Page 83 of Pretty Broken Wings

“It’s okay.” It’s anything but okay. I’m blind with one of the hottest women I’ve ever met in my house. And she hates me. Nothing is okay.

“Okay, well, I love you boys. You can always stay with me if you need to, Axel.”

“Nah, Gage said I could stay here. You know, it’s a twin thing.” Axel takes the opportunity to step up into my house.

Mom laughs softly. “You two were always inseparable. Anyway, call if you need anything.”

“Love you!” Axel’s chipper as he shuts the door.

I open my mouth, but he just snarks. “Don’t hit me yet, brother; she can still hear it.”

“What are you doing?” I hiss.

“Waterline break. My basement flooded.” He moves into the kitchen.

“The fuck it did.” I chase after him.

“You would have known had you answered your goddamn phone. Oh, are these muffins?”

“You can’t stay here!”

“Ow, fuck, they’re hot!” He hisses.

“Get out.” There’s a deep anger settling into my soul. I just got Raven to trust me. At least enough not to stab me with any of my kitchen knives. And now he wants to come back and ruin that? Typical fucking Axel.

I hear Axel chewing on the hot muffins, and rage floods my system. “She’s scared of you.” He better burn the roof of his mouth.

“Us,” he corrects. “She’s scared of us. And she won’t trust me if I’m not here.”

White hot rage sends a shock of anger right through my system. I stalk up to where Axel is, shoving him back into the counter.

“Oh yeah, hit me! That solves everything.” Axel’s laughing.

I shove him again.

“You’re just like Dad, you know that?” Axel’s laughter has turned to anger. “Using your fists to run from your feelings.”

Suddenly, everything is hot. I want to punch him. Scream at him that I’m nothing like our Dad and I never will be. And it’sthat anger that lets the next words slip out of my mouth, “And you’re exactly like Rich,” I sneer, “whoring it up with anyone who will give you the time of day.”

As soon as the words are out, I regret them. Axel’s face turns so still that he looks like a statue. He barely even breathes, and it makes my stomach turn.

Then, he punches me.

“Don’t ever call me that.” Axel hits me again as I stagger back. “I swear to god, I’ll beat your ass so hard Dad’s beatings will look like child’s play.”

Throwing my hands up to protect my face, I sneer, “Look who’s acting like Dad now.”

Axel lunges forward, and then there’s a scrabble of nails on the hardwood, and suddenly, Buddy barks between us.

I should register that Buddy isout, but I don’t. The hatred is running hot through my veins, and I can’t fucking stop it. “I don’t give afuckwhat you think. But if Raven doesn’t want to talk to you, she doesn’t have to. You have to earn that, and if she tells you to go fuck yourself with a pinecone, I expect you to ask her how big and for how long.”

It takes me too long to realize that Axel isn’t hitting me anymore. I focus on the sounds around me and hear a soft breath.

I turn to see a blur of movement in the hallway, and then it’s gone.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

The boys started fighting right as I got to the hallway. I stand there, frozen, listening. I honestly can’t tell which one is which, as they’ve both changed clothes. I think Axel has the glasses on today, based on how they’re acting.