Part 8 (1/2)

”I know.”

”Lucien rang me while I was on the way up to tell me to bring you over to the folks' ranch for dinner so I'll get them alone and tell them what's going on... I'm also going to tell them that we're just friends.”

I start to shake my head, but Ramon cuts off anything I'm going to say. ”He's my brother Carla and I've never seen him like this before. I can't let him continue to think you're mine. I admit it was fun at first seeing him want someone he thought he couldn't have, but I can't continue... s.h.i.+t, my mom's going to be p.i.s.sed.”

”I can't go,” I whisper, which brings his eyes back around to mine. ”Everyone is going to be angry with me; Sebastian for not telling him the truth about us, your mom because every time she looks at us she has weddings and babies on her mind. Oh my G.o.d, Ramon. Please don't force me to go,” I finish on a childish whine, burying my face into my hands.

Ramon starts rubbing my back. ”Look, the only person Sebastian is going to be p.i.s.sed at is me. In fact, my whole family is likely to be p.i.s.sed with me okay. I also don't want to leave you here alone even though the security is one of the best in the city.”

He's wavering, I can hear it in his voice and now he's sitting considering all the pros and cons of me staying here.

”You really don't want to go?” he asks, rubbing his neck.

”I know I'll have to face everyone, but today I really want to stay here. I'm going to read for a while to try and take my mind off everything then I'll shower and maybe read some more.” I smile at him and take hold of his hand. ”I'll be okay. I feel safe here and I'm not sure I can handle Sebastian if he gets angry with me. Not today.”

Ramon sighs before leaning in and kissing me on my cheek. ”Okay. I'll let security know on the way out not to let anyone other than my brothers up to the apartment from now on unless they check with me first.”

”Thank you.”

He kisses me again before standing. ”I'm going to get a quick shower first.”

Without replying, I sit and watch him leave, hoping his family doesn't get too angry with him, or me for that matter, because of our deception over our non-romantic relations.h.i.+p, especially Sebastian.

Chapter 18.

Sebastian Ramon is starting to annoy the h.e.l.l out of me pacing back and forth now that Lucien, Ruben and myself are sitting out on the back porch while Dad is distracting Mom somewhere in the house.

Driving to the ranch, I'd been looking forward to seeing Carla again, albeit a tad nervous considering my text message to her the night of my near fall from grace. I'd been delighted with the first half of her reply, but disappointed with the second part a lot more than I care to admit.

”Sebastian? You with me?”

I blink, bringing Ramon into focus. ”Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck while watching my brothers stare at me in surprise. ”What did I miss?”

Lucien smirks before shaking his head while Ruben starts to chuckle.

”If you've finished day dreaming I have something serious to discuss with you all about...Carla,” Ramon speaks, but looks directly at me when saying her name.

What that's supposed to mean?

”I've promised her I won't mention anything to Michael because she's afraid something might happen to Lily.”

Lucien suddenly sits up from his lounging position in the chair. ”What do you mean by that?” he asks, more serious than I've heard him in a long time, but then again Ramon did mention Lily.

”Don't get your shorts in a wad, Lucien. This thing with Carla isn't going to affect anyone, but her, and maybe me.”

”Dad is only going to be able to distract Mom for a short while so save all the macho s.h.i.+t for later and spit out what you want to tell us,” Ruben says, getting comfortable in the chair with his hands behind his head and ankle across his knee.

”When Carla arrived in Lexington she was in a bad way, as in she'd been attacked.”

”What the f.u.c.k,” I shout, jumping up from the chair.

Ramon puts his hand out to try and calm me down, but the fact that someone put his hands on my woman makes me see red.

Sitting back down, I meet Ramon's eyes and let him continue while I try to keep my temper under control knowing the other two have questions after my outburst.

”Her ex beat her up looking for her brother Noah. Noah was working on one of our sites here in Lexington so as soon as Carla was released from the hospital she came down here looking for him. She was too scared to stay in Canada. What she didn't know was that I had no idea where her brother had disappeared to,” Ramon says frustration clear in his face as he looks away and then back to us. ”One day Noah was working construction and the next he was gone and no one knows where. For Carla's sake, I have a private detective looking for him, but nothing yet.”

”What happened to the ex?” Lucien asks. It's a valid question and I'm thankful at least one of us has a clear head.

”He disappeared before the police could arrest him, which brings me to why we're having this conversation.”

With Ramon looking at me the way he is, my heart pounds. I just know I'm not going to like what he's about to say, it also clears up as to whether or not he knows I have feelings for Carla. He wouldn't be talking straight to me otherwise.

”She told me earlier that she thinks she's being followed.” I freeze as my brother continues, ”She hasn't seen anyone, but I'm taking her seriously. If Carla's saying she's being followed then I'm not taking any chances, and I need everyone's help because she isn't going anywhere without one of us with her.”

”Like f.u.c.k, she's not leaving my sight,” I shout to no one in particular.

”Um, Sebastian, don't you think you need to calm down a bit considering it's Ramon's girl we're discussing here.”

f.u.c.k. Ignoring Lucien and his comment, I turn to Ramon. ”Where is she now? Who's with her?”

”She's stressed out and wanted to stay back at the apartment. She wasn't sure how everyone would react and couldn't handle anything else today.”

”She's alone?” I ask quietly.

He doesn't reply.

”I want to talk to you alone. Now.”

Standing, I walk to the barn with Ramon following behind me. Oh Lucien and Ruben tried to come with us, but I overheard Ramon telling them that it was between the two of us.

I smirk, he's d.a.m.n right its between the two of us, but what I really want is to hit something real hard, preferably Ramon's face for leaving Carla alone when she's in trouble.

Hearing the door shut, I turn to face him.

”I've never slept with Carla,” he blurts out, but I'm not sure I heard him right.

”What?”

”You heard me. We came up with the relations.h.i.+p when she moved in with me to protect her and also to keep Mom off my back about marriage and babies. Neither of us expected her to fall for you or vice-versa.”

I slump down onto the workbench behind me at Ramon's revelation. ”Why didn't she tell me?”