She fell into her brother’s arms and immediately started sobbing as the door closed behind Merlin.
“What the fuck happened?”
“I woke up and he was naked in my bed.”
“Are you kidding me?” He was pulling away to go after him, but she clung tight.
“Fred, he said he was confident if he seduced me, I’d remember how much he loved me.”
“Yeah, he loved you so much he fucked your sister,” he hissed furiously, his eyes trained on the door, torn between chasing down his brother-in-law and holding his sister’s weeping frame.
“He told me all of it. All the details I never wanted to know.”
He tugged her to the sofa and hugged her tight in his arms, rocking her gently.
“He said the first time was at mom’s party and he got ice cream on his pants and Sandy offered to help and next thing he knew she was blowing him. When he tried to walk away, she threatened to come down to the party and tell everyone about the freckle on his dick and say they were lovers if he didn’t finish what they started.”
“Oh god,” he groaned. “Why is she so fucking evil?”
“I don’t know but he didn’t have to put his dick in her mouth.”
“No, he didn’t.” Fred agreed rubbing her shoulders. “How did he get in here?”
“McGrath Industries owns the rental company I rented from. I didn’t know. I had no idea. I was looking at rental units online and filled an application to come check this one out. My name got flagged. He grabbed a master key and crawled into my bed.” She started sobbing again, “why is he doing this? Why can’t they leave me alone?”
“I don’t know.” Fred whispered.
As the sound of a key in the lock caught their ears, Fred yelled, “I swear Merlin if you don’t get the fuck out of here, I’ll beat you into the ground.”
Isaias’ head poked into the door and stared at them in confusion, “what?” His eyes focused on Liesl, “what is going on? Why are you crying?” He tore into the room tossing his keys onto a table and pulled her out of Fred’s arms, into his and sitting on an oversized chair with her on his lap. “Liesl, what happened? Sweetheart talk to me?”
“Merlin happened,” Fred offered angrily. “Turns out McGrath owns this building and he found out she was renting here. He got a master key and planned a giant seduction. Got into her bed naked while she slept.”
“What?” Isaias’ fury caused his hands to clench around Liesl’s shoulders as he hugged her to his chest. “I’ll fucking kill him.” He gripped her chin, “did he touch you?”
“No, not really. I woke up when he was kissing my shoulders and my nightdress was pushed down my back a bit, but my front was covered.” She couldn’t meet his gaze. Merlin’s words were mocking her. Isaias was only a fling.
“He had no right.” He hugged her tight. “I’m so sorry he violated your space like this.”
She sniffed into his collar, “what are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep and kept thinking you left me a key so I should use it and come cuddle.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I should have come here the minute I got home instead of trying to wait. I would have loved for McGrath to encounter me in the bed instead of you. He’d have been kissing my fist instead of your shoulders.”
Fred grunted angrily, “he was a cocky prick walking out of here. Smug like he thought she was going to chase after him.”
Liesl grimaced, “as if. Had the nerve to tell me if I took him back, he’d consider my fling with Isaias as even with him sleeping with my sister.”
“Excuse me?” Isaias arched an eyebrow.
“Yes. Told me when you ended it with me, he’d be happy to pick up the pieces. I reminded him when he himself left me shattered on the floor, he didn’t bother to stop and pick up the pieces then. He’s the last person I’ll turn to.” Her words tumbled out of her mouth, a mixture of confusion, anger, and sadness. “I wish they would all leave me alone. Him, Sandy, Torrie, Mom. They all won’t stop. I can’t believe he snuck into my bed.”
Fred sighed loudly, “I wish I knew, baby girl.” He groaned and leaned back into the sofa with his eyes closed. “You gave first and last months rent for here and the damage deposit?”
“And signed a one-year lease,” she whispered.
“How did you not know he owns the building?” Isaias questioned quietly.
“I barely understood what he did as a developer let alone how many companies, he has under the umbrella of McGrath Industries.” She met his gaze and then tilted her head, “do you think I purposefully went out of my way to rent from him?”
“No.” he denied it outright. “I do not. I know how angry you are with him, and I know you wouldn’t put yourself in his path willingly. I’m simply trying to piece together how the company got missed.”
“The name of the rental company is Trinity. I’ve never heard the name before.”
“Trinity is the name of a local rental agency they have as a subsidiary.” Isaias shifted her on his lap, so they were both leaning backwards into the cushions of the chair. “Why don’t you go pack a bag and I’ll bring you home with me?”
“What? Why? He’s gone and he gave me the key he used.”
“Because he owns the entire building which means he’ll be able to come and go and spy on you. If he wants to take a unit next door and stalk you from there, he can.”
“But he won’t. He has a condo he’s renting with Sandy.”
Isaias shot her an irritated glance, “do you want him to come back?”
“No!” she returned his annoyed stare, “but I don’t think he will.”
“Did you think he would have ever crawled into your bed naked in the middle of the night in an apartment he shouldn’t have had an inkling you were renting?” At her silence he continued, “Liesl, I told you he and his father got me out of town to get you alone. He probably thinks I’m still out of town.”
“He did say you were out of town.” She whispered.
“They’re watching your every move and looking to find a way to make you take him back. I get Merlin but not Trent. Why does Trent want you to take Merlin back so much?”
“He hates Sandy with a burning passion,” Fred tossed up, “and he has been eyeballing Liesl since the day Merlin brought her home to meet the parents. He once had too much to drink and tried to kiss her under the mistletoe when nobody else was around. Creepy bastard. I always said he was secretly in love with her. He wanted her for himself. I think he gets off knowing if he can’t have her, his son can.”
“Ew,” she shot her brother a disgusted glare. “You’re nasty.”
“And not wrong,” he mocked. He looked around the apartment, “Merlin might have snuck a key and climbed into your bed, but Trent probably installed cameras in here. He probably has one right over your shower.”
Isaias snarled, “go pack a bag now. You’re not staying here.”
“Isaias, he’s kidding.”
“Yet it’s probably very much on the money. I don’t trust them.”
She kicked Fred as she stood up from Isaias’ lap. “I like it here. I like the light in the spare room. I have my easel set up.”
“I’ll set you up in my sunroom at the house. You can paint there until you find another place.”
“You’re being absurd.”
“He snuck into your apartment in the dead of night and crawled into your bed naked and of the two of them, he’s the harmless one. Trent is a snake. I wouldn’t put it past him to do exactly as Fred said. Get a bag packed.”
She stomped off furious at his high-handed way he came in and took over the situation. “It’s not fair.”
“Life rarely is.” Isaias shot back.
Liesl entered her bedroom and paused as she looked at the bed and saw a red rose on her pillow. Her anger at Isaias fell away as she considered how out of bounds Merlin had behaved. Maybe he was right. Perhaps this place wasn’t safe. She beelined for her walk-in closet and pulled a bag down and began stuffing it, realizing she had only this day hung the same clothes back up. What a waste.
