His head snaps up, clearly shocked to see me. Kara shrieks my name, “Xander!” trying to scurry off his body. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on base.”
I ignore her questions, heading straight to my brother. My hand goes around his neck, and I pin him up against the headboard, choking the life out of the bastard. My own fucking brother. My flesh and blood. He fucking betrayed me.
“You bastard.” I squeeze him harder. “She’s my fucking wife. Mine. How could you do this to your own flesh and blood?”
He can’t talk because of the restriction around his neck, but I don’t even want to know his answer.
“Stop it, Xander! You’re hurting him.”
“Good.” He fucking deserves it.
“This isn’t his fault. You were away and I was so lonely.”
His lips are turning blue, his eyes stricken with fear. He stood next to me at the altar. He was my best man. He’s my fucking family.
“Let him go!”
I’m suddenly hit on the side of the head with something hard. My hold on Davis releases, feeling the pressure of the goddamn betrayal pounding so hard in my chest.
“You almost killed me, you bastard.” His rasped voice has me turning. “It’s your fault. You’re the one who decided to join the army. I just stepped up to the plate and looked after her because you weren’t here to fucking do it. You can’t blame us for what happened.”
I was away fighting for our country, fighting to defend their freedom, and now I’m being blamed for this? No, I know exactly what happened. Davis has been jealous of me all my life. He couldn’t stand it when the prettiest girl in school fell for me instead of him. The second I left, he took the opportunity to swoop in and take her from me.
But what hurts more is the fact that she let him. She’s been calling me every week. Sending pictures and sexy videos. She never even let on like there was a problem with our marriage or that she was upset about me being gone. She’s been lying to me.
“For how long?” The question grits from my lips.
When she doesn’t speak, I ask again. “How long have you been fucking my brother?”
“She’s been mine since the day you left,” Davis states like he’s proud of the fact. There isn’t even an ounce of regret in his eyes. Neither of them has even apologized for what they’ve done.
I should’ve stayed on base. I should’ve stayed with the men who stand by my side and risk their lives for me. I should never have come home. How the hell does someone recover from this type of pain? How does someone go on?
I turn toward my brother. “As soon as Mom and Dad learn about this, they’re going to disown you. You’re a fucking disgrace to this family.”
“And that’s where you’re wrong, brother. They know I’m the better match for her. I can provide for her. And I’m here. Dad already told her she chose wrong. I think he’ll be happy when he finds out we’re together.”
I turn to walk out the door, needing to get out of this house before I burn the place down with them locked inside. But before I go, I leave them with one message.
“You both are dead to me.”
My eyes open as the rage simmers through me. I climb out of the cage and head inside, straight to the bar. I need a drink. A tall one.
14
Izzy
“OMG! You have to go see the guy who’s sitting at the bar.” Viv fans herself. “He is the hottest man I’ve ever seen.”
She grabs my hand, pulling me to the corner so I can see him. He most definitely is the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. But…he looks upset. I’m not sure what happened, but as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, his mood changed. I got a sense that something was wrong, but I didn’t want to pry into his personal business.
“That’s the guy I was telling you about.”
“Are you kidding me? That’s him? That’s the fake boyfriend, bodyguard guy? How the hell is it that you meet all the hot ones? Does he have a brother?”
I honestly don’t know. He only spoke briefly about his family today. All I know is that his father is a complete asshole. How a man could think playing football is better than joining the army is beyond me.
“I’ll find out for you,” I tell her. “I’m going to go take my break. Are you good for covering my tables?” It’s been a slow night, and surprisingly, I haven’t heard from Alex, which is a relief.
