Ice floods my veins.
“Stop lying!” Reese screams at the top of her lungs. “Stoooop. I want my Jettyyy!”
“Jett’s—” I start.
“Fuck you and fuck Jett.” Skylar’s arm grazes mine as she storms into the living room. My first instinct is to yank the chainsaw to the other side. Which I do, just in time. “Why won’t you die already?”
“Skylar.” She’s too fast, and my hands are full. I can’t grab her. Can’t get to her. “Come back here. Goddammit, Skylar.”
Ignoring me, she hurls herself at Grandpa, the one closest to us other than Reese.
“Son, you really thought she’d listen to you?” Papa’s laugh is sharp, bitter. His gun tracks her, though he doesn’t shoot withGrandpa in the way. “She don’t respect you. None of us ever did. You’re weak.”
Grandpa flexes his hands, thrilled to fight Skylar.
And I’m done.
Done babying them. Done pretending I owe them anything.
They’re not my family anymore.
“Weak?” The chainsaw’s engine revs the loudest as I stalk toward Skylar, who’s already punching Grandpa’s chest. “Weak doesn’t kill brothers, Dad.”
It’s the last thing I say before I lunge forward.
But then—Grandpa’s hand snaps around Skylar’s arm. He twists her, hooking his forearm around her throat.
Where the fuck is her knife?
“Let her go,” I snarl. “I’ll fucking kill you.”
An empty threat. If I unleash the saw on Grandpa, it’d get her too. She might bleed to death.
Can’t risk it.
My nostrils flare the more her face turns purple.
My ribs burn, my blood roars.
I’m going to save her.
“Stay away from him!” Ma’s in tears, her nails scratching my arm, my shoulder. “You aren’t killing anyone else in this family. Ever again. Stand here like a man and accept your punishment. Watch her die. Finish her, Grandpa! Finish her!”
For half a second, memories and pity wash over me. The smell of Ma’s cooking. Her bedtime stories.
But she, like the others, wants Skylar dead.
Not on my watch.
Grandpa’s still choking my woman, whispering poison in her ear.
I can’t take him down without hurting Skylar, so I do the next best thing.
I thrust the chainsaw forward, snarling at the older man. The saw’s teeth flash in the dim light. The threat forces Ma off me and makes Grandpa loosen his grip on Skylar.
The sliver of air he gives her is enough, buying us time so I can figure out how to save her.
Until then…I’m not done.
