Page 74 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two

Andrew rolls his eyes. “So?”

“There’s only a nine-year difference between you two. Don’t you think you’d remember your childhoods overlapping?”

The anger slowly fades from Andrew’s eyes. “Oh.”

Rhett pulls Wren back and tucks her into his side. That way he has a hold on her if she tries to get in between them again. “I didn’t know you existed until a couple minutes ago.”

“Right,” Andrew mumbles. “Sorry.”

“I would’ve gotten you out of there if I’d known,” Rhett says. “I would’ve found a way.”

“Trust me, I know what you mean,” Andrew says darkly. His expression matches one Rhett wears often, and it’s uncanny and unsettling.

This is going to take a long time to get used to.

“What the hell are you doing working for Ludo?” Rhett asks. “You have no idea—”

“Rhett,” I cut in, holding up a hand. He immediately understands what I’m trying to say—keep all our cards hidden—because he doesn’t continue.

“I have to,” Andrew says. “He’s the only way I can get my—our—little brother away from Dad.”

Rhett looks like he’s about to keel over. “Little brother?”

“Oh, Jesus fuck,” Oliver says under his breath.

“Yeah. And Ludo is my only hope for getting Benny away from Dad, so—”

“Oh, he most certainly isnotthe only option,” Rhett snaps.

“Well, he’s the best one,” Andrew says with an ironic amount of confidence. “Ludo already took him in. It’s part of our agreement.”

My heartsinks. None of this sounds good. It makes one thing make sense, though—the child Ludo was talking about the other day.

With every second, Rhett looks worse and worse. Wren leads him to one of the couches and has him sit down. For once, he doesn’t protest. Probably because he’s too numb to try.

I attempt to figure out our best move. We can’t let Andrew know we don’t trust Ludo—that could lead to disaster. But what are we supposed to do from here?

Andrew’s gaze flicks to the door. “Look, I should really get back. I shouldn’t be out of my hotel room. If someone comes and checks on me—”

“No one’s going to,” Oliver says. “Ludo and his bodyguards aren’t even on the resort property right now. It’s just us.”

I start pacing, moving myself in between Andrew and the front door. We’re not done yet, and I’m in no mood to chase him through the hotel if he tries to run. “Tell us more about this agreement you have with Ludo.”

Andrew narrows his eyes. “Why should I tell you anything? Actually, what the fuck do any of you even want with me? Yeah, I’m Rhett’s brother, so what? That doesn’t mean my life is any of your business.”

Dropping his head into his hands, Rhett lets out a distressed sound. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“That’s enough, Rhett,” I say. Family or not, we can’t trust Andrew with any part of ourselves—especially our past.

“I know exactly what I’ve gotten myself into.” With enough fire to set the whole resort ablaze, Andrew casts Rhett a glare. “Now let me leave. I shouldn’t be up here anyway.”

“Can’t do that,” I say. “Not until you give us some answers.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” Andrew bites out. His eyes are lit up with fury, and he looks and sounds so similar to the younger version of Rhett that my heart snaps in two.

What’s this kid been through?

“Ell,” Wren says, standing and coming toward me. “Maybe we should give everyone some time to process. This is a lot for all of us.”