Page 110 of The Twins

“Then I won’t introduce them.” I shrugged. “Simple.”

“So youaregoing to see him again?” He gripped my arm. “Are you out of your damn mind, Chelsea? Can’t you see that he’s morally gray, that he’s asking for trouble, trouble that will find him, and he’ll take you down with him?”

“And you’re squeaky clean, huh?” I shook him off. “You and your mates?”

“We’re not talking about me.” He turned to the window again. “What the fuck!”

I followed his line of sight.

Andrew was stomping up the drive, his fists clenched, his shoulders hunched, and dark determination chiseling his features.

My heart did a silly little skip at the sight of him, and then adrenaline shot into my system. What the hell was he doing here? And how did he get through the security gate? He must have scaled the high brick wall.

“I’m going to fucking kill him!” Vince spun around and stalked across the kitchen. “Fucking asshole’s got a nerve showing up here.”

“No! Wait.” Shit. This was only going to go one way, and that was badly. I dashed after my brother.

Vince pulled open the door. “You got a fucking death wish, Professor?”

“Where is she?”

“Nowhere you’re ever going to be at again, so fuck off. You’re trespassing.”

“Chelsea?” Andrew called, his voice deep and loud. “Get out here.”

“I’m warning you, dickhead.” The front door slammed against the wall, and Vince’s heavy footsteps landed on the stone steps.

“Chelsea, I fucking mean it, get out here,” Andrew shouted, his words echoing around the hallway. “I know you’re in there.”

I strutted into his line of view, arms folded, chin tipped.

“We need to talk,” he said with a frown, the moment he saw me.

“No you don’t.” Vince paced up to him with intent, fists balled and shoulders tense. “You don’t ever need to see my sister again, you lowlife bastard.” He took a swing at Andrew.

Andrew sidestepped.

“No. Stop.” I rushed to the top of the steps. “Please.”

“Get out of my way and let me speak to my woman,” Andrew snarled. He reached behind himself, to the small of his back. “Before I have to make you.”

“Yeah, you and whose fucking army…hey…whoa!” Vince backed up, arms raised, eyes wide.

Andrew had drawn a black handgun on Vince. He held it forward, steady, his finger on the trigger.

“Come on, man, no need for that.” Vince took another step back.

“There’s every need for it when you’re stopping me sorting out this shit with the woman I love.” He threw a glance at me.

There was love in his eyes, but also anger and frustration, and my heart squeezed with terror at the thought of him firing a bullet at my brother. I’d lost him for months, not a word, and now I had him back. Much as he annoyed the hell out of me, he was family and I loved him.

“Please, no, put the gun away, Andrew,” I said, holding my palms up, as though surrendering on Vince’s behalf. “We can talk, don’t hurt him.”

“I don’t reckon your brother is up for us talking.” Andrew set his steely gaze on Vince again.

“He is, he was just leaving. Wecantalk.” I paused. “Isn’t that right, Vince?”

Vince grimaced as though hating to concede. But what else could he do?