Page 7 of Heartless

Joel had sat in the corner of the loveseat across from the larger sofa where I’d tucked myself in.Nigel and Kimmy throned in its middle.I pushed my back against the sofa and scanned over our quartet.My heart pinched, but not in a bad way.It was as if Mom had been so worried about me being alone, she’d sent me a new family.Thank you, Mom.

My half-brother was a cardiac surgeon who lived in Japan, and whose mother, Nigel’s first wife, had moved to Brazil.As I canted forward to hear more about his interesting life, Nigel started coughing.A hacking cough he covered with a hollow fist against his mouth.

Joel leaped from his seat and crouched in front of his father.“Dad, what’s wrong?”

Kimberly had retreated two feet away from Nigel, and her face was pale.I didn’t know what to do.Frozen, I sat there while my heart stomped against my chest.There was something almost...I didn’t know, but it reminded me of those old black-and-white movies when the actresses fainted with a dramatic flourish.Or maybe I was just scared to lose my other parent so soon after he’d found me.

While Joel pushed firmly on Nigel’s shoulders, urging him to lay back, Kimberly neared my side.

She gave my arm a gentle squeeze.“He’s going to be fine, just a leftover from a bad cold.I’ll ask the driver to take you home.”

When I rose to my feet, Nigel held out his hand.I perched beside him while he wrapped his hands around mine.

“I’m sorry, my little dear.I’m a little under the weather.I’ll send the car, and we’ll have lunch tomorrow.”

I had a lot to think about, and I honestly needed a little distance.“Just rest, Nigel.And I’ll see you when you get better.”

His jaw hardened slightly, and he must have been tired because he hadn’t been as quick at hiding his displeasure.

I followed Kimberly to the front door where Munch was waiting.After he’d handed me my coat and opened the door, I said, “Goodnight, Munch.”

On our way to the car, she shifted to face me.“Sienna, I know I haven’t been...”She sighed.“You wouldn’t believe how many women try to take advantage of him.”She smiled then.“Why don’t we spend some time together, just us girls?”

“I’d like that, Kimberly.I’ll text Nigel next week.”

Her brows furrowed.“But he said tomorrow—”

The driver opened the back passenger door.“I’ll text, Kimberly.”

And I would.When I was ready.I folded into the car, and Nigel’s wife had no choice but to move aside.

Chapter Three—Fatal flaw

Jake

Margo, the woman I’d stopped fucking a couple of weeks ago, paced the rug of my living room in her high heels.Her generous tits were nearly spilling out of her top while her ass wiggled with each stomp she took.Standing behind the couch, I drove my fists in my pockets.