Sean: A Stepbrother Romance (Coded for Love 3)

Rory laughed. “We did. Life happens.”

Sean grumbled. “Magnets for trouble, both of you.”

Draco, however, remained deadly serious. “I’m sure he wouldn’t let me down. He took a chance on me, saved my skin when I took a risk too far for his daughter. Their theory is get the hackers on board, use their skills.” Again Draco shrugged. “That’s why I ended up wearing a suit.”

In theory, it sounded good. But Sean wasn’t convinced. “I don’t believe this guy would stick his neck out and take such a risk on someone like me, someone who could potentially pull off a major financial scam.”

Draco lifted his eyebrows. “Why not? It’s only the same as this Delahane using your skills, except they are on the other side of the fence using them for different reasons—to keep the money in their own account.”

There was logic to it, and he’d seen Draco in a suit with his own eyes.

Sean sighed, and scrubbed his head with both hands, fidgety and restless, wanting to get it over with. “I’m going down again, either way.” When they both tried to interrupt, he held up his hand. “I’d rather go down knowing Delahane hadn’t won.” And Rowan and Pixie are safe, he silently added.

“Good point. Look, there’s a lot to think about,?

?? Draco said. “I’ll leave you to it. Get back to me first thing in the morning if you want to take the option and I’ll set it in motion. Either way, get yourselves over to my apartment by ten and we’ll make sure you’ve got everything you need for the hack.”

Sean nodded at him. “It’s likely to take all day.”

“No worries, I’ll take the time out. Don’t forget to text with your decision on the sting.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Draco glanced up at the ceiling. “Suppose I’d better go say hi to Rowan before I head home.”

Rory sucked in his breath and shook his head. “I’d give your sis’ a wide berth if I were you. They had a hell of a row earlier.”

“I am still in the room,” Sean said.

Draco laughed. “In that case tell her hi from me, once she calms down.”

When Draco took off Rory cracked them another couple of beers and they talked it over some more, until Rory decided to turn in and encouraged him to do so too. Sean sat on in the kitchen alone, thinking.

The legacy of his time in prison weighed heavily on him. He knew he’d never just walk away from all of this with a clean slate. It was never going to be that simple. He hoped he’d sidestepped it until he picked up the important threads of his life, but Delahane wasn’t going away until he dealt one final axe blow, severing any connection to those interior walls and the power plays going on within them.

If it went well, if he pulled it off, Delahane would never dare mess with him again, and his loved ones would be safe. If he didn’t get it right—well, it couldn’t happen. It simply couldn’t. He’d do the job and go down again rather than put his loved ones in danger.

There was one last thing he had to before he could rest. He wanted to make peace with Rowan. He mounted the stairs some time after midnight. Tapping the door gently, he stood outside the room Rowan was staying in.

There was no reply.

He couldn’t recall if there’d been a key but he guessed not. He tried the door and found it unlocked. Quietly, he pushed the door open and peered into the room. The curtains were closed and a narrow crack of light was all that illuminated the space. He stepped in, paused.

No audible sound came from the bundle in the bed.

His eyes grew accustomed to the gloom.

As he closed the door behind him, he heard a muffled moan. Glancing back, he watched as she threw the covers back, then squirreled down in the bed again.

He stepped closer.

She was asleep, and she was wearing the T-shirt he abandoned on the bed this morning. Relieved she was settled, he stood silently, wishing he could explain to her how he really felt. He didn’t have the slkillset, had to be. He’d messed up again.

He turned away, regretfully, closing the door silently.

Making his way downstairs, he headed to the sofa in the sitting room, where he was soon joined by two cats. He settled down, allowing them to choose their spot around him, and stared at the ceiling. Rowan was just above him.

They were mere feet apart, yet it felt like half a world away.