Page 203

“I’d expect nothing less,” I answer, thankful that my brother will hold my feet to the fire if I start acting stupid again.
His jaw tics, but he nods his head and leaves the kitchen.
My head falls back against the cabinet again, blood still leaking from a cut on my face, and my heart crushed in my chest.
I’m worried about Damon, and once again feeling like there’s nothing I can do to help him.
One of these days, all of this shit needs to come to a head, but until then, I’ll work my ass off just to keep Damon sane.
Whatever it takes when it comes to him.
Whatever I have to do to bring him back from the edge of the cliff he’s been standing on for too many years, his eyes staring down into the depths as he decides whether to jump or step away.
Emily
The second Damon’s truck pulls into my driveway, I’m hauling butt outside. I was expecting Ezra to come back. But not this.
Waking up alone meant Ezra was out dealing with the problems between us, my throat going dry to think of how he planned to tear down the barriers.
I’ve been keeping an eye outside for hours, the flash of sunlight off a moving vehicle drawing my immediate attention.
Seeing that it’s Damon concerns me, but I wait until he’s parked behind my car to start across the driveway.
He climbs out before I get to him, turning a little to stare at the back of my car.
“What happened here?”
Which reminds me, “I got into an accident yesterday. A woman rear-ended me, and I recognized-“
My words die off as soon as he turns to face me. Rage explodes through my body, violent enough that I’m shaking when I run up to him and reach up to examine the injuries to his face.
“What the hell happened? Where’s Ezra?”
I swear to everything holy that if Ezra caused this, I’m going to hunt him down and break my promise all over again. This is exactly what I was worried he would do.
Damon laughs like it’s funny - like it’sfunny- his swollen eyes softening to look at me.
“Red, relax. It’s not an issue.”
“Not an issue? Are you kidding me? How is this not an issue? Your face is bruised.”
Another soft laugh, his fingers reaching over to smooth a muscle jumping above my eye.
Instead of telling me what happened, he pulls me in for a hug, his body strong and calm while I’m practically vibrating with anger.
He rests his chin on my head and explains, “Ezra and I had a conversation to work some stuff out.”
“That doesn’t look like a conversation.”
“It was our kind of conversation. But it’s over. I came here to talk to you because he’s afraid and hiding at the house.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“He knows, and it’s exactly why he’s hiding.”
Laying his full cheek on my head, he pulls me against him tighter, his heart beating steady and strong beneath where my ear is pressed to his chest.
“I’m serious, Red. We worked it out.”