Page 106 of Perfect Sin
He shrugs. “Whatever. Do I smell coffee?”
Raven rolls her eyes. “Don’t get up, big bro, I’ll get it.”
“Thanks, little bird.”
I slap the back of his head. “Your sister isn’t your maid, jackass.”
He rubs the back of his head. “We’re just making up for lost time, asshole.”
She comes back with two mugs, handing each of us one. “Can I get you one, Mr. Whitmore?”
“Yes, thank you, Raven.” She heads back into the kitchen. Once her back is turned he mutters, “At least she has manners.”
Lucien laughs. “Well, she wasn’t raised by wolves like Sin and I were.”
“Wolves would have been better,” I quip.
“True. Less bloodthirsty at least,” he adds.
Arthur scrubs his hands across his face. I can’t tell if we’re irritating him or if he’s slightly amused.
Raven rejoins us and hands Arthur a tray laden with a small pitcher of cream and a container of sugar to add to his coffee. Arthur cocks his head to the side, studying her.
“If it weren’t for your father I wouldn’t have any qualms about you and Jackson being together. You’re a beautiful young woman, intelligent, and well-mannered.”
“She’s not a prize horse,” I snap.
He sighs. “I know that, Jackson. What you don’t understand, because you were taken, is that we are a political family. Appearance is a large part of the business. I know I haven’t made a good impression on you, but I try and do good for my constituents. But in order to do good, I have to present a certain image to convince them I’m the right guy for them.”
“Is that why you’re here? You need me to improve your polls?” I ask.
His brow creases and he purses his lips for a moment. “I can see why you’d think that, and it’s my fault. I let this feud with Blackthorne get in the way of reconnecting with you.”
“If it helps,” Raven interjects, “we’d like nothing better than to get rid of my father.”
“But you’ve been helping him,” he replies confused.
“Because you didn’t give us a choice!” I explode. My anger is rolling just under the surface. “He was going to sell her. When he realized he could use us together, he made a deal with us. I will not do anything that puts Raven at risk. Ever.”
He nods. “I can see that. I was wrong to try and split you up. My hatred of Blackthorne blinded me to what was right in front of me.
“I’ve made some mistakes. I did talk to Jesse about splitting you two up. I had no idea he turned to the underworld to do it, until your mother told me. I had some men dig into him, and I’m disgusted. I am here to try and fix what I broke.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible,” I say. My voice sounds flat to my own ears.
“Just the same, I’m going to try and help you. I have had some of the best investigators looking into this, and Len Jones has been seen meeting with Blackthorne the last few days. So has the federal agent who stopped me from taking you back when you were pulled from the facility I had you put in.”
“Don’t think I’m letting that go easily either.”
“Neither has your mother. I’ve been sleeping in a guest bedroom since I had you taken there.”
“I thought she supported you.”
“Carina is good at presenting a public face, but she’s more than willing to give me hell in private.”
“Her I might forgive,” I mutter.
“Well, that’s something,” he responds.