Page 210 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

“Because we have to talk, and I want to make sure you hear me.”

“I want to stay away from Hercules Valentine.”

“Too late,” I practically sing. “We’re together. Get used to it.”

He aims his finger at me, then his hand hits the table like a dud firework. “What the fuck are you and Hercules doing?”

I take a moment to really look into my brother’s eyes. After all, they are the windows to his soul. I’m searching for emptiness behind his retinas. But he’s not empty. He’s not even expressionless. Max has a soul. He has love. He loves me—I can see it clearly. All these years, I thought that if I defied him, he would distance his heart from me. But it will take more than just falling in love with a Valentine to make that happen. Perhaps it will take what I have to say to him next.

“Max, I think we should talk about VTI’s compression technology and how it can help with—”

“I don’t need it,” he says with a snarl.

“Why not?”

“You know why not.”

“Because you stole it?”

He sits back in his chair and folds his fingers on top of the table, not looking a bit rattled. “Whose side are you on, Paisley?”

I control my anger just as well as he does. “I’m on my side, finally. But I’m on yours too. Remember, I’m the one who made TRANSPORT work. That code I gave you, how’s that working out for you?”

Max smirks as he snickers. “I knew you withheld. I want it all, Paisley. I want all of it.”

I glare at his unbending expression. I wonder if I made any leeway at all. “So you stole VTI’s compression technology?”

“Are you wearing a wire?”

I raise my hands. “You want to check me?”

“Should I?” He’s so calm, cool, and collected.

Gosh, he’s good.

“No,” I say, matching his demeanor. “I just want to know how deep your rabbit hole sinks.”

“It’s business, Paisley. That’s all. Plus, VTI won’t survive the year.”

“Right,” I say, nodding. “And they definitely won’t have the deep pockets to slug it out in court. Kind of like what happened with Grandpa.”

It’s like a wave spontaneous energy nails his back to his chair. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about how Grandfather never beat Hugo Valentine in court. Hugo gave up the fight because Grandpa had something on them. Something that would strip them bare of everything they own. And you know what it is, don’t you? Why didn’t you ever tell me the truth?”

Max tilts his head. There’s admiration in his eyes. “Look at you, baby sis. Here’s what I’m going to say, then I’m going to get up and leave. You’re going to have Hercules’s driver take you home. Then you’re never going to see him again. Tell Hercules that I have that bullet locked and loaded and ready to fire.”

Hercules said our conversation would end this way.

“Men like your brother can only see the light when it’s advantageous to them, babe,” he said.

But I insisted, even though deep down, I knew Max would be so unbending.

I rise to my feet before he can stroll out as if he owns the world. “Are you coming tonight?”

He stands. “Whatever you and Hercules cooked up? Cancel it.”

“It’s not about Hercules. Tonight’s about me and the decisions I made for my life moving forward. If you want to know, come. If you don’t, stay home.”