would treasure it if he signed it anyway. “I’ll do that, but I’ll sign it as Adam. That way, there’s no misperception about who I am.”

“Sure, sure, I understand. Which one are you working on now? Is it hard to get one started? How do you do it, with an outline? Where do you get such great idea—” Lica cut himself off this time.

“I’m sorry. I have like a billion questions going through my mind right now.

I can’t seem to grasp any of them quickly enough to ask you. ”

For the first time in years, he’d bet maybe even longer, he heard his brother laugh.

It was something that he’d not known he missed until right then.

Going to the desk before he could change his mind, he pulled Guy from the seat he was sitting in and hugged him.

He didn’t let go until he hugged him back.

Tears filled his eyes when he realized that was something else that he’d missed.

Hugging his brother whenever he needed it.

“I’m sorry for a lot of things right now, Guy.

I’ve missed so much. I don’t know if it was your mood that I caused or just you pushing us away, but I’m not going to let that happen again.

I’ve missed you and so much with you. I want to get to know you better again.

” He said that he’d like that too and told him that he was squeezing the life out of him.

“I don’t care. You should get used to it because this is going to be an everyday occurrence. ”

He finally let him go and stood staring at his brother before hugging him again. This time, Guy was quick to hug him back, and he was glad for it. He didn’t want to squeeze the life out of him, but he would if necessary.

While he was closing down his computer, he answered his questions.

Apparently, he’d been writing for years before he published his first Adam book.

As soon as he showed him the books that were still in boxes, he took one of each, trying to juggle them around so he’d not damage them.

True to his word, Guy signed them all for him and even gave him one of the boxes to take them home in.

Then they sat in the living room, his favorite part of the house so far, and talked to his brother about any topic that came to mind.

“I’ve never had such an enjoyable afternoon with anyone.” Guy told him to stop sucking up. It was over now. “No, I wasn’t sucking up, but I did want to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this one-on-one time with you. It’s been a real revelation for me.”

“I won’t lie to you, Lica.” He said that he should have known that before today.

“Yes, you should have. I might be successful at writing books, but I’m not good at people, and their hurting me.

It’s why I stayed away for so long. I don’t like people, humans, or shifters, dead or alive.

But now that I have a mate, I suppose I’ll have to get over that soon. ”

“You have a mate?” He looked around the room and saw Amber walking down the hall. “Amber is your mate? That’s great. How long have you known each other? Are you going to live here or…I’ll shut up now.”

“We’ve only known one another for about four days.

She’s staying here to get away from her brother and sister.

They want the insurance policy that I was telling you about that she got the other day.

” He said that he remembered. “Look, why don’t we order out some food, and you and Brandy, and the others come here for dinner.

I’ve been wanting to show off my new home, and this will be the perfect time for me to get over some of my anxiety about being around people. Belinda said it would be good for me.”

“Belinda is your mother-in-law?” He nodded.

“I’m going to need your help on a few things.

You have the ability to plot and stuff, so I was wondering what I should do about Bates.

” He told him everything that was going on with him and the bank with the elderly again.

Just to reaffirm what he said to him the other day.

That way, they were on the same page. “I’m losing money for the pack, and I don’t want anyone to suffer anymore from him if I can help it. What should I do?”

“Kill him.” He looked at his brother and asked him why. “He’s disrespected you and your position. If you allow him to continue, he’s going to undermine you in a lot of things. Kill him and anyone that he’s working with.”

“I thought you were joking before when you told me that.” Guy just shook his head and pointed out that Bates needed to die to make an example of people that fucked with him to show that he’s not a pushover. “Do you think that I am?”

“It’s not me that you have to impress this upon.

I know you’re all badass and all, but the people being taken advantage of are thinking that you’re just a big blowhard that doesn’t care about the people he’s responsible for.

” He asked him again if he thought that.

“Again, I’m not the one you have to impress with yourself.

You and Brandy both need to confront him, kill him and his family, and be done with it.

If there are others, which I’m sure there are, then you deal with them the same way.

I would just walk up to him and his family and rip their throats out.

At least that’s what I’d do if someone was messing around in my pack. ”

They talked about the things that Bates was doing, and it occurred to him that Guy was right.

There was too much that he had his hand in that was disrupting his ability to run a good pack.

Or at least one that cares about his people.

First thing tomorrow, he was going to find him and kill him.

Just like he said to do it too. Just rip his throat out and be done with him.

When the rest of the family arrived, Brandy and the other women were making plans about dinner.

They all, like him, marveled at the house and the fact that he’d only lived in it for about three months.

It was the most put-together home he’d ever been in, and Lica never wanted to leave.

He talked to his brothers about Bates, and they agreed with Guy.

Kill him so that he was no longer an issue.

“I’m with you, but let’s please go as a family unit.

I’m willing to do my part in this as well, but I want to have backup just in case.

” He told Brandy that he had planned on it.

“Good. Now, while we’re talking, you need to have a second.

I don’t think there is anyone better for the job than Guy.

He’s on point in giving you information that you need, and he’s right in this thing with Bates.

I’ll work with Amber to see if she could be my second as well. ”

“Deal.” He pulled Brandy into his arms and held her tightly before speaking again. “She might tell you no, but I’ve dealt with her today; you talk her into doing it for the two of us.”

“All right.” The rest of the night went well.

Guy gave them a plan to follow in getting things finished up with the elderly.

He needed to assign someone who would be there for them after this was done.

Someone whom he trusted with money. It wasn’t anything for him to assign his brother Edmond and Mac the job.

They’d do a good job with them and be as honest as much as Bates was a thief.

~*~