Page 3 of Junior Has a Secret

But as my gaze shifts and lands on Pocher where he stands at the bottom of the stage, he grimaces at something my father says to the crowd.There’s trouble brewing between these two and I wonder now if my father manipulated Pocher into wanting us close, into believing this is how he controls us.

And if my father believed we were his smartest move, he’s desperate.

Why else would he think we’re his answer to anything but a shovel and his grave?I decide to freak Pocher out.I break away from Kane and walk up the stairs to the stage.

Chapter Three

Kane’s only reaction to seeing me up on that stage is a raised eyebrow.

Of course, he’s aware I’m fucking with my father, but then he’d have it no other way.He’d be bored if I simply lived life without drama and a knife in my hand no matter how he might declare otherwise.My father, on the other hand, has the briefest moment of panic flash across his already pinched expression before he rushes my direction with the lightning speed of a rush of adrenaline.The next thing I know, he’s latched his elbow with mine, facing us both forward, even as he waves at the crowd with his good hand.

“Is there a problem?”he demands through gritted teeth, and a fake smile stretched wide.

“Of course not,Dad,” I say, my voice sticky-sweet with a sarcastic undertone.“This is just me showing you support.”

“Liar,” he murmurs.“Am I about to get shot?”

“When I kill you, we’ll be alone having father-daughter time,” I promise him, the sweet vacated from my voice, and it’s right then that one of his entourage steps in front of him and motions him to the podium.

“They’re waiting on you to give your formal address,” the forty-something brunette states, and she’s beaming with pride over his win.I can almost feel the anticipation in her for his future and her own.But I can also feel my father’s resistance to her request, his clawing fear that has nothing to do with the election and everything to do with Ghost.I suspect I’ve done a poor job of comforting him and he still believes he might soon die of a well-placed bullet.And as much as I’m reveling in his suffering, this night will never end until he’s finally addressed his loyal subjects.“He won’t take what’s mine,” I promise him, certain he’ll understand my reference to his kill switch.

He glances over at me, hate burning in the depth of his eyes, before he caves to the roars of the crowd and untangles our elbows, speaking to the other woman, as he says, “Let’s give the people what they want.”A reply that has her beaming all over again.With that, my father heads for center stage, and thank fuck, his fangirl follows, nipping at his heels in her stilettos, a loyal pup in heat.I’d roll my eyes but someone would surely capture the defiant act on camera and I’d be forced to own up to my reaction in some crass way that would piss off my father and half the state.

Andrew appears beside me and just like Dad, links his elbow with mine.Sometimes, it seems, Andrew is far too like my father for comfort, and now he’s left Long Island, and his duty as sheriff to join my father’s staff.He might claim this is all about nestling inside my father’s operation and busting him and the Society, but I fear how easily he might find himself guided by their moral compass, not his own.“What is going on?”he demands.“What’sreallygoing on?”he adds.

“Not sure what that means,” I say, my tone unaffected.He’s been a drama queen all his life.When I was ten, it bothered me.Now it’s simply a time suck I could do without.

“I know damn well he didn’t smash his finger in his dressing room door.”

“Oh that,” I say and shrug.“Later.Muchlater.”

“Now,” he insists.“Now,Lilah.I’m right by his side.I need to know—”

It’s right then that my father begins to speak and the crowd roars, successfully validating my inability to talk to my dumbass brother right now.To further that point, my father motions our direction and starts talking about his amazing kids.The feel of eyes on me has my gaze landing on the right side of the stage, where Pocher is presently looking at me as if he wants to gut me.If I have a little Dexter hidden inside me, a dark passenger buried deep, but guided by right and wrong, this man has his own, with nothing but greed for power as his guide.And I do believe I’ve made him feel like a caged lion.

He’s showing his teeth.

My blade is ready to cut them out.

Just to prove that point, I stay for my father’s entire speech filled with lies and promises.I even smile and wave to the crowd when it’s over.When me and my dear brother finally head toward the stage exit, Andrew has a hold of my arm.“We need to talk.”It’s a short-lived demand considering Kane is waiting for me at the center of the exit stairs, an action that shows impatience.The instant Andrew spies him, he releases me and slows, allowing me to pull ahead.I join Kane, noting the hard set of his jaw, and he captures my hand, guiding me down the stairs and to a small curtained off walkway beside the stage.

“I need to go,” he states, “and I’m not leaving you here with Ghost running around.”

“What’s going on?”

“You know what’s going on.Enrique can handle things here.I need to know you’re home and safe with Kit and Jay watching over you.”

“Unlike me, Ghost won’t hesitate to kill them, Kane, so stuff the false sense of security that gives you, but that said, I’ve made Pocher squirm by getting in between the power struggle he and my father are in right now.I’m ready to leave.”

He tugs me to him, one of his hands pressed to my lower back, our legs aligned, the other at my face as he tilts my gaze to his.“You will not play rebel with me on the topic of Ghost or my father.You do what I say.The end.”

I’d bristle if this was anyone else, or even him years ago, but I know him and the love and fear driving his actions.I cup his hand on my face.“Save the bossiness for when we have no clothes on, Kane.”

“Lilah, damn it,” he curses.“You need—”

I push to my toes and press my mouth to his, and when our lips part I say, “Let’s go home.”

His mouth slants over mine, his tongue licking deep before he says,“This isn’t over,” captures my hand again and starts walking, forcing me to double step to keep up with him.I’d say we’re headed home to fight, but Kane has bigger fish to fry tonight which involve his father.And that’s about as deadly a proposition as facing off with Ghost.