Stella's voice was calm, steady as still water.

"If Shawn is so important to you both," she said quietly, "why not just knock me out and toss me into his bed? That way, you can make amends and grant Shawn his wish all at once. Wouldn't that be easier?"

A cold, derisive laugh slipped from Israel. "So, Stella, have you finally taken a liking to Shawn? Can't wait to climb into his bed, is that it—"

Before he could finish, Jonathan cut him off, his tone sharp as steel. "That's enough, Israel."

At the same moment, a mug sailed through the air and struck Israel squarely on the head.

Smash. The mug hit the floor and shattered, shards skittering across the hardwood.

Israel staggered, seeing stars, and it took him a while to collect himself.

Joshua's voice rang out cool and clear from across the room. "She's your sister, not someone you can insult whenever you feel like it. You haven't even bothered to ask what happened, but you're so quick to pass judgment. It's a pretty ugly look, don't you think? If you can't muster a little respect, I'd be glad to teach you some manners myself."

Israel opened his mouth to argue, but Jonathan silenced him with a look.

turned to Stella, a note

begun to take root in his mind. He'd heard rumors about Shawn's wandering

Shawn, he couldn't

eyebrow. "Or did you both expect me to

as if he wanted to say something,


remember, when your old business

jokes about Aurora, you punched him

years of

him and told

that

jumped from his office window because

to s

turned to Israel, giving him a chilly little

hairline, his expression dark and uncertain. He wanted to

and Aurora aren't

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