Only A Millionaire

Chapter 16

LIAM

"If you hurt my sister, I'll kill you."

      I  turned  my  head  to  watch  the  approaching  speaker  as  I  reached

for  a   protein  drink  in   Brooke's  fridge. After  the   previous   night   with

Brooke, I needed all the energy I could get.

    I   supposed  that   when  one   had   a  houseful   of   Sinclair's,  one   of

them  was  bound  to  find  me  alone   and  threaten  my  life,  but   Noah's

words still took me by surprise as he approached.

    Brooke's  siblings   had   showed  up  bright  and   early   at   her   apart-

ment. Now that it was after  noon, I  was  facing  the  reality  of  not  being

able to get them to leave.

     I  popped  the  lid  on  the   can  grateful  that,  at  the  very  least, they

come with drinks and food supplies.

    I  closed  the  fridge  and   leaned   back   against   the   counter. "What

makes you think I'd hurt her?"

    Noah walked by  me  to  pull  out  a  beer. "Didn't  say  you  would,"  he

said in a disgruntled voice. It's a warning."

    I'd discovered that Noah  never  had  much  to  say, but  when  he  did,

it  was   either  threatening  or   supportive.  He'd  obviously  kept   a   fairly

tight rein on  his  siblings, but  at  least  he'd  done  so  in  an  encouraging

way.

    I  lifted  the   energy   drink  and  slammed  back  half  the  can  before  I

answered. "I get it. I have a younger sister."

     Noah shot me  a  look  that  seemed  to  be  saying  that  I  knew  noth-

ing about what he'd been through.

     And maybe I didn't.

     Honest, I  admired  the  guy, l   even  though  he   was   being   an   ass-

hole. i couldn't imagine what it would have  been  like  to  take  care  of  all

five of his brothers and sisters after his mom had died.

    He  screwed  off  the  top  of  his  beer  and  took  several  gulps  before

he answered, "Brooke has been through a lot, and now she's had  to  deal

with all of this bullshit. I  want  this  to  be  the  last  time  I  see  her  upset

for at least a decade."

    "I  don't  ever  want  to  see   her  cry  again,"  I  confessed,  vividly  re-

calling how my heart had  gotten  sliced  into  a  million  tiny  pieces  last

night when Brooke  had  let  go  of  her  pain  and  confusion. "But  don't

think  I'm  going  to   her  be   controlled  anymore.  It  wasn't   my   fault

she was upset."

     "I  don't  control  her,"  Noah  rasped, his  eyes  flashing  with  anger