Page 11 of Whispers of Wisteria

If that were the case, it would mean that I liked Finn, which was totally and completely untrue.

“Right…” Finn’s expression closed. “There’s a fine line between love and hate.”

“I hate you,” I told him, and I hoped he’d never forget it.

“That’s my seat.” Damen was suddenly standing at our table with two paper cups in his hands. He scowled at his brother.

Finn frowned at him and pushed his glasses with his pointer finger. The air around us seemed still as he responded, “I was here first.”

Damen narrowed his eyes.

“I’m herenow,” he said, tone dropping an octave. His sudden change in his voice caused my stomach to tighten and a tingle to run down the back of my spine. He placed a white cup in front of me. The comforting smell of chocolate filled my senses, but I didn’t move to get my drink yet.

What was this foreboding air?

Damen’s sultry voice didn’t affect Finn, which was probably a good thing. In fact, since Damen wasn’t even looking at me, I doubted he was even meaning to be seductive at all.

“So?” Finn scowled and crossed his arms on the top of the table. “What are you going to do about it?”

Damen’s posture shifted, and the darkness began to recede just a little. I was finally able to move. I grasped my coffee, holding it tightly between my hands. I looked between the two of them while hiding my mouth behind the drink.

This was a fight between brothers. Who was I to intervene?

Besides, I’d been hoping to see the two of them come to blows. Damen had spent so long trying to excuse Finn’s behavior that it’d gotten old. And—unlike Julian—I could trust Damen not to murder the blonde.

But Finn was a very skilled martial artist. CouldDamen defeat him? The older brother was a bit spoiled, which could have made him soft.

I wasn’t entirely sure who’d win.

I didn’t like not being sure. Now, I needed to know—for my own edification.

Finn broke their staring contest first.

“You’re completely clueless; even the Overseers come to me first. Despite what you think, you’ve no chance of winning until you get your head out of your ass and pay attention. Anyone can see that.” Finn pointed at me. “Even Bianca’s not rooting for you.”

“Hey!” I protested, lowering my coffee back to the table. My face grew warm as Damen’s gaze landed on me. “I never said that! I’m always on your side.”

“But you think Finn is more responsible.” Damen’s frown turned into an all-out scowl.

That wasn’t necessarily correct, but it wasn’t entirely wrong, either. Even when manipulating me and doing evil things, Finn had done so with a religious dedication that only the truly committed could pull off.

I had yet to see Damen see anything through. Then again, I also hadn’t known him very long and he was a complicated man.

Who knew what was going on inside his head?

Finn’s mouth curled. “See?” He sounded so proud.

Damen’s confident expression dropped, and guilt twisted my stomach into knots. I’d never meant to hurt his feelings.

“No!” I twisted in my seat and grabbed Damen’s sleeve.

He was the one who’d started everything. He’d brought me out of the dark place where I’d been. Sure, he didn’t take no for an answer, but if it hadn’t been for that, I’d be nowhere. Damen had a way of pushing past boundaries and achieving the impossible. It was his infectious energy that made everything happen.

After all, he’d convinced me to be his friend, hadn’t he?

“I believe in you!” I told him, and his eyes widened. “I do! You can do anything when you put your mind to it!”

Like now, even with the power of my will, I was confident that he could beat Finn to a bloody pulp.