Dynasty (Boys of Winter 1)

I stare up at the ceiling, listening to the sound of Cruz’s footsteps as they fade into the massive house, and while I’ve never felt so alone, I also feel more at home than I’ve ever felt in any of the foster homes I’ve lived in.

Minutes pass before I peel myself off the couch and look through the room. There are no family photos or anything to tell me what kind of people Cruz’s parents are. It’s almost like they built the house with absolutely no intention of living in it.

I take Cruz’s invitation to ‘make myself at home’ and wander around the mansion, peeking into the empty rooms and taking in the over-the-top finishes and details woven into the design of the house. There’s no doubt about it, the house is simply magnificent.

Two hours pass before I wander into the massive sunken living room again to find Cruz lounged back with the TV on and a bowl of popcorn resting on his stomach. Without looking up at me, he pats the space beside him and I find myself moving toward him. I drop down beside him, crossing my legs and taking the bowl of popcorn for myself.

He glances over at me, his eyes shimmering with something I can’t quite figure out. “Give yourself the grand tour?” he questions.

Guilt flares through me before remembering that he invited me to, and for that, there’s no reason to feel as though I’ve just been caught out doing something wrong. “Yep,” I announce. “I got lost three times, but I just followed your stench and I was able to find my way out.”

“Good, I’m glad I was able to help.”

An awkward smile twists across my face and I slice my gaze toward the TV to find one of the many ‘Fast and Furious’ movies playing, but the sound is down so low that it’s nearly impossible to hear, making me wonder if he’d done this on purpose to be able to hear me wandering around his stupid massive house.

A minute ticks by when I feel his heavy gaze resting on the side of my face. I look back at him to find his stare as curious as ever. “What?” I ask, reaching for a handful of popcorn just to have something to do with my hands.

“You caused quite a bit of trouble last night.”

I scoff, looking back at the TV, fearing that if I stare at his handsome face for too long that I might just introduce it to my brass knuckles. “I didn’t ask you dickheads to come and play the role of the white knights. I had it under control. That was all on you and your stupid friends.”

“You had nothing under control.”

I turn my body and set a lethal stare upon him. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this yet, but I’m not the girl who needs some random guys swooping in to save her. I’ve taken care of myself for the past seventeen years. I don’t all of a sudden need you guys looking out for me. So, thanks, but no thanks.”

Cruz just stares, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “Baby, I know you don’t need a fucking hero, but here I am. Now, I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but I like playing the role of your white knight, so unfortunately for you, you’re stuck with me and because you’re stuck with me, you’re stuck with the guys. Think of it as a package deal.”

I fly to my feet. “You can take your package deal and shove it up your ass. This is not happening. You four need to pull your dicks out of each other’s asses and leave me the hell alone. Let’s go back to being at war. I liked the idea of tearing you all down and you assholes never gave me a chance to do it. This whole hero complex you’ve all given yourselves is ridiculous.”

With one arm thrown over the back of the couch and his feet hitched up on the edge of the coffee table, he levels me with a stare that would make any girl weak. “There’s just something about you, Winter. You have the four of us divided.”

Divided? My brows furrow as I watch him closely. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“King and I had to practically beg Carver and Gray to help your dumbass last night, and that’s not how we do shit. If just one of us doesn’t agree, we let it go, but you’ve got us fighting for something that not one of us can explain. They were ready to let you figure out that shit on your own just to teach you some kind of lesson while me and King … I don’t fucking know, babe. The thought of you ending up under Sam’s thumb, I don’t like it.”