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His jaw clenched but his gaze never wavered from mine.

Releasing him roughly, I headed back to where Ainsley was now standing with Piper and Jaron. “I’m moving out,” I told my brother.

“What? Why the hell are you doing that?” Sammy bit out. “Is it because of her?”

I cupped Ainsley’s face, taking a deep breath. “Will you still love me if I kill my brother?”

She covered my hand. “He feels like I’m taking you from him,” she murmured softly.

I was taken aback by her words. Looking at Sammy over my shoulder, I wondered if that was the case, but I could use that. “Meet me at your place. I need some time with him.”

“Of course. Take all the time you need.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a key before slipping it into my jeans pocket. “Now you can come and go as you please.”

“I’ll never go, pet.” I kissed her forehead. “Will you make sure she gets home and into her apartment safely?” I asked Jaron.

He nodded. “Of course.”

Before they could ask what was going on between Sammy and me, I kissed Ainsley one last time and went up to my brother.

“We’re taking a walk,” I told him, heading past him and not waiting for him to catch up. I knew he would because I was sure he was as sick of this as I was. Being so damn negative all the time was too much work. It needed to stop. Both of us deserved happiness. We fucking earned it.

Just like I thought, Sammy fell in line with me. His hands were shoved in his pockets but I knew he was itching for a smoke.

“Smoke, Sam. It’ll calm you down.”

He lit one up before I could even finish the sentence. “I like her for you,” he said, inhaling the spicy sustenance.

I grunted. “You don’t have to say that just to humor me.”

“I’m not. She’s got some sass in her. I know it’s what you need.”

“She’s a good girl.That’swhat I need,” I corrected him.

“You love her.”

It wasn’t a question, but I ended up nodding anyway. “And she loves me.”

“I was shocked when she spoke to me.”

“Me too but I know why she did.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, fingering the key she had given me.

“Why’s that?”

“She respects you.” It was the only thing that made sense.

“Why? I haven’t been overly nice to her.”

I looked at him then. “Nope, you haven’t but I also know that if something were to happen, you would do what you could to protect her because that’s how you are. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Red. Maybe that’s part of the reason for your mood swings but I know you love her. You don’t have to admit it, but love is definitely there, among other things.”

“Among other things,” he repeated, stopping. “I’m sorry.”

I stepped in front of him. “For what?”

He threw the smoke to the ground, butting it out with his Shit-Kicker. “Red has me unraveled. I’m not used to a woman making me react this way. They need a handbook on this shit.”

I chuckled. “If that were the case, Jaron and Piper would have talked right away.”

Sammy grunted. “Red and I may not be serious but at least she knows where she stands with me.”