My brothers don’t care about that though.
Reed’s cavalier words have made them frown and they each take a threatening step toward him.
Except Conrad.
Conrad, who stands a little farther away from the rest of my brothers, says, “Callie, come here.”
I breathe heavily, glancing from my three ready-to-fight brothers to my oldest one. “Con, please. He didn’t do anything.”
“Callie.”
“He didn’t –”
“Get over here.”
I wince and start walking toward him. And as soon as I do, the rest of my brothers shift and sort of make a boundary out of their bodies, a line between me and the rest of the world,himmore specifically, in a very obvious display of protectiveness.
As soon as I reach Conrad, I tell him, “Please, Con. He didn’t do anything. I promise and –”
“You lied,” he says.
Not loudly or bitterly or in anger.
He says it in a matter-of-fact way and my heart twists.
It’s not as if I’ve never lied to my brothers. Of course I have, but this is something big. Something serious. I know that.
As I said, they only have one rule: they need to know where I am at all times. So they know that I’m safe.
They give me everything that I ask for.
Even though they can be controlling and dominating – as evidenced by this display – they try to be reasonable. They try to understand where I’m coming from. They respect my freedom.
So I’m at fault here.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
Conrad’s chest pushes out on a breath and instead of anger, there’s disappointment. “Let’s go home.”
I look at my three angry brothers, who still appear ready to fight, and turn to Conrad. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I lied. Just please tell them not to fight. H-he didn’t do anything.”
At this, I see anger though.
I do see his broad features going tight. “Come on.”
“But Con –”
“Not a word right now.”
I snap my mouth shut.
Then glancing over my shoulders, Conrad calls out, “Just one. No more.”
I don’t know what that means or which brother he’s talking to.
Until I hear a thump and a crunch. And loud gasps and murmurs from the crowd.
At which point, I spin around and see that Ledger has punched Reed in the face, and Reed’s wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, somehow with his smirk still in place.
