For a heartbeat, I don’t move.
Then Rick’s gaze snaps to me, sharp and disbelieving. I can tell the moment he notices that Nat’s wearing my property cut, and I know exactly how bad this is about to get. There’s no confusion in his eyes anymore. Just hurt.
He’s out of the chair before anyone can say a word and takes a step towards us. Instinct kicks in. I move without thinking, shifting Natalie behind me. I know it’s the right call, even though it pisses him off. I’m not worried about him going after her—I know better than that. He’s angry at me.
The smarter move would probably be to hide behind her, let her calm him down. But I’m not built that way.
He snarls, “You put your cut on my fuckin’ sister.”
The hurt in his voice lands harder than the words themselves.
“You’ve got balls of brass to go behind my back,” he snaps, jabbing a finger at me without touching me. “You knew I made her off limits for the brothers—especially you. I said it straight to your face, and you promised me you’d stay the fuck away.”
“Stay back,” I growl, keeping my voice level even as my pulse spikes. “It wasn’t the way you’re saying.”
He doesn’t stay back. I knew he wouldn’t.
“And you waited until I was down, half dead in a fuckin’ coma, to stake your claim.”
His gaze drops to my cut, then flicks back up. I see something twist inside him, and that hurts worse than anything else he’s said so far.
“I called you my brother,” he says, disbelief heavy in his voice. “I trusted you in my house. Around my sister. And you took the one thing I asked you to leave the hell alone.”
When I don’t answer right away, he keeps going, unloading everything he’s been holding in.
“This right here?” He sweeps his arm towards Natalie and my cut. “This is what betrayal looks like. And I’m not standing here pretending I’m fine with it.”
I don’t back up. Not even an inch.
I plant my boots wider and square my shoulders. It’s a stance Rick knows well. We used to joke about it when we were kids—my iron protector stance. Once I’m in it, I don’t budge.
Natalie moves to my side again, refusing to stay hidden. My hand comes to rest at the small of her back without thinking. It’s instinct. Possession. Protection. I don’t soften it.
Rick just stares at us, jaw tight. We probably look like a unit. I know that realization is hitting him even if he hasn’t named it yet.
“We knew this would be hard on you, bro,” I say finally, keeping my voice low and steady. “That’s why we waited until now to tell you.”
He lets out a harsh, humorless laugh. “So the two of you have been fuckin’ lying to me. Since when? Since I woke up?”
I give him a small nod. I won’t insult him by pretending otherwise.
“Brothers don’t lie to brothers,” he snaps. “You know that. How many ways do I gotta say I don’t want you fuckin’ my damn sister?”
My jaw tightens, but I don’t flinch. “Don’t be crude. Natalie chose me. I tried to resist, but I’m not made of fuckin’ stone.”
His eyes narrow. “Clearly you didn’t try hard enough. Some friend you turned out to be.”
My hand tightens briefly at Natalie’s back, grounding myself before I answer. “She’s mine,” I say flatly. “And one day, you’re gonna thank me for this.”
He scoffs. “Not damn likely, asshole.”
Before I can respond, Natalie steps forward, slipping just out of my reach. I don’t stop her. This is something she needs to say herself.
“I’ve spent a lot of sleepless nights worrying about how to tell you this,” she says, her voice shaking but steady enough. “I kept thinking if I could just find the right words, you’d understand that I need both of you in my life.”
Rick opens his mouth, but she keeps going.
“I fell in love with your best friend,” she says plainly. “Is that really so terrible?” Her eyes flick to me for a split second, then back to him. “I see all the good things you see when you look at him. I just see them through a woman’s eyes.”
