Page 79 of Shadows of Obsession

"Where's my good-for-nothing brother?" he growled, his fingers digging harder into my wrist.

I shrank back against the door, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. The fury in his eyes was feral. I shook my head frantically, unable to speak with his hand covering my mouth, unable to breathe with his body crushing mine against the wood.

"I'm right here, asshole."

Jaxon's voice cut through the terror like a thunderclap. Low, dangerous and brimming with barely contained rage.

Everything happened so fast. One second Jared was pinning me; the next, he was ripped away, Jaxon's hand fisted in the back of his shirt. The sudden release made me stumble, gasping for air, as Jaxon slammed his brother into the den's doorframe with a force that rattled the walls.

Jaxon held him there by the arms, muscles taut with fury. When I saw his face, the murderous intent blazing in his eyes as he took in how Jared had touched me, I realized I'd never seen him truly angry before. It was frightening.

I stumbled away from the door, my legs shaky beneath me, relief and shock flooding my system in equal measure. The imprint of Jared's fingers still burned on my wrist, my pulse hammering against the bruised skin.

Jaxon was beyond furious. Every muscle in his body was coiled tight, ready to snap. Jared struggled briefly, but Jaxon's grip only tightened. The veins in his arms bulged with the effort.

"You don't touch her, you hear me?" Jaxon's voice cut through the air like a blade, a low growl rumbling from deep in his chest that made the hair on my arms rise. His hands fisted Jared's shirt, knuckles straining white as he leaned in close. "You don't touch anyone on thisproperty. You show up here dirty and drunk, and you expect me to take care of you? What the hell are you thinking?"

Jared mumbled something I couldn't make out, but Jaxon's grip didn't waver.

Then Jaxon's gaze flicked toward me, and something in his expression shifted. The murderous rage still burned beneath the surface, but when his eyes met mine, I saw something else. Concern. Tenderness. Fear for me.

I pressed back against the door, trying to make myself small. My shoulders trembled from the aftershocks of adrenaline. My whole body felt like it was vibrating, my breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts I couldn't quite control. I tried to look stronger than I felt, but I knew he could see right through me.

Jaxon shoved Jared against the doorframe one last time before turning toward me. His movements were slow, deliberate, like he was afraid I might bolt if he moved too quickly. When he reached me, his hands cupped my face gently, tilting it up until my eyes met his. The contrast between how violently he'd handled his brother and the tenderness of his touch now made my eyes sting with unshed tears.

"You okay, baby?" His voice was low, rough, and laced with concern. His thumbs brushed softly along my cheekbones.

I gave a small nod, not trusting my voice. My lips pressed into a thin line as I rubbed my wrist where Jared had grabbed me, the skin already darkening with the promise of bruises. Though I tried to hold myself together, the slight tremble running through me betrayed how shaken I truly was. I focused all my strength on remaining standing.

Jaxon's jaw tightened as his eyes dropped to my wrist, taking in the marks his brother had left. A dangerous flicker crossed his face before he turned back to Jared, his anger rekindling like wildfire. He grabbed Jared's shirt again, the fabric bunching in his fists.

"Maybe if you'd given me money when I asked, I wouldn't have shown up here," Jared spat, his words dripping with resentment.

Jaxon's brow furrowed, his lip curling in disgust. "You really think I'd give you money so you could get high?" He gave Jared a rough shake that made me flinch. "Just look at yourself. You've already done enough damage on your own."

"The fucking money isn't for me!" Jared shouted, his voice cracking. "It's for the dealers I still owe from before I went to prison!"

With a sudden burst of strength, he shoved Jaxon back a step, and my heart leapt into my throat.

But Jaxon recovered quickly, his anger shifting into shock as he processed Jared's words. Realization dawned on his face; this was worse than addiction. This was dangerous people. Debts. Threats.

His gaze flicked toward me, sharp and calculating. "Go close the kitchen door," he said, his voice calmer now but edged with urgency. "Tell them we need a minute, please."

I nodded quickly, grateful for something to do, some way to be useful instead of just standing there trembling. My footsteps were light but purposeful as I hurried to the kitchen slider. Through the glass, I could see Harper and the others around the fire pit, laughing, oblivious to the chaos inside. I focused on keeping it together, forcing a smile to close the door.

I slid the glass shut and caught Harper's questioning look. I forced a small smile and held up one finger—just a minute—before turning back. I heard her call out something, but the glass muffled her words.

When I returned to the den, Jaxon had shoved Jared into the hard-backed chair in the corner. The uncomfortable one nobody ever sat in. I stopped near the doorway, arms crossed over my chest, keeping a safe distance but close enough to hear everything. My eyes darted warily between the two brothers, my heart still racing.

Jaxon stood over Jared, his broad shoulders squared and his arms folded tight across his chest. "Talk. Now."

His voice was low but lethal.

Jared leaned back in the chair, trying to look casual, but I could see the unease in the twitch at the corners of his mouth. His gaze flickered briefly toward me, and my stomach twisted. Then he looked down at the floor instead.

"Look…" Jared started, his voice barely above a mumble. One hand lifted to rub anxiously at the stubble on his jaw. "I got into some trouble before I went to prison. Debts to pay, you know? When I got out, those people… they came looking for what I owed."

A humorless chuckle escaped him, and the sound made my skin crawl.