Page 83 of Jensen

I thought it was strange at the time. Brothers is maybe ten years older than Jensen at most. But there’s just something about him that makes me think a paternal hug from him would fix the last fifteen years of my life. Maybe that’s why Kayleigh started sleeping with him. She always had raging daddy issues.

The colt nibbles my fingers.

“God, we’re all a mess,” I whisper to it.

I sink against the railing, overwhelmed. A few minutes later, I hear their boots crunching across the dry grass. Jensen pauses a few steps behind, but Brothers leans on the fence beside me, long body draped casually.

“You like them?” he asks.

I nod, running my fingertips over the colt’s star. “They’re beautiful.”

“We should wrap this up,” says Jensen.

I push off the fence, following him back to the porch. We’re at the door when Brothers clears his throat. We both turn.

“Can I talk to Della alone?” he says.

Jensen’s eyes narrow, but I put my hand on his elbow. “Yeah, you can.”

I know he’s giving me those warning eyes, but I’m going to risk it and ignore him. Without looking back, I follow Brothers back into the dining room. Jensen leans just outside, one boot notched in the doorway to keep it open like he’s my chaperone. Brothers strides tothe far end of the room, by the doorway to the hall, and stops. I follow, a little nervous.

“What is it?” I ask.

He hesitates, jaw moving. He’s got a habit of pushing his tongue into the inside of his cheek in a flicking motion.

“You have to go back in, Della,” he says finally.

My mouth goes dry. “What?”

“You have to go back to Leland.” He doesn’t hesitate this time.

A cold wave of panic spreads down my spine. All at once, I’m back in my bedroom, listening to my husband’s footfalls get closer until he’s turning the doorknob. Then, it’s just us, alone. He can do whatever he wants, and there’s nothing I can do about it but be sweet in hopes of mercy.

“No,” I whisper. “You can’t ask me to do that.”

“We need someone on the inside to get Landis out,” he says. “Realistically, the only way you’re pulling this off is if we get Leland away from the house for a night, and you take your boy and go.”

I shake my head.

“Yes.” He looks me in the eye. “You can. Jensen won’t accept my help unless he’s forced into it. The enemy of his enemy is his friend.”

“Are you his friend?” I hiss back. “Or his enemy?”

He flicks the inside of his cheek. “Jensen and I have a complex relationship.”

I bite my lip, hard.

“He has feelings for you,” Brothers says.

“I don’t know what he feels,” I whisper. “Somebody, probably you, fucked him up so bad, he doesn’t share anything.”

Brothers is silent. I clear my throat, leaning in.

“You want to use me as bait,” I accuse.

“No, I need someone on the inside to pull this off. You are Leland’s only weakness.”

I shake my head, feeling like I’m drowning. “I don’t believe he wants me back that badly.”