Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(19)

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you. You’re like a brother to me, but Darcy…well, she’s something I never expected in my life. I’m having a hard time dealing with loving her while knowing I’m possibly going to have to destroy her.”

“So don’t. Make it business only again, or give up on the jewels.”

“I wish I could do either of those things, but I’m not man enough.”

“At least you’re admitting it.”

“Some best friend you are. You’re supposed to say that I’m more than good enough for Darcy.”

“Sorry, but you’ll never hear that from me.”

“What would I do without your blunt honesty?”

“Listen to me telling you the same things.” I turn at the sound of my cousin’s voice, and can’t help but smile. Jenysis is a force to be reckoned with, and both Noah and I have the scars to prove it.

“Jen, what are you doing here?”

“Dear old dad said it was time for a visit, which coincided nicely with my plan to come here and kick your arse.”

“Excuse me?”

“Noah told me all about your plan, and how you’re now going off the rails. I mean, couldn’t you just shag her once and be done? She’s a commoner. We don’t get involved in more than a tumble with them. You know this.”

“Hey. I’m a commoner, too,” Noah reminds her.

She waves her hand at him. “Ten years in the palace makes you anything but a commoner.”

“Why does it matter, Jen?” I ask, knowing the answer, but not willing to let Darcy be talked about like she’s less of anything.

“We’re a monarchy, Bray. That’s why it matters.”

“Will married Kate.”

“You’re not Will, and our people are not British.”

“Neither are you, but you choose to live there.”

“You know it wasn’t a choice. Mum and dad said we had to move there after the jewels were stolen. Just another thing to hate your Darcy for.”

“You love London.”

“I do, but I don’t like having choices taken from me just because some stupid girl needed to rob us. Or my parents breaking up because of it.”

“Don’t hold back. Say what you really feel,” Darcy says from behind me.

“Oh I will. You can count on that.” Shit. Noah should’ve never told her what’s going on. She better keep quiet, at least around her dad and my mum.

“I can also count on you omitting some facts, can’t I? Like the fact that you were being stalked around the time of the theft. Isn’t that a more plausible reason for your family to move?

“You bitch.”

“Takes one to know one.”

“I bet you wouldn’t be so smug if I had a saber in my hand.”

“Oh, I think I would. You wanna have a go?”

“Um, Darcy, you should know that Jenysis is a highly skilled fencer,” Noah tells her.

“So am I. How about it?”

“I’d quite fancy a chance to cut you, so yes, let’s.”

I look back and forth at the two of them as they try and stare each other down. They’re both redheads, but that’s where the similarities end. Darcy is in a loose band t-shirt and her leather pants, while Jen is wearing an elaborate designer top and wide leg pants. Darcy’s bright orange hair is short and sassy, while Jen’s long hair has subtle shades of red and is styled to within an inch of its life. Knowing them both, I wouldn’t even begin to try and bet on a winner. They’re the fiercest women I’ve ever met. Well, maybe Reina Corrigan is fiercer, but thankfully, she’s not here right now.

“Here,” Noah says, coming back into the room with the rapiers. I hadn’t even noticed that he’d left.

“Thanks,” they both say at once, and then head out the French doors before facing off.

It’s a pretty amazing sight to see as they square off. They’re evenly matched as they battle one another. They’re jumping on top of chairs, flipping over tables, and doing a bunch of other shit that looks like it came from some old movie. I can’t take my eyes off of Darcy as she wields that sword. It’s f*cking hot.

“You better not be thinking about how hot Darcy looks,” I tell Noah, never taking my eyes off the action in front of us.

“I’m not.”

“Don’t tell me you’re looking at Jen.”

“Seriously? You know Jen is like a sister to me.”

Darcy falters for a second, giving Jen the opening she needs. She slices her blade across Darcy’s thigh, and then pushes her to the ground as she cries out. I start to move towards them, thinking it’s over, but Jen has other ideas. She pulls Darcy up and puts her sword at her throat.

“What the hell, Jen? You won the pissing match, now let her go.”

“No. She’s caused this family too much trouble already. She’s going to tell you where the jewels are or she’s going to die.”

“How is killing her going to get Brayden the jewels?” Noah asks, and I can hear panic in his voice.

“Either way, we’re rid of her. I say it’s a win-win situation.”

“You’re not winning anything,” Faith says, kicking the sword out her hand, and slicing her across the arm with Darcy’s. I didn’t even see her pick up the other sword, much less come outside.