Page 48 of Sweet Temptation

Hanna gives me a soft smile before she crawls back onto the bed and begins typing again. "What are you doing?" I ask, crawling in beside her.

"An assignment. It's due today, and just because I'm home because someone… my dad died… Well, I still have schoolwork," she replies with a fake smile. Schoolwork is totally not important right now, but I don't tell her that.

I frown softly and lay back, watching her. How can the most beautiful person in the world be so hated by it? It let her be hurt twice by people she trusted. It let her dad die on her.

How is someone supposed to be happy when she's getting bombs dropped on her like this? Sighing, I wrap my arms around her and pull her to me. "I'm here, you know that, right?" I whisper into her hair.

"I know," she replies, avoiding my eyes. I still haven't got that little lie out of her, but trying to now seems so ridiculous and cruel when she's so vulnerable.

Not even my care for her can save her from this. She has to save herself and without help, I don't see a happy ending for any of this.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Honestly, how do you go on with your life when you find out your parents died? How do you move on when you can no longer share the one thing you wanted to with them because they're gone?

Closing my eyes briefly, I reopen them and pull myself out of bed. Harley's coming today, and I have to put on a brave face for him. Sliding my bra straps up my arms, I clip it together in the back before tossing my favourite crop top over my head.

"Cinderella, are you sure you want to do this today?" Damon whispers from behind me.

I nod silently. I can't hold off seeing my brother; he's family. Swallowing my anxiety, I button my jeans and make my way down the stairs, leaving Damon to get ready on his own.

"Hey, Aussie, how are you doing?" Sam asks.

I shrug him off and make my way to the door, opening it for Harley to step inside. "Hey sissy." He half smiles, wrapping his big arms around my tiny frame. He looks like the shell of the brother I knew in high school.

Sam eyes my brother suspiciously before he heads upstairs into his room. Damon had demanded the boys make themselves invisible while Harley was here. Smiling, I walk to the sofa and settle on one side while Harley sits across from me.

Hearing footsteps, I turn my head, seeing Damon, and a smile spreads across my lips.

I watch Harley's muscles tense as he watches Damon. His jaw hardens and his eyes grow dark. Damon sits beside me and wraps one arm around my waist before he gives the same look to Harley. This seems off. The entire encounter seems off. I’ll make sure I ask Damon about it later.

Jesus, they're like dogs. Coughing under my breath, I shatter the tension and shoot them both a glare. "I didn't invite you here to be my protective older brother," I reminded him.

Harley straightens his shoulders and eyes Damon again, pulling his lip back in a slight snarl before his eyes meet mine. Damon tears his gaze away and relaxes his tense shoulders as he rubs circles on my back. "Where is the funeral being held? I can't fly because of classes," I announce.

Harley eyes cloud before he eyes Damon, then me. "You won’t need to fly since it will be in New York. And I mean, your professors will understand why you're leaving," he replies softly. Sure, they would, but I've been scarce for a week already.

I sigh softly and rest my head against Damon's shoulder. "Will you come with me?" I whisper to him. I know he has duties, but now more than ever, I need him. His lips press to my forehead before he nods with a smile, pulling me closer to him.

Harley's eyes go cold again as he watches Damon with hatred. "You're not good for her," he barks.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

Damon's eyes zero in on Harley and he snarls, "Maybe you don't know what's good for your sister if you're barking orders."

Jesus.

Harley rises to his feet and watches us. "I don't trust you. And for good reason. She's my baby sister, and I vowed I wouldn't let anyone hurt her again."

Damon's eyes harden. "I would never fucking hurt her! Never do anything she didn't want me to."

Here we go…

The fuck is going on? "Enough! You can't tell me who to love or who to be with. These are my decisions, so the two of you shut up," I yell, fury lacing my eyes. Harley opens his mouth to say something, but I quickly shoot him a glare, silencing him.

Damon growls then buries his face in my neck, ignoring his surroundings. "As we were saying," I growl harshly, "I will fly to New York in a week, and that is the only stipulation, you will wait for me to arrive before you make any decisions or start the funeral," I reply softly. Harley nods slowly and gives me a soft smile.

Good. Sighing, I get to my feet. "Play nice. I need to get some food for myself." Both boys nod as I retreat to the kitchen.