Page 6 of His Haunted Desire

“Please don’t get sarcastic, Raiden.”

“If I don’t do this, you’ll cut me out of the will, I assume?”

“I’ve already provisionally removed your name from the will,” she says firmly. “If you prove you’re willing to cooperate, I’ll put you back in.”

I shake my head, chuckling without humor. “I’ve never danced for my supper, Grandma. I don’t plan on starting now.”

“You’re going to have to try.”

“I can’t just magically find a woman and fall in love.”

“You’re going to have to try that too.”

For all my talk of standing on my own two feet–and I have, dammit, even when the bullets were flying–this stings.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” I say, standing.

I get to the door before Grandma speaks again. The pain in her voice makes me turn back.

“If you can’t do it for your inheritance, do it for me. I want to see you happy.”

“I can’t make any promises,” I say, leaving the room, walking down the hallway.

Sebastian walks at my side like a ghost. He opens the door and looks straight at me with none of the tact a butler should possess. “I’m sorry, sir,” he says.

“What’ve you got to be sorry about?” I grunt.

“Evangeline mentioned her plan to me. I was the one who suggested that she go all the way and remove you from thewill to prove that she was serious. I hope I haven’t caused any discomfort.”

It’d be interesting to grab his shirt, give him a shake, hear his teeth rattle and see if he’s still got that mocking glint in his eyes when I finally put him down.

Instead, I just smile. “Don’t sweat it. I never wanted that money anyway.”

He frowns. Like he’s disappointed. Like he was expecting to gett a rise out of me.

I walk down the wide stone stairs, pass the frozen fountain, and climb into my car. When the butterfly door falls closed, I slam my hand against the steering wheel.

I’ve never wanted to be the entitled rich jerk, but I’m part of the Blackwell legacy. It’s more than that. I thought Grandmother cared about me.

I shake my head. I sound like a child.

Fuck this.

Starting the car, I let my tires burn and smoke for a second before snarling out of the drive.

CHAPTER 3

AURORA

“Grandma, press the button,” I yell from the bottom of the stairs.

No reply.

“Grandma!”

“What?” she screeches.

“Press the freaking button!”