“Deke …”
“Don’t,” I growl, interrupting her. I’m in no mood to hear it. Whatever she has to say, she can save it.
“But …”
“Drop it, Demi!” I snap. He’s been fucking her for a year. He deserves at least a broken nose for that.
She lets out a growl and turns, running back into the house just as Cole and Bennett exit.
I lift my fisted hands ready to start punching his face.
“Can I explain?” he asks, lifting his hands in surrender.
“Nope.” I slam my fist into him, knocking him back a few steps.
“Goddammit, Deke.” He growls, covering his face. “Cole …”
“I can’t help you out, man. I’m with Deke. We all knew she was off-limits.”
I step into him ready to throw another punch.
“Just listen for two …”
This time, my fist connects with his jaw, sending him onto his ass.
“Motherfucker!” he shouts, jumping to his feet.
“Is she who you messaged nonstop while you were down in Texas?” I snap. The fucker barely ever looked up from his phone, but I never questioned it because I didn’t give a shit who he was talking to. Obviously, I should have.
“Yes!” he snaps.
Cole falls down into a chair and takes a bite of an apple. The fucker is enjoying this too much. “And the girl you ushered out of the clubhouse the night I called you …? That was her, wasn’t it?”
My hands drop to my sides as my mouth falls open.No fucking way …
“Yes!” he answers Cole.
I let out a growl and run at him. My shoulder hits him in the chest, and I lift him up off the ground before slamming his ass to the snow-covered grass. “I’m gonna kill …”
“I love her!” he shouts.
I pause, one hand fisted in his shirt and the other about to hit him in the face again. “What?” I pant.
He lets out a long sigh and licks the blood off his lip. “I fucking love her, Deke.” He shoves me off, and I go willingly. Sitting up, he runs his hands through his hair. “You think I would risk losing you as a friend for a fuck or a fling?” I don’t answer. “I’ve been in love with her for a long time, and a year ago, I got my chance to show her just how much.” He looks over at Cole who continues to eat his apple with a smirk on his face. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. She wanted to, but I didn’t. I knew you wouldn’t understand. I was selfish and wanted as much time with her as possible before you found out.” He hangs his head. “She broke up with me after Cole killed Kellan. She thought I helped, which I did, but she said she wanted nothing to do with our lives.” He glares up at me. “It took a lot of groveling to get her back and show her that I can be different for her.” He huffs. “And I’ll be damned if I’m gonna allow you to come in and fuck that up for me.”
I stand staring down at my friend sitting in the snow with blood running down his nose. I should be mad, but all I can think about is how my sister can’t accept him for who he really is. I’m not surprised. She never really did me either. But she doesn’t understand our need for revenge. Demi understands it. She’s lived it with her sister for years.
I walk over to him and reach out my hand. He looks at it and then up at me before taking it. I pull him into me and slap his back. “I already consider you a brother, Bennett. But if you hurt her, I’ll have no problem killing you.”
He chuckles pulling away. “That’s not gonna happen.”
The three of us enter the house to find my sister sitting at her kitchen table. She jumps up the moment she sees us and gasps. “What the hell, Deke?” She runs to him, placing her hands on his bloody face.
“He’s fine.” I wave her off. “Just a scratch.”
“Where are the girls?” Cole asks, looking around for Austin.
“They left to go take Lilly to see Blanche for the day. They’ll be back later.”
