Page 28

I shot upright, a cold sweat coating my skin at the recurring nightmare I had since I was a kid. “Fucking hell.” I rubbed the back of my neck, blowing out slow even breaths.

Trying to ease the anxiety resting on my shoulders, I checked the time on my phone. It was only seven in the morning. Longer than I usually slept. But the fact that I actually slept, said something.

Glancing around me, I frowned when I realized I wasn’t in my bedroom. Memories from the night before came rushing back.

I had gone to Ainsley’s place and spent the night after having some wine. Giving myself a shake, I laid back down.

My phone suddenly rang, startling me.

Sammy’s name flashed across the small screen, my stomach twisting, knowing exactly why my brother was calling me.

“You have a nightmare too?” I asked, my voice still rough from sleep. They say that twins have a different connection that went deeper than just being siblings. I would have to say that I agreed. Whenever we had a nightmare, one of us called the other. We just knew when the other was hurting. It went past just being empathetic. We were a part of each other. Literally.

“Yeah.” He inhaled, paused, and let out a slow breath. “Same dream as usual?”

“Yup.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I thought you were going to try and quit.”

“I hardly drink. I don’t drink coffee. This is my only vice. Lay off, brother.”

I chuckled.

“You still smoke too, shithead.”

“Not as much as you,” I reminded him. To Sammy, smoking was a part of him. It was like the cigarette was an extension of his body. As much of an ass he could be, he didn’t smoke around others who didn’t and was courteous of pregnant women. He had a big heart but masked it with his crude words and vulgar humor.

“Truth.” He paused to take another drag. “Where did you spend the night?” he asked, his voice strained.

“At a friend’s place.” I figured that was a safer answer than explaining to him who Ainsley was to me. It wasn’t like he gave me a whole lot of information on Red either.

“A friend?” Sammy snorted. “Come on, Cyrus. I know you went to a woman’s place.”

“Nothing happened. I had some wine, so I didn’t want to drive. I haven’t slept with her if that’s what you’re implying.”

“Huh...I wonder what that’s like. I think Piper is the only woman I’m actually friends with that I haven’t fucked. Bee doesn’t count, since she’s family.”

“Tanner would have your head and Jaron would cut you up into little pieces, very slowly, and feed you to pigs while you’re still alive.” I chuckled at the thought. “He’d make you watch.”

“Well, that’s pretty graphic.”

“What did you do last night?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Nothing. Went to the club and came home.”

“Alone?” I sat up and left the couch in search of coffee.

“Yeah, man. Red wasn’t working and I didn’t want...well, it doesn’t matter.”

“You like her.”

“Nothing’s happened. I introduced myself, got her name, asked her to come home with me and she hasn’t. She’s got baggage...”

“And you want to help her carry it,” I finished for him.

“Something like that, C.”

“Have you slept with anyone since meeting her?” I recalled how he hadn’t brought a woman home in quite a while.

“Gotta go, brother,” he grumbled, disconnecting the call.