Page 33 of Branded

“The prodigal son returns!” he shouts as he bounds down the steps, all energy and easy charm. At thirty, he still looks like a kid sometimes, dark hair perpetually messy, dressed in jeans and a button-down he probably threw on five minutes ago. “And you actually got married without telling anyone. Mom’s been losing her mind all afternoon.”

“James.” I accept his hug, then pull Lennox forward. “This is Lennox. Lennox, my baby brother James.”

“Welcome to the circus.” James takes her hand and kisses it with theatrical gallantry. “I’d apologize for my family in advance, but that seems premature. Better to let you experience the horror firsthand.”

Lennox laughs, actually laughs, and some of the tension in her shoulders eases. “I appreciate the honesty.”

“It’s my only redeeming quality.” James tucks her hand through his arm, effectively stealing her from me. “Come on, let me introduce you to everyone before Mom takes over and you run out screaming.”

“James,” I start, but he is already leading Lennox up the steps and inside.

I follow, watching my brother charm my wife with the easy warmth that has always come naturally to him. The baby of the family, the one who’s never had to carry the weight of Dad’s expectations or Mom’s ambitions. Just James, allowed to exist without the pressure that has shaped the rest of us. And all the whiskey he can drink daily. Lucky bastard.

Inside, the soaring ceilings, marble floors, priceless art are all carefully calibrated to appear opulent to outsiders—but it’s cold, there is nothing that says a family lives here, it’s simply Mom’s palace to show off, designed to impress and intimidate in equal measure.

Voices drift from the formal living room, what Mom calls the “salon,” because, of course she does, and James guides us that way.

“Brace yourself,” he murmurs to Lennox. “Caroline’s already here, which means the knives are out.”

We enter the salon, and the conversation stops immediately. Every face turns toward us, toward Lennox.

Mom sits in her usual throne-like chair near the fireplace, still wearing the cream linen from earlier but with pearls added for dinner. Dad stands by the bar, whiskey in hand, looking more comfortable now that he is back in his kingdom. And there, on the sofa, is Caroline.

My sister inherited Mom’s blonde hair and Dad’s sharp eyes, along with a ruthlessness entirely her own. At thirty-five, she runs the oil division with brutal efficiency, and I’ve heard rumors she is angling to expand into natural gas. She wears black, always black, and her smile when she sees me is cool and calculating.

“Sebastian.” She stands and crosses to us, her heels clicking on marble. “So you finally conned someone into marrying you.”

“Caroline,” I say flatly as I accept her air kiss, then pull Lennox from James. “This is Lennox. Lennox, my sister Caroline.”

“The famous Caroline.” Lennox extends her hand, and I watch Caroline assess her with the same intensity she brings to oil field negotiations. Lennox doesn’t let Caroline’s hand go quickly, and I watch my wife read Caroline like a book in five seconds.

“Sebastian’s told me about your work with the oil division of the businesses. Impressive. I’m sure being a woman in a male-dominated space hasn’t always been easy.” Lennox smiles sweetly at Caroline, who just blinks for a moment as she stares at my wife. My sister speechless isn’t something I’ve seen often, and it’s very entertaining.

“Has he?” Caroline lets Lennox’s hand go and takes a step back. Lennox slips her hand into mine and moves to my side. “I’m surprised he talks about family business at all, given how little time he spends here.”

First shot fired.

“I talk about the things that matter,” I say smoothly. “Caroline’s brilliant. Dad would have her running the entire operation if she asked to.”

“If I asked,” Caroline repeats, her smile sharpening. “But I prefer the oil side. Less messy than cattle.” Her eyes cut to Lennox. “Though I imagine you’re familiar with that world. The Briggs operation in Montana is quite substantial, from what I understand.”

“Twenty thousand head,” Lennox says easily. “My father built it from ten thousand over the last two decades. We’ve had good breeding success with our Red Angus program.”

“How impressive.” Caroline’s tone suggests it is anything but. “And you left all that to work in guest relations at Sebastian’s resort?”

“I wanted to see something beyond Montana.” Lennox’s voice remains steady, but I feel her body tense against mine. “Experience life outside the ranch.”

“And you certainly did that, didn’t you?” Caroline’s smile is all teeth. “Guest relations to wife in, what, six months? That’s quite the promotion.”

“Caroline.” Dad’s voice cuts across the room, sharp with warning. “That’s enough.”

“I’m just getting acquainted with our new sister-in-law.” But Caroline steps back, her point made.

“I’m sure I could have easily found something to utilize my business degree, but I wanted a carefree year before figuring out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Lennox says, making Caroline’s face turn red with embarrassment. It’s easy for my sister to put down someone she believes is beneath her, but Lennox just flipped the script, and I am quickly becoming enamored by this woman.

But how do I not know that she has a college education? I am going to have to check in with the PI I hired to look into her. Obviously Phil is missing a step these days.

“Where’s Nathaniel?” I ask, scanning the room.