Ben’s eyes track past me. His face goes white.
I turn.
Tania stands in the doorway. Her hair is tangled, and her face is flushed from sleep. She’s wearing my t-shirt and nothing else. Just my t-shirt that reaches mid-thigh.
I can’t deny anything now and wait until he calms down. The evidence is right in front of him.
She freezes.
Ben stares at the shirt. At her. Processing what it means.
I step between them.
“You think I’m going to hurt her?” Ben’s voice cracks. “You think I’m going to hurt my sister? The person I love most in this world?”
He turns, so he’s facing my brothers and me.
“I promise you that I am not going to hurt her.” His eyes narrow, and his fists clench and unclench at his sides. “You’re the ones hurting her.”
And then, Ben lunges. Not at Tania. At me.
Callum intercepts him and grabs Ben’s arm. He stops him two feet from my chest.
“Don’t blame Silas.” Callum’s voice is flat. “He held out the longest.”
And even though I thought this couldn’t get worse, it does. I watch Callum’s face change as he realizes what he just admitted to.
Ben goes still. Processing. Then realization hits.
All three of us.
He jerks free from Callum’s grip and swings.
The punch lands on Callum’s jaw, and the crack echoes through the room. Callum’s head snaps to the side, but he doesn’t raise his hands. He takes it.
Blood pools at the corner of his mouth.
“We didn’t want you to find out like this.” I realize my words won’t make this better.
Ben rounds on me. “You shouldn’t have had to tell me at all.”
Tania steps forward. “Ben?—”
“Don’t.” He doesn’t look at her. “Don’t defend them.”
“I wanted this.” Her voice is strong and confident. “This was my choice.”
“They were supposed to keep you safe.” Ben’s breathing ragged now. “I trusted them not to take advantage of you.”
“They didn’t take advantage of me. They?—”
“You all lied to me.” Ben cuts her off. “How the fuck is that supposed to make me feel? My best friends. My sister. Everyone I trust most. And you all looked me in the eye and lied.”
Nobody answers. What can we say? He’s right.
Ben grabs his keys from the counter. “Fuck this. I can’t look at any of you.”
He’s at the door before I can move.
