Page 53 of The Spare

"And let me know when you've got eyes on her," I say. "I'm coming to get her later tonight."

"Yes, sir." Stephen slips through the door hurriedly.

There's a tense silence as everyone looks at each other. The only ones who don't have a confused expression would be me and my fucking brother, Hendrix.

Who I hate so very much right now.

I slide my hands in my pocket, gripping the paperclip I keep there to remind myself to stay in control. I dig the sharp point under my fingernail as I catch Hendrix's eye and take a step forward. He eyes me warily, and Isobel steps into his side, arching a brow. "Mason, what's wrong-“

"If you just cost me the love of my life,I will kill you,"I say to Hendrix, interrupting Isobel. "Do you understand me,brother?I will make her ass a fuckingwidow."

His brows rise, but he stays silent.

"Hendrix,"Isobel gasps, her fingers flying to her mouth as her eyes widen in shock, but I ignore her, letting Hendrix know with everything in me I'm dead serious. He doesn't get to have everythingandhis happily every after, while I lose Melody after I just spent the last threeand a half years putting my head down and doing everything possible asked of me.

I'llkillhim. With a smile on my face.

"Son,"my father says stepping forward, his own eyebrows furrowing as a shocked expression clouds his features. As does everyone else. Because they didn't know.

No one knew but me and Hendrix.

"I told her I loved her," I say in a choked voice."And she didn't even say it back."

Father lets out a muted curse, putting a hand to his forehead and rubbing on a sigh.

"Mason," Madre says gently, stepping to my side and puts a hand on my arm, but her touch doesn't soothe me. "Mase, you love Melody? For how long?"

"Since the moment I met her,"I answer simply, staring my brother down as I work the hardest I've ever done in my life to control myself. There's only one reason I'm not slitting this man's throat right now, and she's in Donna's arms.

Melody's mother Donna puts a hand to her mouth, but she stays quiet as she stands off to the side, holding Hendrix and Isobel's toddler Mariah. His goddamn saving grace.

"I told him to wait until she's done with college before picking her up," Hendrix explains.

Madre turns her face sharply to the side."You interfered?"She inhales sharply, puts her hand to her throat, tilting her head as she glances quickly at father. They trade a look.

Validated, I lift my chin a little higher, maintaining our eye contact.

Father's face is the picture of fury as he turns his head to face Hendrix, his eyes betraying a deep anger I haven't seen come from him in a minute.

"You know better.You know to not interfere, Hendrix,"he barks, the color rising in his face. "You know our rules!You know what's at stake!"he says in a rough, harsh tone, pointing a finger at Hendrix's face. "You know something like this can tear a family apart!"

"Oh my God," Madre whimpers, bringing up her hands to cover her nose and mouth. "Richard, don't," she whispers.

Donna looks over at her perplexed, before turning her eyes to Isobel who just shakes her head in a slight movement.

"Father, I did what I thought was best. I'm sorry," Hendrix shoves an agitated hand through his hair and gesturing to me. "You know how I've been killing myself my entire fucking life to make sure that Mason stays on the straight and narrow. Cut me some slackfor once!"he shouts, the bass in his voice echoing around the foyer.

A hush falls over the foyer so quiet I hear the grandfather clock in the distance ticking away. That's not good.

Anger swamps me at his words; however, heat crawls up my neck as my eyes ping back and forth between the two men, because Hendrix has never dared to challenge Father before, and why he has to do itright nowhas got me ready to kill him for a different reason. The insensitive fuck.

It always has to be about him.

Father's brow goes so lowItake a cautious step back."Cut you some slack?"he parrots. "Has being married cost you your goddamn sense, boy?"

Isobel goes pale, her fingers digging into Hendrix's arm.

A muscle clenches in Hendrix's jaw. "How dare you speak to me this way after I have giveneverythingto this family," Hendrix challenges father in a rough voice, pulling from Isobel's arm and daring to take a step towards him. "I've given everything toyou!"