“Or what, what are you going to do; break my heart like you did our mother’s? Hurt her some more? Well, you’re too late she’s dead, and since I don’t give a shit about you, you can’t hurt me!”
“But I can hurt him,” Sam threatened, his gaze locked on Josh.
The coldness in his regard of Josh stopped her from dismissing his attempt at intimidation because it worked. Within seconds, her anger changed to dread. Lux was in no doubt he was capable of doing exactly what he threatened, and she wouldn’t have that on her conscience. Never for a moment did she think to stop worrying about Josh; nor did she consider that he could take care of himself.
“I allowed you to come here tonight because you wanted to make things right with your sister. I gave you permission to ask a question; so far you haven’t asked the right one,” Josh stated in a modulated voice. “For the record, I’m over saying this to people, but I’m going to say it anyway... you do not get to come into my house and threaten anyone, especially not my wife. Do I make myself clear?!”
By the time he finished speaking, it seemed to Lux he’d grown in size. Emanating from his whole body was a level of fury she’d never encountered in him before.
“Josh,” Lux spoke his name just above a whisper.
He ignored her soft call as the men continued to stare each other down. Without looking at her, he reached for her hand, and when she clasped his, he held on to her.
“I think you may have forgotten who I am, Sam, so I’ll remind you. Threaten my wife again and I’ll hurt you,” Josh finished with a smile deep enough to show his dimples. “Now... ask your question.”
The look Sam threw her way was one Lux hadn’t experienced in a long time, but she remembered it. Her lovely brother was back but only for a split second.
The sound of Sam’s laughter was so scornful and laden with derision; Lux began to tremble, wishing for the first time she’d heeded Josh’s warning to keep her mouth shut.
Pulling his hand free, Josh wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her into his body. The seconds stretched on in tension filled silence, and Lux could only suppose Sam remained speechless for dramatic effect.
“Sam, this is your chance to begin to set things right. Don’t mess it up,” Josh warned.
It was as though he’d said nothing as Sam remained motionless.
“If you have nothing further to say. I’ll show you out,” Josh offered.
“Can you ever forgive me, Lux?”
“What?” She queried. Of all the questions she’d expected this wasn’t it.
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
Unwilling to exacerbate the situation further Lux remained quiet as her mind strove to work out why he would be asking her for forgiveness. Deciding on complete honesty if it meant getting rid of him, she gave her response. “No, I will never forgive you.”
“When did you become so hard, Lux?”
For the second time since their encounter, she saw the man she used to know looking back at her. Just as before, two heartbeats later that man was gone.
“You asked your question, she answered it, now I think you should leave.”
Sam paid no attention to Josh as he continued to stare at his sister; which only heightened an already tense situation. A feeling of relief washed over her when a rap sounded on the door.
The knock immediately pulled Sam’s gaze. Josh however behaved as though oblivious to the sound, his stare remaining fixed and unblinking.
Aware that neither man was going to move, Lux disengaged herself from Josh to open the door. One of the twins stood outside. Which one, Lux couldn’t tell in her relief to see another person.
“Hello,” she said in a loud voice. Standing back, she waved her hand in a sweeping gesture, and turned back to the men who were still at deadlock. “Oh look, it’s Jake or Jason. Do you want to come in Jake or Jason?”
The moment the twin’s eyebrow popped up, she thought it was Jake because he smiled at her confusion. Jason probably wouldn’t have done that.
“Thank you, no I won’t come in if you don’t mind,” Jake said politely. “I’m here to escort your brother out if his visit is completed.”
For a moment, Lux thought Sam would refuse to leave. The look he directed towards Josh sent shivers down her spine. Still standing at the door, she watched Sam’s approach, chilled anew by the blank look in his eyes. Unwilling to be intimidated she pulled herself up to her full height and glared at him.
Pausing beside her, Sam lifted a hand and Lux shrank away from his touch. His hand dropped back to his side and for the first time in over a decade, she wanted to reach out to her brother. Because buried deep in his eyes, she saw pain so deep it touched her heart.