Page 50 of The Illicit Play

“I don’t…” I shake my head, really not wanting to answer that.

“What happened to your lip?” Wily’s deep voice is booming, and I wince, tensing as I wait for the rest of my roommates to appear.

Shit.

Zander knows everything, but I can’t go spilling it all to Wily. Blake might be acting like a lying little turd blossom right now, but I’m not about to dump her in it.

With a sigh, I mumble out as much of the truth as I can. “I was at a party last night and this guy was harassing a girl there, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. It got messy.” I shrug.

“Shit, man.” Wily’s face buckles in concern. “Why’d you go to a party by yourself?”

I shrug, seriously not having an answer for that one.

Or at least an answer I can give him.

Leaning on his crutches, he gazes down at me, his intense stare fucking unnerving. “Is that why you were yelling at my sister, because you’re in a foul mood over what happened to you last night?”

Forcing myself to look up and meet his gaze, I shake my head. “I wasn’t yelling, man.”

“She sounded pretty pissed off.”

“She was,” I admit.

“Why?” He grits out the question, and I have to remind myself that it’s just brotherly concern talking. He’s always been protective of her; it’s obvious every time he opens his mouth to tell another story about “lil’ Blakey.”

Shit, he will not be able to cope with what happened to her last night. Even though nothingdidhappen to her,it could have… and if I’m struggling with it, he sure as shit will too.

“What’s going on with you guys?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head. “I just happened to cross her path this morning, and she was in a foul mood.”

Wily’s eyes narrow, and I want to tell him to fuck off and stop looking at me that way. I haven’t done anything wrong!

But I hold my tongue, because I’m not about to stir up more drama.

Blake needs to tell her brother the truth.

She needs to tellherselfthe truth.

And I need to step the fuck back and not be a part of it.

“I gotta go.” I move around Wily, grabbing my keys and mumbling, “Want to fit a workout in.”

He doesn’t question it, and I manage to slip out the door a free man.

Except I don’t feel free.

I’m weighed down by a truth I can’t share… and a disquiet I can’t shake.

Blake’s in trouble. My instinct is telling me to help her. But I have no idea how… and she doesn’t want me to.

So what the fuck am I supposed to do?

CHAPTER 15

BLAKE

So, the last few days have sucked.