Page 164 of We Are Yours

The irony was not lost on me.

I could battle her anger, the brutality of her words, aware that I wasn’t intimidated or scared of her past or her trauma. I had my own. But I couldn’t fight for what wasn’t there.

It was her coldness.

Her distant hollowness.

Her betrayal I set in motion without meaning to.

Those were all weapons I had no artillery for.

I refused to lose her when I was the one who left her. Nothing made sense, yet it made more sense than ever.

My fucking brother.

I didn’t think he’d be this cruel, and I hadn’t even seen anything yet. My imagination was enough.

I need answers, and I need them right now!

Despite the looming feeling in the pit of my soul, I admitted, “What if I already lost her to my brother?”

He didn’t waver. “What if you didn’t?”

“How far behind am I?”

“Enough to where I think she’s waking up in his bed.”

My jaw clenched.

My hands fisted.

I instantly saw red.

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t have brought any of this up if I wasn’t.”

Unable to resist, I blurted, “Are they fucking? Is he fucking her?”

In a flash, he replied, “If you have to ask me, then you already know the answer.”

I winced. He was right.

I barely had time to contemplate what he insinuated before he added, “Oh, by the way…”

Everything came to a head.

Blasting.

Detonating.

Shattering whatever restraint I had left as he informed…

* * *

“Your father lit that flame.”

Chapter