Page 46 of Property of Gray

Bled for this patch.

I’m not going down that easy.

Dirty can pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

Fuck.

Willow’s here. Part of me was hoping she wouldn’t come around tonight. That I could stop by and see her after I drop Kaylene back at her place. Let her down gently in private, but looks like this shit is about to be public.

She smiles at me and I shake my head at her.

Not now.

Not yet.

I’m not ready.

I’m not drunk enough.

She prances over to me and Woods and wraps an arm around my waist. I don’t even look at her when I say, “I’m busy.” I can’t. I shrug her off.

“I’m sorry.” She steps to the side.

Kaylene comes back from the bathroom. It’s showtime. In the end, Willow will see this is for her own good. I don’t deserve her. I never did. I never will. I hug the stupid bitch to my side and kiss her temple. “There’s my favorite girl.” The lie tastes so fucking bitter I could hurl on my boots.

“Brax,” Willow cries my name, and the sound splinters my heart in two.

Hurting her guts me.

I suck in a breath, knowing what I’m about to do can’t be taken back.

“Low, you’ve got to stop this. When I look at you, all I see is a bratty kid sister. Get it through your head. We’re never going to happen.”

“You heard him, bitch. Stay away from my man. I’m having his baby.”

Willow falters, clutching her chest. “She’s what?”

“Fuck. I didn’t want you to find out like this.” I reach my hand out, aching to touch her one last time.

She flinches as though I’ve slapped her. “Stay the fuck away from me. You and your whore.”

Kaylene laughs, but she’s the only one.

Everyone is looking at me like I’m a jackass, including Dirty and Woods.

“That was fucking harsh,” Dirty growls, clenching his fists.

I hope he knocks me the fuck out so maybe when I wake up this nightmare will be over.

“You better go apologize,” Woods barks at me.

I nod, and Kaylene scoffs. “What for? She needs to know her place. She might be your sister, but Gray is my man, and she needs to keep her hands off him.”

“Get your bitch in line or I will,” Hoss warns. He may not be president anymore, but his word still carries weight around here. I didn’t realize he was here tonight.

“Go on up to my room. I’ll be up in a bit.” I squeeze her ass and she does as she’s told.

Madz shoots me a nasty look, but I don’t care what she thinks of me. It can’t be any worse than I think about myself.