Page 66 of Scarred Heir

“Fruit will be fine.”

“I’ll stuff your French toast with fruit.” She shook her head. “You have to have a full breakfast. Not just fruit.”

“Thank you, Antonella.”

“I’ll look after you, lassie.” She waved as she exited the kitchen. “See you tomorrow.”

Her energy was comforting. She wanted to make me breakfast before my first day of work. Milo had given me so much in the last few weeks, and now I could add ‘mother figure’ to that list. Antonella was right. Control what I could. The rest would fall into place. For the first time in my life, things were looking up.

When Chance barged into the kitchen from the back door, bringing the frigid air with him, it didn’t take long for the tranquility I had momentarily found to be replaced with that familiar stab in my gut. The one I wanted to go away forever. Or at least long enough for me to catch my breath.

“Sable!” My brother hustled into the room with windblown hair.

“What’s wrong?” I got out of the chair and closed the door behind him.

“Listen to me, whatever happens tonight, just go with it and let things play out.” He paced the kitchen. “This could be your way out of here.”

“What are you talking about?” I went to the cabinet and got a glass and filled it with water. “Slow down.” I handed him the glass. “What happened?”

“We can get out of this.” He gulped down the water. “Tonight. I made sure of it.”

“Get out of what?”

“It’s my fault we’re here, but I can fix this.”

“There’s nothing to fix.” I took the empty glass from him and placed it on the counter. “You have to stop provoking Milo. He gave us jobs, so we’ll be able to get ahead.”

“Don’t defend him.”

“Because of him, we’re getting another chance.” I threw my hands in the air. “Isn’t it nice to not worry about how we’re going to pay the rent or if we’ll be able to afford groceries?”

I had been tired from all of the anxiety of trying to stay above water. Worrying about Chance all the time had caused more stress than I realized. Because of Milo, we were in a better position. We may not have gotten here in a conventional way, but it was time for us to catch a break.

“We have to go before Milo comes home.” He pointed toward the steps. “Get your stuff.”

“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.” I tapped my hand on the counter. “Did you do something to piss him off? Because I can’t keep getting between thetwo of you.”

“Because you like him?”

“Yes,” I said. “Why can’t you understand that?”

“Why can’t I understand how you fell for a gangster? One of the most dangerous people in the city? Do you know what he does for a living?”

I try not to think about it.

“How do you think they afford all of this?” He motioned around the kitchen. “It’s not by selling cars.” He pushed at a chair, causing it to hit the table. “You’ve been going on for months about how I needed to stay away from people like him. You told me they were no good. They would only get me into trouble.”

“And they did,” I reminded him. “Trouble that I had to get you out of. So you don’t get to stand here and judge me because I’m grateful to the man who saved your ass.”

“It’s worse than I thought,” he said, raising his voice. “You are falling in love with him. How did you let that happen? It’s only been a few weeks.”

“No, I’m not!” Heat crept up my neck. “I like him. He’s good to me. He’s good to you.”

“Sable!” Milo shouted as he came down the hallway. “Sable!”

“Fuck!” Chance fisted his hands at his sides.

I stared at my brother as anxiety exploded inside my chest. “What have you done this time?”