Page 81 of Revere

“But she’s okay.” I say it for him.

For myself.

I try to hold on to it and remember that just because Alex and I have no chance of surviving our family, at least she will.

Alex glances to the right, where I assume Mila must be lying in a hospital bed. “She hasn’t woken up yet. But the doctors say she’ll recover.”

It’s rare my brother shows emotion. Even when I saw him kill someone with his bare hands, his expression barely flinched. But the longer he stares at Mila, something shifts. The darkness that fills his gaze is endless.

He’s in love with her.

“I’ll take the first flight in the morning.” I pop off the bed, not able to sit still any longer because someone needs to be there for him.

“No.” He shakes his head.

“You need me there.”

“You’re where you need to be.”

“Alex—”

“Stay in LA, Patience.” His voice drops. “Things are a mess here. Between Dad pulling this shit, Mom being her usual self, and Sigma House fighting internally, it’s better if you stay where you are. I can deal with this.”

“You shouldn’t have to do it alone.”

“You did.” He frowns. “Those years I was locked in Montgomery, I gave up. But you didn’t. You held it together for both of us. So let me do that now. Finish your program in LA, and I’ll deal with our family. You deserve it, sis.”

I freeze, not sure what to think—what to say. A tear slips down my cheek, and even if I want to be there for Alex, I realize maybe he needs this as much as I do. In a way, we’re both searching for our power.Our voice.

“Are you sure?”

“Kole and Dec are headed back to Bristal in a couple of days. I’ll be fine.” Alex’s words don’t match his tone, especially when his gaze moves to Mila again.

“Take care of her.”

“I will.” He offers a tight smile. “And be careful in LA. Dad’s in the wind, but he has enemies who might take advantage of him slipping up. I can send people to watch you?—”

“No,” I cut him off.

My life in Bristal was surrounded by bodyguards, worried that someone might try to come for me because of who my father is. I refuse to let that plague me here.

“It’s a big city. I’ll be fine.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but he nods once. “Be safe.”

“Promise.” I force a smile.

A nurse says something to Alex, and he gives me a final, sad glance before ending the call. But I don’t immediately walk out of the room and return to Jacob. I stand, staring at myself in the mirror for a minute.

Maybe I should ignore Alex’s request and return to Bristal. Suffering the consequences for my family is what I’m good for. But as I roll my shoulders back and wipe the tears from under my eyes, I decide maybe he’s right. It’s his turn to hold this together.

His fraternity.

His mess.

Knowing my luck, I’ll never get another break from Sigma Sin like I am right now. I might as well seize this chance.

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