Page 4 of See You There

“I don’t need a lecture,” Luke snapped. “He’s been out of the hospital for a week. Open heart surgery is serious, but he said he was ready for me to come.”

“What will you do if Chris is there?” James challenged. “Don’t get in an argument with him or fly off the handle like you tend to do.”

Luke tamped down on the anger rising in him. He was one of the top lawyers in Atlanta, and his brotherstillacted like he was a teenager sneaking out to get drunk and get in fights. In reality, James might take longer to anger, but when he lost his temper, it was an explosion.

“If Chris is there, I will handle it,” Luke said calmly. He hoped it was the truth.

Chris Keller had been Declan’s best friend since they were teenagers. He had become so close to all of them it felt like he was an extended part of their family. When the Bloom siblings found out three months ago that Chris was the one who had broken into Cara’s house, it led them to discover he was working with their stepmother, Courtney, to keep them from the truth.

Using her skill as a makeup artist and some forged documents Declan had procured, Cara masqueraded as Courtney to gain access to their father’s vault in Dublin. Inside the vault had been evidence that could frame Declan for a murder which had taken place a few years before. They suspected Courtney had blackmailed David Bloom into marrying her with those fake documents. Finding out Chris was part of the scheme had turned their world upside down.

Luke’s heart pounded. He wanted to destroy Chris for his betrayal and for frightening Cara. Maybe Luke had been too quick to judge Declan. Some of the darkness lived in Luke as well.

“Declan is keeping close tabs on him. He’s in New York with Courtney. Apparently, they are openly a couple now.” James’s lips curled and Luke pretended to gag. “How did we all miss it?” James asked, his brows slanting down.

“Because it never occurred to us that someone in our inner circle would want to be with the evil bitch. Chris has successfully avoided Dec these last months, but eventually they’ll cross paths if they are in New York. I only hope Declan doesn’t murder him on the spot.” Luke was only half-joking.

There was a knock at the door, and Luke rolled his shoulders to shed his anger before opening it. One of the junior attorneys smiled shyly at them, her cheeks rosy.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you sir… sirs… um.” She thrust a file folder out toward James, who muttered a terse thanks. Theyoung woman’s face flushed even deeper as she left the room, and Luke shook his head with a laugh.

“What?” James looked up with a scowl.

“Nothing.” Luke grinned. “I really need to master the dark and broody thing you’ve got going on. It’s like catnip for all the women who want to be the one to fix you.”

James’s scowl deepened. “Look who’s talking! You’re doing just fine with your fuck em’ and leave em’ method.”

Luke kept a smile on his face despite the sting of his twin’s words. “I’ll debrief you when I get back tomorrow afternoon. We can grab a bite.”

James nodded, but his attention was already on the file in his hand.

That night, as Luke threw a change of clothes into a leather carry on, he called to check on his mom. Anne was diagnosed with MS just after James had joined the Navy. Fortunately, the illness hadn’t impacted her life drastically at first, and she carried on serving as both an ACLU lawyer and a professor teaching pre-law classes at Georgia State.

However, over the last two years, her condition had worsened, forcing her to leave the jobs she loved. They didn’t discuss it, but Luke knew their mother’s condition was another big factor in James’s decision to move home from Miami.

“Hey, Bruce,” Luke greeted his stepfather when the man answered Anne’s phone. Luke tried to ignore the spurt of alarm that leaped into his chest. Why was Bruce answering her phone? “Is Mom still awake?”

“Yeah, hold on a second. She was putting the dishes away. Anne?” Bruce called, as Luke let out a slow breath of relief.

“Hi, sweetie, how was your day?” Anne asked brightly when she came on the line.

“Good. Nothing exciting. Lots of paperwork. A couple pre-trial motions and depositions this week.”

“You and James are still getting along? You aren’t fighting?”

Luke’s lips quirked up. “We’re adults, Mom. We know how to behave like professionals.”

Anne snorted. “I’ll ask again next month.”

“Are you hoping we fight?”

“No, but history says there is a strong likelihood you will. I’ve never known anyone as stubborn as the two of you.”

“Have you heard the one about the pot and the kettle?” Luke teased.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m notstubborn, I’m dedicated. One might say earnestly focused.”

He could hear the smile in her voice.