Her eyes narrow. “And what if she doesn’t want your help?”
I can feel my brothers’ eyes on me, as interested in my answer as she is.
“Then I’ll back off.” Her brows rise. “But I won’t stop watching out for her. The reality is our world isn’t safe and, once you’re in it, there’s no escaping it.” I shake my head slowly,and she swallows, shifting in her chair. “I protect what’s mine. Family or otherwise.”
She drops her gaze back to her plate, pushing around the vegetables, and I would kill to read her thoughts right now.
“For god’s sake, Briar, eat something,” I growl, after several minutes of watching her rearrange her plate.
Her gaze lifts and she glares at me, spearing a piece of broccoli, and holding my eye while she lifts it to her mouth and pops it in, chewing slowly.
She lifts her hands as if to say:There, happy?
The corner of my mouth ticks up,That’s a good girl.
54
LET HER GO
KOEN
Now
We eat in silence for an uncomfortable amount of time, until Liam decides to save us all with talk of hockey. Briar plays along, even asking a few questions, but when she smiles, it doesn’t reach her eyes.
Briar stiffens at the sound of a phone vibrating from somewhere.Hers. Slowly, she reaches into her back pocket and pulls out the device, eyes scanning over the screen. Her eyes brighten and her lips curve up.
She looks up at the table, careful to avoid looking me in the eye.
“I’m sorry, if you’ll excuse me.” She stands, a little too fast, the chair legs scraping across the floor. ”I have to take this.” She eyes me nervously before she turns, sliding the button on her phone to answer the call, but not saying anything before limping out of the room.
I stare after her. She really shouldn’t be walking on that ankle.
The moment she’s out of sight, I stand, pushing back my chair. Both my brothers watch me as I trail her quietly out of the kitchen.
She retreats back to my bedroom, closing the door, but not all the way, seemingly indecisive over it as her hand hovers over the knob.Maybe she’s afraid if she shuts it, she’ll never escape.Deciding to leave the door cracked, she moves further inside, and I can hear her voice drifting back to me in soft, hushed tones I can’t quite make out.
I linger in the hallway, just out of sight, feeling only a little bit guilty for eavesdropping.
Whoever’s on the other end makes her laugh, and my chest goes tight. I inch just a little bit closer to the door, trying to make out what she’s saying.
“I miss you so much.”
My hands ball into fists before I can stop them.Who the fuck is she talking to?
Briar lets out another laugh, and I can’t help but take a peek through the crack in the door, seeing a genuine smile on her face, though her eyes look sad.
“I can’t wait to watch you play hockey!”
She’s talking to someone about fucking hockey? Hockey? Her guy’s a fucking hockey player? Really?
My fists tighten at my sides, and I’m really hoping whoever the fucker is plays for the league, so I can tell Aidan and Liam to have a field day. It’s a struggle to resist the urge to reach for the handle.I want his name, I want his team, jersey number, home address….
“I love you too. Always.”
Everything stops.
It hits me harder than it should. Something twists deep within my chest. Part rage, part jealousy, and part a raw ache I’m unable to put a name to.
