I practically have to bite my tongue to keep from saying something. This is a good time to stop defending my brother.
“But I digress, I came for her jewelry box.” He braces his hands on the table, leaning toward me. His eyes narrow and he shouts, “Where is it?”
I jump, shaking my head. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? Have you not been cleaning the place out?”
“I have, but I haven’t seen it.”
He slams a hand on the table. “Liar!”
My hands tremble, and I squeeze my eyes shut as a tear rolls down my cheek.
He takes a step back, collecting himself. “Has your brother been here?”
“Y-yes.”
He nods, scowling. “Fucking figures.” He gets in my face again and lowers his voice. “You let that little fucker in here?—”
I flinch as he reaches out a hand. His fingers run through my hair, and my stomach churns.
When he speaks again it’s in an unnaturally sweet tone. “I need you to get it back.”
Holding my breath, I nod.
He forces a smile before grabbing a bag of things off the table and walking toward the door.
When it slams, I gasp, opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water as tears stream down my face.
19
GABE
MAY PRESENT DAY
Iwas fine before I knew she was back. Then, as usual, the first sign of drama, and I fall back into the same old pattern. Ash has a problem, so I run in to fix it. She is not my responsibility anymore, but my stupid brain never got that memo for some reason.
I could have gone to Lily’s after the bar, but I didn’t. Instead, I stayed there. Now, I can’t seem to get Ash out of my head. Every time I close my eyes, I see nothing but her. I keep waking up in a panic at night after dreaming about that piece of shit with his hands on her. I need to forget about Ashton fucking Michaels—or I guess, James.
Shane never mentioned that she got married because of our “don’t talk about his sister” agreement. I don’t know why that stingsso bad. Yeah, there was a time I thought it would be us, but I quickly learned I’m not cut out for real. I can’t keep myself out of harm’s way, let alone someone else. Saving her from some creep at the bar is easy, but I can’t save her from me.
I’m finishing an oil change when Nik, who was talkingon the phone to someone in the waiting area, barrels into the shop. “You fucking asshole!”
I wipe my hands on a rag as she launches at Shane.
“What the fuck!” he shouts, stumbling back.
He throws his hands up to block his face, when she smacks his arm, yelling, “You left the house unlocked!”
“What?”
JT yanks her back as she says, “Gran’s house! You left it unlocked! Ash came home, and Adam was there!”
JT’s eyes flick to me, and I grind my molars.
Shane’s mouth pops open as he drops his hands. “What? Is he still there?”
He’s already moving toward the door before she answers.
