Free Tainted Legacy (YA Paranormal Romance) by Amity Hope Page A

in.”
    “Why can’t we go in?” Ava demanded.
    “I think my brother is home. We don’t really get along. I’d rather he not get to meet you.”
    Ava looked toward Gabe, waiting for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, she pushed forward. “Why don’t you get along?”
    “Constant difference of opinion,” Gabe told her with forced calm. As in, during the last major argument they’d had, Rafe had managed to douse him in gasoline. If it weren’t for the interruption of their father, Gabe would’ve suffered injuries that would have been miserable to recover from.
    “What about your dad?” Ava asked.
    “He’s not around.”
    “What about the radio station?”
    “This is probably one of the smallest acquisitions he’s ever made. He left Rafe in charge. He checks in with him periodically.” Gabe turned on the blinker and pulled onto a side road, taking the first driveway on the left. Ava was not prepared for the size of his house, which was nestled back in the trees.
    It was a Georgian-style brick monstrosity.
    “Holy!” she exclaimed. “This place is huge!”
    Gabe parked the car but left it running. “Yeah. But I stay in the guest house around back. I don’t go into the main house unless I have to.”
    “You really hate your brother that much?” Ava asked.
    “More,” he admitted.
    “Then why don’t you just move out? Go somewhere else completely?”
    Gabe frowned at the house. Why didn’t he just move out ? He often times wanted to. Wanted to pick up and move as fast and far as he could. His father wouldn’t allow it. That was why. He wanted to keep him close. What his father wanted, his father always got by whatever means necessary.
    “It’s complicated,” he finally said by way of answering. “The family business, that kind of thing.”
    “Oh,” Ava said as she studied Gabe. “Well I think it’s admirable that you stick around to help out. Especially since you don’t seem to get along very well with your family, or at least you don’t talk about them much. I think it takes a strong person to do the honorable thing and stick by their family and friends when they’re needed.”
    Honorable ? idtew RomaGabe nearly choked out a mirthless laugh but managed to stuff it back down. He glanced at Ava instead.
    Big mistake.
    She was studying him with open curiosity while at the same time looking at him with respect. He wondered what she would think if she knew the truth. Not that she could ever know the truth. But she sure wouldn’t be looking at him the way she was now.
    The thought made him so uncomfortable he put the car in reverse, wanting to get away from that look on Ava’s face but only able to get away from the monstrous house.
     
    ***
    “You only wish you’d let me win!” Ava goaded.
    “If you want to live in a fantasy world, where you think you’re better than me, go right ahead,” Gabe teased back.
    They were walking back to the car which was a few blocks away from the boardwalk where they’d spent hours. The shops had all closed down and they’d taken a stroll along the river’s edge. Now it was getting close to Ava’s curfew and he needed to get her home.
    “Oh, I don’t just think I’m better than you, I know I am!” Ava said with a laugh.
    Ava was talking about darts but Gabe thought she could be talking about a million other things. Then he gave himself a mental lashing. Since when did he think that way?
    If he’d been paying attention to his surroundings, and not his mental ramblings, he might’ve noticed the mugger before he snatched Ava off the sidewalk. He lugged her into the alley like she was nothing more than a ragdoll while he managed to get a knife up to her neck.
    “Give me your wallet or I’ll slit her throat,” he growled at Gabe who was right on their heels.
    Gabe had been angry before. More times than most. But in that moment he felt a fury so blinding he could have gladly killed the offender without blinking.
    “Gabe?” Ava whimpered. She was