Page 67 of Sinful Like Us

I see the fist coming.

I can’t move. My feet are forced to the fucking mat. Cemented by guilt and blame, and his knuckles smash into my lip.

Bitter iron of blood floods my mouth. People yell around me.

“Heyheyhey!” I hear my brother.

My head spins, the surrounding chaos and my bottled emotion igniting boxes in my head. Boxes that I’ve stapled shut for years. Senses tweaked, my eyes are narrowed, unable to close.

I hear rounds firing in violent succession. My pulse ratchets up. I turn my head, but I have tunnel vision. This—this hasn’t happened before. Not while I’m awake.

Fuck me.

“Back up!”

“Let go, O’Malley!”

I blink into focus and realize O’Malley is fisting my damp black tee. Banks tries to shove between me and him, and I react like I’ve pressedplayon a paused movie.

I block my brother and let O’Malley crush another fist into my body. Pounding into my shoulder.Fuck.

Banks tears him off me.

My adrenaline accelerates, chest rising and falling.

Farrow and Oscar drag me from the fight. My brain is screaming to protect my brother, who’s standing on the firing line.

“Banks!” I call out.

Banks.

O’Malley shoves my twin brother, and Banks pushes him angrily back.

“What in the fuck is going on?” That harsh-edged voice comes from the doorway, Sinclair and the other leads entering the gym.

Hands drop to sides. We all go still.

Akara looks from O’Malley to me, his eyes descending to my fat lip. He shakes his head in disbelief, like he, too, doesn’t even know who I am anymore.

My nose flares.

O’Malley is just one person I hurt. But he’s one of many. Everyone on Epsilon feels like I betrayed their trust, their respect, but the person I betrayed the most is standing right there. And the look Akara gives me now—it cuts me open and spills out my insides.

It hurts the absolute worst.

Price, the Alpha lead, glares at everyone. “Who punched Moretti?” He’s asking who should be fined three-grand.

Bodyguards can’t hit other bodyguards without punishment.

No one speaks.

No one points fingers.

With an inhale, I announce, “I started the fight.” I touch my lip. It’s already swelling. “You can fine me.”

Banks gives me a hard look likeyou idiot.

O’Malley frowns.