Page 52 of Black Willow Witch
A door slammed upstairs and footsteps marched along the landing, causing the floorboards to creak.
Ripper tensed. ‘Who else is here?’
‘No one,’ said Emberlyn before taking a casual bite of her Danish.
Goosebumps swept over his skin. He looked at the twins, both of whom appeared unnerved. ‘Does that kind of thing happen a lot here?’
Emberlyn gave a noncommittal shrug. Not comforting.
After they’d finished their drinks and food, the twins made their excuses and left.
‘Thank you,’ Emberlyn said to him on returning to the living room after seeing them out. ‘I appreciate you being willing to accept her as part of your clan.’
‘There’s no reason why I wouldn’t.’
Sinking back in the armchair, she studied him closely. ‘You okay?’
He felt his brow pinch. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
She pulled a face. ‘I heard the rumor about CeCe and Neal,’ she said, her voice low. ‘It can’t be easy for you.’
He exhaled heavily. ‘It’ll be harder for Logan.’
‘Why?’
‘He cares for her more than I do. He’s gonna be exponentially pissed. He would do anything to have her, even enter a triad.’
A line dented her brow. ‘So it wouldn’t really be his first choice?’
‘No. He and I have shared women before, but only ever for a night.’ Those females hadn’t been girlfriends or bed-buddies, they’d always been women who neither he nor his brother were in any way committed to. Then no jealousy could come into play.
‘Is there no way she’d consider committing only to Logan?’ Emberlyn asked.
Ripper shook his head. ‘I assured them both that I’d be good with it, but she refuses to believe that it wouldn’t hurt me to see them together; she says she couldn’t do that to me.’
Emberlyn frowned. ‘But she can be withNealknowing it would hurt you? That she’s fine with?’
‘It would seem so.’
‘What’s the difference?’
Ripper shrugged. ‘You’d have to ask her.’
‘Am I wrong, or has Neal been trying to win her over for years?’
‘You’re not wrong.’
‘It’s a bit strange that she’d suddenly give him a chance,’ Emberlyn casually threw out. ‘Could she maybe have done it to—’
‘Bring me to heel? Maybe. Makes more sense than her type abruptly changing overnight.’ Ripper pushed to his feet. ‘I’d better go find my brother and convince him to not beat Neal bloody.’
Side by side, they walked down the hallway toward the front door.
Emberlyn slid him a quick glance. ‘Do you think Logan will accept that CeCe has moved on, or do you think he’s going to push you harder for a triad?’
Ripper sighed. ‘I don’t know. Probably the latter.’
‘Will it work?’
