Page 65 of Shadows of Obsession

Keeping my tone even, I continued. "I was thinking I could take you into town the day after tomorrow. You know, to look for work ormaybe find a place to stay. There's a motel you could stay at while you're figuring things out."

I watched closely for a reaction.

Jared stretched lazily, letting out a loud yawn. "Sure, whatever," he said, his indifference thick in the air.

My eyes narrowed, suspicion gnawing at me. "You seem pretty relaxed. Everything okay?"

He shrugged, eyes still unfocused. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a smoke and a walk. No big deal."

Bullshit.

I wasn't buying it. The sluggish movements, the heavy-lidded eyes, the slow responses, it all pointed to something being seriously wrong. I couldn't accuse him without proof, but frustration simmered beneath the surface. I realized that if Jared was using, it could drag us both down.

"You gonna spot me some cash for the motel?" he asked casually. "I mean, you got plenty, right?"

I paused, feigning ignorance. "What are you talking about?"

A lazy grin crept across his face. His eyes still didn't quite meet mine.

"Come on, man. I know you've got a lot of money. Our parents left you a ton, didn't they? And there's that other money too. From when Nikki was murdered."

My stomach twisted, a cold dread settling in my gut.

How the fuck does he know about that?

No one was supposed to know about the inheritance. Not from our parents, and definitely not about Nikki's life insurance. That was a painful chapter I'd tried to leave buried. Nikki's death had shattered me.

Not even Connor knew about my finances. I'd kept that secret close for a reason. And now Jared spoke as if he knew everything.

"You're way off, Jared," I said, forcing calm into my voice. "I don't know where you're getting that from, but I'm not sitting on some big pile of cash. You need to focus on getting a job or a place to stay, not on my bank account."

But Jared's grin didn't fade. He shrugged, staring up at the ceiling. "Sure, man. Whatever you say. Just figured you'd be generous, you know? Brothers and all that."

I worked to keep my composure, to not let the fear show in my eyes. If he saw it, it'd only confirm what he already suspected. I thought, I need to get out now before I give anything away.

"Yeah, brothers," I echoed, keeping my tone casual. "I'll be back later."

I grabbed my keys and walked out without looking back. As soon as I stepped outside, I drew a deep breath, trying to calm my racing pulse. I couldn't believe what Jared had just revealed. It was bad enough I suspected him of snooping, but the fact that he knew about the inheritance, and Nikki's insurance, was worse.

As I drove back to Connor's, my thoughts spiraled. The inheritance had originally been meant for both of us, but after Jared's arrest and everything that followed, our parents changed their will. Everything went to me.

We kept it quiet. Partly to avoid fueling Jared's resentment, and partly because I didn't want anyone knowing what I was sitting on.

When they passed, I inherited it all. And when I sold their assets, I gained even more.

Nikki's situation had been different.

We were engaged when she died. With her parents gone and no remaining family, she'd named me the sole beneficiary of her life insurance. It was a sizable amount. Enough to keep me from re-enlisting in the Marines, to live comfortably without needing a steady job.

That's how I ended up at Connor's ranch, spending my days helping out without worrying about a paycheck. A quiet life. A life she'd unknowingly given me.

But Jared's revelation had thrown a wrench in everything. If he knew about the money, what else did he know? My grip tightened around the steering wheel. I knew I'd have to be extra careful now.

My brother was a ticking time bomb, and if I wasn't careful, the fallout would land squarely on me.

As I eased through the last of the trees into the wide clearing, the ranch came into view. The afternoon air was crisp, touched with thesoft sounds of horses playing in their paddocks. Golden sunlight scattered across the fields, warm despite the chill.

My gaze landed on Denny, leading a young colt toward the training ring. The horse, known for his skittish temperament, was already showing signs of agitation: tail flicking, head jerking high with tension.