His jaw ticks. “Damn right I did. And I’d do it again.”
Eden’s chair screeches back. “Jesus, Leo. You don’t even think that was wrong? What’s your problem?”
Leo finally looks at her. His expression flickers with guilt, then turns to steel. “I won’t apologize for protecting you. Because he would’ve ruined you. Just like he did today.”
Her chest heaves. “You don’t get to make choices for me.”
Leo’s words turn hard. “I saved you. You think hewould’ve waited? You think he wouldn’t have burned you up and walked away like that bastard who broke you down did?”
“That’s it.” I step forward, chest colliding with his. “Don’t you dare. You took from both of us. And we’re not kids anymore, Leo. Eden’s not your property. You don’t get to decide for her. And it sure as hell isn’t your business who she’s with now.”
His fist knots in my shirt, yanking me close, breath hot with wrath. “Not mybusiness? She’s my sister. And thanks to you, her reputation is on fire, her opening’s collapsing, and every asshole online is calling her unprofessional. That’s on you.”
“On me?” I shove him back a half step, fire burning through my veins. “You think I leaked the damn thing? You think I wanted this circus? All I’ve ever done is protect her.”
Leo snarls, snapping back. “Protect her? She’s already had to survive one bastard who took what wasn’t his to take. You think I’m going to sit by and watch her go through that again?”
The room goes still. Eden stiffens like she’s been struck, her face going white as bone.
My world tilts.What the fuck did he just say?This isn’t about Josh. This is something else. Something she never told me. Something that makes my stomach drop to the floor and my blood turn to ice.
“Leo.” Her whisper carries a steel edge.
My head jerks toward her. My pulse spikes. “What is he talking about?”
She doesn’t answer. Just shakes her head once, hard, her stare burning.
Leo doesn’t back down. “She doesn’t owe you an explanation, Russo. But don’t you stand here pretending you’resome goddamn hero. She’s the one who’s left with the mess.”
Leo’s punch comes out of nowhere. Fast, clean, the kind of shot I’ve seen him throw in the ring. My jaw explodes with white light, my head snapping sideways. Pain blooms sharp and hot, knees threatening to give. I stagger back, spit copper.
Rage drags me upright.
I drive forward, burying my fist in his ribs. The sound is ugly, a meaty thud, and he grunts, air rushing out. But his stance resets, eyes blazing hotter. The bastard’s built for pain.
We slam chest to chest, fists twisted in shirts, snarling. He snaps another shot at my head; I bull him sideways, shoulder to shoulder, the two of us crashing into a chair that splinters under our weight.
The room is chaos. Eden’s voice somewhere behind me, shouting—but all I see is Leo.
I lunge, land a wild hook on his shoulder. Pain jolts up my own arm. He answers with a body shot that doubles me half a step, ribs screaming. I grit my teeth, stagger back upright.
For a second, I see it in his eyes—the pro. The man trained to break other men apart. My best friend, fists like weapons, holding back. But barely.
“Enough!” Eden’s scream rips through the air.
Too late.
Leo drives forward, I surge back, and suddenly she’s between us.
My shoulder clips her, hard. She cries out, stumbling into the desk. Papers scatter, glass topples and shatters.
The sound tears me apart.
My fists drop, stomach hollowing, rage dissolving intohorror. Leo freezes too, chest heaving, blood on his mouth, fists still curled but useless.
All I see is Eden, gasping, her hand pressed to her shoulder where I rammed into her.
“Eden—” I start, surging toward her, but she throws up a trembling hand, palm out.
