Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 by Laura Burton (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

shake,” Jonas barked. Harry looked at him with surprise before heading for the door, but Jonas thrust a hand in the way, the ripples of muscles along his arm were like mole hills.

“Wrong move. An alpha doesn’t let anyone tell him what to do.”

Harry stopped walking and scratched the back of his neck.

“Right,” he said gruffly. “Make it yourself.”

Jonas grinned, then walked across the gym to pick up a large rope. He flipped the end to snap at Harry’s ankle like a whip. The contact sent pain radiating up his calf.

“What are you doing?” he said, hopping on one foot.

“Oh, sorry, did that hurt?” Jonas asked, though by the tone of his voice Harry thought he was not apologetic. He flipped the rope again. This time the end connected with Harry’s thigh. A crack echoed around the gym and Harry yelled at the burning pain that followed.

“Cut it out, will you?” he said rubbing his thigh. A large dimple formed on Jonas’ right cheek as he flashed a smile.

“You don’t like it?” he asked, rolling the rope back. “Want me to stop?” He whipped the rope again; this time Harry fell to his knees as he cried out.

“How is this helping?” he shouted, anger brewing. Jonas marched over to Harry and stooped down.

“I’m sorry, I thought you asked me to teach you to man up,” he teased. “Now, if you want me to stop, you need to make me.” He threw the rope across the room and flung it back in a snapping motion. Harry rolled out of its path and got to his feet.

“Stop doing that,” he said, balling his hands into fists. Jonas squared up to Harry, raising his shoulders and grunting.

“Are you going to make me stop, or what?” he asked, shoving Harry, who stumbled back, then mirrored his brother’s stance, squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists. The muscles in his arms were tight, begging for a reprieve. The two of them had been working day and night in the gym, training Harry to stand up for himself. He took a step forward and shoved his brother hard. However, the force barely made him move an inch. Instead, he stood his ground with a confident smirk on his tanned face.

“Why do they intimidate you so much?” Jonas asked suddenly.

Harry crossed his arms. “Who?”

“Mother and your ex. Why are you so afraid of their silly games?” Jonas rolled his shoulders back and cracked his knuckles. The sheer size of him was enough to scare off a whole group of bandits.

“I’m not scared for my sake. I am concerned about Julie.”

“You want my advice?” Jonas asked. Harry nodded. Of course he wanted his advice. Jonas was the one who didn’t take threats from anyone.

“Cut them both off. You’ve got the resources. Get some nice private place in Morocco and live your life in peace.”

“Sounds nice, but I can’t just hide away from the world. I need to stand my ground,” Harry said resolutely.

“Then let’s get some fight into you,” he said, circling Harry now, looking thoughtful. “Talk to me about Julie.”

Harry’s ears pricked up. Just the sound of her name ignited a fire in his body. Jonas pulled on a pair of boxing gloves and threw a pair to Harry.

“Remind me, how did you two meet?” Jonas asked as Harry pulled on his gloves. Harry glanced at Benjamin, who stood at the door with his hands clasped together a vacant expression on his face.

“Through a mutual friend,” he said. Sticking to the same story he told every time Jonas asked. His brother raised his hands and the two of them boxed for a few minutes. Harry hadn’t told anyone about hiring Emily to find him a girlfriend. Only Benjamin knew. If Jonas found out that he hired a matchmaker, he would never hear the end of it.

“And you still like her, I’m guessing,” Jonas said, shaking his hands and hopping on tip toes.

“You could say that,” Harry said as he panted.

“And you’re sure you don’t want to get back together with Ebony?” Jonas pulled off his gloves and folded his arms across his broad chest.

“No, definitely not.”

Jonas nodded.

“Good. I never liked her anyway. I don’t know why you wasted years in that relationship.”

Harry sighed and picked up his flask from the floor.

“She’s got some vendetta against me now. Our mother says it’s love but sounds more like she’s just looking for someone to torture.”

“Why do you let her do it?” Jonas asked as Harry took a swig from his flask.

“Excuse me?” He spluttered as some of the drink went down the wrong way. “I’m not letting her do anything.”

“So, your plan to stay in England for these past few weeks has not been torture for you?”

“You’ve been torturing me. Not her,” Harry corrected. Jonas laughed as he stretched out his obliques.

“You’re in denial, mate.” He swung his arms back and forth and rolled his head side to side. “Staying away from Julie is killing you. I can see it all over your face.”

Harry turned away and swallowed.

“I can’t go back, not until I’m––”

“––a man? Please. You don’t need to do this. You’re ready.”

Harry turned around to face his brother again, who gave him a frank smile that Harry couldn’t read.

“What do you mean?”

Jonas dragged his hands through his hair and shook it out. Droplets of sweat scattered across the floor as he did so.

“You didn’t come to me to get in shape. You and I both know that.” Jonas scraped his damp hair back into a bun and set his hands on his hips like a superhero.

“Well, if you’re too chicken to be with Julie, maybe I’ll take her for a ride,” Jonas said with a wry smile. Harry shot him a look.

“Steady,” Harry warned. His muscles tensed again as adrenaline pumped through his veins. Jonas’ eyes narrowed.

“You did say she was a good kisser. I bet she’d be amazing––”

Harry jumped to his feet, his hands balled into tight fists, his heart pounding against his ribcage.

“Don’t talk about