“Kenz, I say we wait. Unless we move into an apartment, but I don’t know if I’m willing to let go of Mom and Dad now.”
Her mouth is halfway open, and Isaiah clears his throat. “I’m sorry, you two. You misunderstood me again. This isn’t up for debate. Your father put me in charge of looking out for your best interests, this being one of them. The house goes up on the market tomorrow.”
I’m out of my seat, my fists on his immaculate desk.
“But,” the small voice of Kenzie is behind me, “where will we go?”
His stare is on me and me alone. “It’s simple; I have more than enough room. You’ll just move in here.”
The lips I’ve had nightmares about so many times quirk up into the kind of smile when he’s either got his way or is amused. It’s a little bit of both right now, but he’s got us where he wants us. Desperate and without many choices.
Chapter 3
Isaiah
It doesn’t bring me joy to destroy these kids. It may bring me some jovial amusement to mess with these two a little. But honestly, I’m doing what I think is best for Riv and Kenz. First of all, River can’t be trusted without the guidance of an adult. He may be eighteen, but the little fucker is a loose cannon. I know this firsthand.
Kenzie can be trusted. However, she’s a little more impressionable and could be easily manipulated.
I’m not lying when I know we can get at least three hundred thousand dollars more for the house, rather than waiting a year. Plus, I can keep an eye on them, as their father had asked, in the last couple of minutes of his life.
Shannon died on impact of the tractor-trailer hitting their car. I arrived at the hospital ten minutes before Robert took his last breath. He didn’t want Kenzie or River to have their last memories of him dying. The hospital called me instantly, and as I promised, I’ll look after both.
Having River in my presence from day to day may honestly kill me. It sure as fuck will test my self-restraint. However, I haven’t missed how Kenzie’s full breasts fill out a tight sweater and skirt.
This is just one reason I’m going to Hell.
“It’s simple; I have more than enough room.” I don’t believe my own words. It’s not simple. Simple is the last thing any of this will be, but then again, I’ve never backed down from a challenge. “You’ll just move in here.”
What is the challenge in this instance? Is it making sure Kenzie and River can process their grief correctly? And having their physical needs met? Not wanting to control them or dominating them? Keeping it in my pants?
Yeah, the list goes on and on.
“But, the house. I’m not ready to let it go, and I assume it’s the same with River. It has too many memories of Mom and Dad in it.” This is a plea by Kenzie.
They don’t know I was with Robert when he died. I won’t share this either because it’ll only hurt.
“You don’t even like us.” Again, this is Kenzie. And she’s never been so far from the truth in her life.
“Kenz, this is my way. I have control of your finances until the age of twenty-five. And I’m giving you more money, in your trust, with the sale of the house. So, maybe you should be grateful instead of being a brat.”
When I’m challenged, I’m an asshole. I just don’t know what other way to be.
I’ve tried to ignore River, who stands in front of me, his hands on my new white desk.
“You don’t talk to her like that, asshole. Kenzie just buried our parents today, and now we have to deal with your mind fucks.”
River rarely backs down from a fight, but he’s never won against me either.
Tears pool in Kenzie’s eyes, and again, I don’t relish in this. I can’t see her hurt. She looks just like her mother, Tanya. And because I loved that woman, I can’t hurt Kenzie.
“Why are you my godfather? You’ve never liked me, and now you’re what, going to demean us, to make a point?” Kenzie’s voice is so shaky, but then again, I love it a little shaky, with her vulnerability. The sadness painted on her young face causes so much pain that I want to hurt someone for her grief. All of this is a contradiction, a cycle I’ve created for myself.
It’s a vicious cycle, but I tend to be a glutton for punishment, as they think I am in turn, punishing them. But I’m not. After all, I’m only doing what I know is best for the kids in the long run. Also, having them near me won’t be a hardship. Controlling my desires will be, however.
I have a plan, and none of it consists of them being a part of my secret desires. But I’ll enjoy, in my own twisted way, watching them flourish under my control. This is for Robert and Tanya and the little girl they loved in every way. Along with Shannon, who I adored after Robert and she married.
“You may not think this, either of you, but I’m doing what I know is best for you.”
River is still over my desk, but an ear-pitching chortle leaves his lips this time, and I have to double-check it’s him and not Kenzie. “You’re so fucking arrogant. You don’t even say I’m doing what I think is best. You don’t know us, and yet you claim this is for our own good.”
My eyebrows instinctively raise at his words. “I think we both know. I know you, boy.”
River’s face, all the way to his ears, turns a bright crimson color. Is he embarrassed, or is he angry?
Either way, I achieved what I’ve wanted—River is distracted. My focus turns to Kenzie, her eyes swinging back and forth from River and me. “And you, Kenzie Grace Hanson. I held you just hours after you were born. I stayed with you when Tanya was rushed back to the hospital. It was a complication from after you both were released.”
I’d been attentive to her up to her snotty teen ways. She has always been a little entitled. Her dad made up for Tanya dying, though Shannon was a fierce mother to Kenz. I’m entitled, too, only because I built my empire from the ground up. Kenz came into this world when I was twenty-two, and I barely had two pennies to my name.
I don’t understand how her mere presence has my body reacting as it does when she’s around, which is yet another reason I’ve kept my distance as she’s grown older.
“You used to call me Uncle I.” And it’s a good thing I’m hidden by my desk because they can’t see how my body reacts to their mere presence. “Listen, guys, it’ll be like you’re at home, with the exception that my staff is here to assist you with anything you need. I know it’s not what you want, but I have movers booked to pack up your rooms tomorrow.”
River rotates his body and begins toward the door, only to stop abruptly. He’s still turned away from me as his hand connects to the wall.
“You most likely will hurt your hand before you hurt my walls. But if you do, I’ll take that out of your monthly allotment.”
River’s stature is long and lean, with his share of muscle mass accentuating what all women want in a man or a boy in this case. He bares his teeth. His curses are meant to provoke me. “You’re such a shithead. You want to punish me. Okay, I get that, but why bring Kenzie into your little game?” He slams his open hand on the same spot on the wall, and Kenzie swings her attention back to her stepbrother. “And you forget, we just buried our parents, asshole. We won’t take on another change.”